In this interview, songwriter Glenn Donaldson of The Reds, Pinks and Purples reflects on the emotional and sonic universe of Acknowledge Kindness, an album that moves between past, present, and possible futures, exploring memories, inner ghosts, and the delicate boundary between melancholy and hope. Throughout the conversation, the artist discusses his intuitive and non-linear writing process, where walks, literary references, and everyday experiences are transformed into creative material.

By Sandra Pinto

Drawing on influences ranging from 1980s alternative music to the vulnerability of indie rock classics, Glenn Donaldson also reveals the role of isolation in shaping his sound, the importance of occasional collaborations, and the way he balances raw emotion with meticulous production work. The result is an intimate portrait of a deeply personal record, where nostalgia is not just an aesthetic, but a way of being in the world.

Glenn, you describe this album as an exploration of past, present, and possible futures. How did you manage to balance these different temporal dimensions in the songs?
I feel like everyone is living in all three places all the time. We are probably living in the present the least. I am pretty free with my lyric writing. I never write in linear fashion. The perspective can change verse to verse.

The album talks about “learning to live with your ghosts and trying to be alive in the present.” How did you translate this idea musically and lyrically?
Some of my songs start vaguely as ghost stories. The ghost part is psychological or supernatural, not sure which. I use “ghost” and “memory” interchangeably in my writing.

You mentioned inspirations ranging from old journals, poetry, and walks in the park. Which was the most influential in shaping the sound and atmosphere of the album?
Walking is my main writing tool. It’s great for meditating and freeing your conscious mind up. Generally, I write from an emotional place, if I can get swept up in the words I follow that feeling. I add a bit of a twist when I am editing, but mostly it’s not an intellectual experience and is hard to explain.

You compare your work to classics like California by American Music Club or 16 Lovers Lane by The Go-Betweens. Which elements of these albums did you try to bring into Acknowledge Kindness?
I love the sound and feel of those records. Acoustic guitars, piano flourishes, lots of reverb of course. I am in love with the late 80’s sounds, big drums, chorus pedals, but it’s the vulnerability expressed in those records that make them inspiring for me.

Houses is an atypical track for you, in 6/8 time and about the spaces between houses. How did the idea of exploring such an abstract theme come about?
There’s a book called The Waves by Virginia Woolf, in which the existence of an empty house is an entire chapter. It’s a masterclass in writing, to leave out the human characters and just talk about a place, so I tried that with my song. It’s about the places in-between houses where I live, that appear in a lot of my photographs.

The Houses video was created by Katiana Mashikian. What is it like working with someone who also performs live in the band?
I feel like she understood the song on another level, being a good friend and collaborator. She came up with a perfect visualization of the themes. She lives 3 blocks away from me, so she gets the neighborhood that is part of The Reds, Pinks & Purples lore. In fact, the entire band lives in the same neighborhood.

Steven R. Smith contributed baritone guitar. How does collaborating with other musicians influence your creative process?
I mostly make my records in solitude. I like the isolation and maybe it comes through in the feel of the albums. If anything they are maybe too consistent, but that is my signature. Occasionally, when I get stuck, someone like Steve will add a different color, which makes it more fun for me. The band who play live me, are in a way my muses, I try to come up with songs that will later suit their style in the live context.

The chiming guitars and piano create very intimate and melancholic soundscapes. How would you describe the sonic evolution of this work compared to your previous releases?
I used more piano and nylon string acoustic guitar as the basis for the song structure, so that added a new element. I also got some better gear, which elevated the sound. I am into contrasting murky cavernous sounds with very clean sounds, and I was able to realize that even more on this album.

You spent eight months on the arrangements while keeping the emotions at the core. What was the biggest challenge in maintaining emotional authenticity while polishing the album’s sound?
I tend to get sick of my songs very quickly, so I had to keep editing and changing the music to keep my brain engaged. The vocals themselves are the hardest part of making any album. For me at least, they have to be a performance, so I tend to not edit the vocals. I spend a long time getting the backing track ready, but I try to nail the vocals in one take.

Your music is often described as “melancholic yet hopeful.” How do you manage to balance these contrasts so delicately?
I realize my songs are melancholy, so often last minute I will flip a few lines to be more positive just to let some light in. But I am happy making sad music. It’s my favorite type of music. I am a melancholy person. I am fine with it at this point.

There’s a strong sense of nostalgia throughout the album. Is that something you intentionally seek or does it naturally emerge in your writing process?
The art of songwriting is naturally nostalgic. Everyone writing a song is writing from memory of songs past, it doesn’t matter what genre. We are all singing the same stories, like a bunch of whales singing ancient songs in the ocean.

After Acknowledge Kindness, what new sonic or thematic directions are you interested in exploring?
Good question. I am not sure what I am doing next. I have about a dozen new songs, but I am not sure how I want them to sound. I am in an exploration phase, messing with different gear and techniques. I like to keep my mind open until I discover a new approach.
Thank you for the questions!