A few months after the success of the “Sia Trilogy” and the publication of the photo book “A New Day,” Solstice continue their extraordinary journey of rediscovery and enhancement of their catalogue. After the treatment given to “Silent Dance,” it is now the turn of another pillar of their discography: “New Life,” reissued in a sumptuous 2026 Remaster edition. In this exclusive interview, Andy Glass takes us behind the scenes of this operation, through new sonic nuances, Shaun Blake‘s iconic artwork, and the choice of precious bonus content celebrating the unbreakable bond between the band and their “Clann.”
Andy, welcome back to Progressive Rock Journal. After the masterful work on “Silent Dance,” what pushed you to revisit “New Life” in this 2026?
Thank you for talking to me Jacopo! The increased interest in the band over the last few years has led to many requests for our back catalogue to be revisited. None of the pre-Sia albums have been in print for 20 years so I’d been considering remastered releases for some time. I started, of course, at the beginning by taking a look at Silent Dance. New Life was the belated 1993 follow up and contained many of the songs we’d played live in the early days, so it made sense to release it as the next in the remaster series.
You’ve often stated that you weren’t fully satisfied with the original sound quality of the 1984 debut. Were there similar aspects of “New Life” that you felt needed to be “corrected” with today’s technology?
This is very true… and a feeling shared by Steven Wilson that motivated him to remix several tracks to satisfy his own desire to improve the sonics of some of his favourite songs from the period… if only the multitrack tapes for the whole album had still existed… We started the recording process for Silent Dance looking for a good quality rendition of our live performances but felt we left with something quite different. It was my dissatisfaction with the result that motivated me to assemble my own recording gear and learn how to use it. Some eight years later we recorded New Life in my home studio and I still feel we came much closer to that goal with the material that didn’t make Silent Dance. As a result I didn’t feel the album needed any radical updating other than to improve clarity, overall tone and stereo imaging. I’ve just listened to the vinyl test pressing and WOOO!! It sounds good!!
The remastering process can be a creative challenge. How did you manage to keep the original Folk-Prog soul of the album intact while raising its sonic standard to the levels of your latest productions like “Clann” or “Light Up”?
In any mixing or mastering process it’s about using your ears. Modern digital technology provides endless possibilities, including breaking down stereo tracks into component instruments and remixing them, which I didn’t go for. I took a leaf from Steven Wilson’s book and tried to remain as loyal to the original as possible whilst providing the sonic sheen expected by the contemporary audience.
Let’s talk about the visual impact: the new edition boasts unreleased artwork signed by Shaun Blake. How has your collaboration evolved, and how does this new cover reflect the album’s content today?
I love Shaun’s artwork! To me it says ‘New Life’ loud and clear with it’s references to nature’s bounty and the spring season. It couldn’t be more relevant. We began working together when we had the idea of ‘painting’ the photo Phoenix Robins had proposed for the cover of Sia. Since then Shaun has created covers for Light Up and Clann along with our logo, the documentary ‘New Light’ and numerous pieces of content. He’s an amazing talent and a lovely man.
For this reissue you’ve chosen several formats, including a 180gm coloured vinyl and a CD in a 6-panel Digi-wallet format. How important is it for you to offer fans such a high-quality physical object in the streaming era?
It’s a top priority! I grew up opening beautiful albums and reading the sleeves whilst immersing myself in the music. I believe it’s what both the music and the listener deserve. A treasured artefact that’s tangible, tactile and long lasting.
Coming to the CD content, you’ve included three live tracks: “New Life,” “Guardian” and “Morning Light“. By what criteria were these specific performances selected?
I was looking for the best live performances of tracks from the album, ideally as previously unreleased versions. In the end I had to use Guardian from ‘Return To Cropredy’… there’s just something about it. But the other two have never appeared on a physical release so I nearly managed it.
Do these live versions feature the current lineup with Jess Holland? If so, how does the perception of these ’90s classics change through her voice?
Yes they do… the hope is, whoever sings a song, that they will bring their own unique voice and interpretation to it. I think that’s true of both Heidi Kemp and Jess. They’re both wonderful singers.
“Guardian” is considered by many (and it’s also my favourite!) the beating heart of your entire discography. Oz Hardwick describes it as a “carpet of atmospheres moving from the meditative to the exuberant.” What do you remember of its original composition, and how does it sound today in this remastered guise?
