Exclusive Interview with Glen Hofbauer

Artist Spotlight: Glen Hofbauer

Glen Hofbauer is an award-winning singer/songwriter based outside Chicago, Illinois. His latest track, “When We Were Cool” is an Americana Folk Rock song rooted in feelings of nostalgia and happiness.

With wisdom and candor, Glen opens up about the creative process, personal growth, and why the music still matters.

MusicsWeek: Can you walk us through your typical songwriting process?

Glen: Well, I’d describe my process as more of a stumble than a walk! But seriously, I typically start on the guitar, plucking around until I find an interesting riff or chord progression. From there, I build out the basic sections. For me, the music is the foundation of a song—even without lyrics, it should stand alone and evoke a mood or feeling. Once that musical framework is set, then comes the challenge of finding the words and storyline that match the vibe.

MusicsWeek: Where do you find inspiration for your lyrics and melodies?

Glen: Life’s experiences are my fertile ground—love, joy, frustration, struggles, relationships, loss—be it lived or observed. Once I have the idea, I focus heavily on storytelling. I really want the listener to see the song. Take my new single “When We Were Cool”—written for my high school’s 100th annual alumni banquet—it drops the listener right into a class reunion before taking them back to relive the bliss of youth. As for melodies, they mostly occur naturally once I start singing the lines.

MusicsWeek: How do you handle writer’s block or creative slumps?

Glen: I take a break…I don’t force something that isn't happening. I might go weeks or even months without writing. I know some songwriters swear by exercising the "writing muscle" every single day and hats off to them—that’s probably why they’re more successful! But for me, I never want songwriting to feel like a chore or an obligation.

MusicsWeek: What comes first for you: the music or the lyrics?

Glen: The music usually comes first. As I mentioned earlier, most of my songs begin with a guitar riff or chord progression rather than a line of poetry. Occasionally, though, a line or hook hits me so strongly that I have to grab my notebook—and when that happens, the words sometimes spill right onto the page.

MusicsWeek: How do you know when a song is truly finished?

Glen: It’s finished when the real thing catches up to the version that was already playing in my head. So, after I lay down the basic chords and figure out the melody with my scratch vocal, I listen back to see what—if anything—is missing to support the vibe. Most of the time, I can hear the finished version clearly, but I still have those fun moments during the production phase where I think, "Ooh, I should add some strings here," or "I think this one needs horns." I truly enjoy wearing the producer hat.

MusicsWeek: How do you decide on the theme or concept for an album?

Glen: For the most part, my albums don't have an overarching theme. Aside from last year’s Christmas album, my records are a real box of chocolates. As my friend and collaborator Carter Green—who engineers and plays all the instruments I can't—tells me, "Glen, you never cease to surprise me... every song is different!"

MusicsWeek: Do you write music on the road or only in a dedicated space?

Glen: I don't spend time touring, unless you count driving to visit family and friends! Because of that, I’d say 70 to 80% of what you hear on a track is created in my home studio—which is actually just a converted garage where I record all my stems.

MusicsWeek: Have you ever had a dream to inspire a song or an album?

Glen: I haven't had a full song come to me in a dream, but I have woken up with a melody stuck in my head. When that happens, I've learned to immediately roll over and hum it into my Voice Memos; otherwise, it’s lost forever.

MusicsWeek: How do you handle a song idea that doesn't fit into your current project?

Glen: That doesn't happen often. If I like a finished song, it usually lands on the album. If not, I simply put it on the shelf for another day.

MusicsWeek: Do you ever revisit old songs to rework or find inspiration?

Glen: Sure. If I have an unfinished start where the lyrics or melody didn't quite land, I’ll occasionally strip it for parts—robbing the lyrics to pair up with a different tune or take its chord progression for better-fitting lines.