From the vibrant streets of Toronto to stages around the globe, Glenn Lewis has been crafting a sound that’s equal parts heart, history, and undeniable soul. Born into a lineage of rhythm—his father fronted the iconic Crack of Dawn, his mother carried Trinidadian fire—music wasn’t just in his blood, it was his first language.
From the breakout magic of World Outside My Window to the reflective grooves of Moment of Truth, and the bold experimentation of Chasing Goosebumps, Glenn has always been more than a voice—he’s a storyteller, a vibe, a feeling that lingers long after the track ends.
This tête-à-tête isn’t about charts or awards—it’s about the stories behind the notes, the sparks behind the soul, and the journey of a man who continues to push the boundaries of R&B, keeping it real, raw, and unapologetically smooth. Step in, press play, and meet Glenn Lewis—the past, the present, and the pulse of what’s next in neo-soul.
Our Glenn Lewis Interview
Parlé Mag: It’s been over a decade. What did that time away teach you about yourself that music couldn’t before?
Glenn Lewis: It taught me who I was when things got quiet — not as an artist, not through other people’s expectations, just as a man. Music always gave me a way to express myself, but life taught me how to really sit with myself. It taught me patience, perspective, and that some of your biggest growth happens when nobody sees it.
Parlé Mag: “Past Tense” feels reflective, not reactive. What were you ready to say now that you couldn’t say then?
Glenn Lewis: I think I was finally ready to say it without the weight of the moment sitting on top of it. When you’re in something, you don’t always have the language for it yet. Time gives you understanding. So this wasn’t about reacting — it was about looking back honestly and speaking from a calmer place.
Parlé Mag: When you listen back to your early work, what do you hear differently today?
Glenn Lewis: I hear honesty more than anything. I hear a young man really feeling his way through love, life, and growth. I’m proud of that. But now I also hear innocence. I hear someone telling the truth as he understood it then, even though life still had more to teach him.
Parlé Mag: How has your understanding of love and accountability evolved from your first album to now?
Glenn Lewis: Back then, love felt more emotional to me. It was about the feeling, the connection, the hurt, the longing. Now I understand that love also asks for maturity. It asks for honesty. It asks for accountability. At some point, you have to stop looking outward and be honest about what you brought into it too.
Parlé Mag: You’ve returned on your own terms. Why was independence necessary for this chapter?
Glenn Lewis: Because this chapter had to be truthful. I didn’t want to come back trying to recreate something people remembered or chase a moment. I needed the freedom to move at my own pace and make the kind of music that feels real to me now. Independence gave me that space.
Parlé Mag: Writing this album alone changes everything. What did that process reveal to you?
Glenn Lewis: It revealed a lot, because when you’re writing alone, there’s nowhere to hide. It’s just you and whatever’s really there. For me, it showed me what I’d made peace with, what I was still carrying, and what I actually wanted to say. It was honest in a way that can be uncomfortable sometimes, but necessary.
Parlé Mag: Your work with DJ Jazzy Jeff felt like a bridge between eras. What did that experience bring back into your music?
Glenn Lewis: Working with Jeff brought me back to feeling — to groove, to trust. He understands that music doesn’t always have to do a lot to say something powerful. Sometimes it’s about the pocket, the emotion, the space. That reminded me of what I’ve always loved most about soul music.
Parlé Mag: Moment of Truth was about release. Does this new project feel more like clarity?
Glenn Lewis: Yeah, I think clarity is the right word. Moment of Truth felt like letting something go. This feels more like understanding what it all meant. The emotion is still there, but it’s coming from a more settled place now.
Parlé Mag: There’s space and restraint in this new record. What made you lean into that approach?
Glenn Lewis: I think when you’ve lived a little more, you stop trying to force everything. You start to trust space. You trust what doesn’t need to be said twice. I wanted these songs to breathe. I wanted the emotion to have room. Sometimes the quieter choices end up saying the most.
Parlé Mag: What kept your connection to music alive during the years you were away?
Glenn Lewis: Music never really left me. Even if I wasn’t putting records out, it was still part of how I lived, how I felt, how I reflected. Some things are just part of who you are. Music has always been that for me.
Parlé Mag: For those who grew with you, what do you want them to recognize in your voice today?
Glenn Lewis: I’d want them to still hear the heart in it — the sincerity. But hopefully they also hear the life in it now too: the years, the lessons, the peace, the growth. It’s still me, just with more behind it.
Parlé Mag: As you look ahead, what does this next chapter represent for you — personally and musically?
Glenn Lewis: Personally, it represents peace. Growth too. Just being more grounded in who I am. Musically, it represents freedom — the freedom to make what feels true, to say what I mean, and to move forward without trying to chase the past.
Stay Connected with Glen Lewis
@glennlewis365 on Instagram
Official website: glennlewisofficial.com – for news, new music (Past Tense), and updates.