I recently listened to the bootleg of our very first gig at Berkhamsted Town Hall in 1980 and, to my amazement discovered that we actually played in early incarnation of Guardian. It’s evolution into what it later became is quite extraordinary. So the song has literally always been there and must have been one of the ideas myself and Marc Elton jammed around the campfire in the year or so before the band formed. The New Life version features the awesome bass playing of Craig Sunderland, Marc’s exceptional violin and Heidi’s sublime vocal so, yeah, I love it and feel very proud of what we achieved with the album.
The other “epic” of the album is “Journey.” In remastering it, did you find sonic details or nuances that had remained buried in the original mix for decades?
Yes I did, I’m not one for listening back to old recordings but ‘Journey’, as with ‘Morning Light’, is full of little parts and atmospheric production details that have been long forgotten and remained largely hidden until now.
You’ve planned an “All-in-One Package” including CD, Vinyl, T-shirt, Tote Bag and digital download. It seems you want to create a total immersive experience for the Solstice fan. Is this how you intend to celebrate your “Clann“?
Credit for this must go to Martin Jenkins, a Guardian who’s recently joined the team, and to our merchandise magician, Shane Field. Yes, we absolutely want to celebrate New Life with all our amazing Clann. We’d be nothing without them!
In a recent interview you mentioned taking time for remasters and live albums to “consolidate what has been achieved.” Do you think this work on “New Life” closes a circle before you dedicate yourself to completely new music?
Work on the next studio album is already well underway and pegged for a summer 27 release. I’m thrilled with the results so far and feel it’ll represent another step forward for the band. But albums of new music take a good 2 years to produce so the remasters and live albums serve well to fill those gaps and hopefully provide engaging output.
Compared to the “Sia Trilogy,” which represents your present, how do you place “New Life” in the band’s narrative? Do you see it more as a bridge to the future or as a stand-alone chapter?
The band has a 46 year history and New Life closes the chapter that was our first five years. They’re all songs created between 1980 and 1985. The remaster series will continue over the next few years to include Circles, Spirit and Prophecy, the first two of which have never been released on vinyl so that’s an exciting proposition for me and the band.
The remaster will be officially available from 19 August. Have you planned to play the entire album at any special event or tour dedicated to this release?
We’ll be promoting the album on the 10 remaining shows of 2026 and playing half of it at them all. The difficulty is that there’s so much new music we want to play so something has to give… not a bad problem to have is it.😄
In the liner notes of “Silent Dance 2025” there was talk of an almost “new” album. Can we expect the same kind of sonic “magic” for this edition of “New Life” too?
The Silent Dance remaster made a huge difference to the sonic quality. With New Life, I’m starting from something that already sounds pretty good but, yes, it’s sparkling now and I’m incredibly proud of it.
Managing the official store and international shipping (especially outside Europe) requires great logistical effort. How vital is the direct support you receive through the website and platforms like the “Guardians” server to Solstice‘s independence?
It’s absolutely essential. Without the support of our Guardians we simply couldn’t function at this level. On the road we’re a party of ten and concert fees nowhere near cover the expenses. We keep recording, manufacture and content costs to the absolute minimum but again, revenue from each release would barely cover the cost of a couple of shows. The support of our Guardians and indeed the wider Clann is golden and we’re eternally grateful for the opportunity to make and perform music they provide.
You’ve personally curated the mix and editing of many of your live videos and audio. Has this technical experience influenced the way you approached the remaster of “New Life”?
Recording, producing, mixing and mastering is an ongoing learning curve. Hopefully I’m getting a bit better with each album. Mixing live recordings is particularly challenging and it takes me a huge amount of time to achieve a result I’m essentially happy with. Some live albums get processed and repaired to the point that they sound like studio albums… I prefer live albums to be an honest representation of the show, warts and all, so it’s a question of finding the right balance.
Looking back at the period when “New Life” was originally recorded, what is the prevailing emotion you feel listening back to those tracks today with forty more years of experience?
To be honest it’s a feeling of pride and genuine surprise at how good the album is. I don’t listen back to early recordings and this one touched me in unexpected ways when I did. As I mentioned earlier, there’s some great performances and, in particular, Heidi’s vocals are sublime.
Is there a particular message you’d like to send to the “Clann” who are eagerly waiting to rediscover this work?
Only that I hope you’ll all be as pleased as I am with the result. It’s an authentic document of the material absent from Silent Dance on the songs we’d played live with Sue Robinson, Shelly Patt, Sandy Leigh and Barbara Deason on vocals. Heidi does them all proud as did the rest of the New Life line up. It’s a shame we never got to perform live together but we have this record to remind us.. and for the first time it’s on vinyl!!
Andy Glass‘ dedication to preserving and reinvigorating the Solstice legacy is proof of a deep love for his own art and for his audience. “New Life 2026 Remaster” is not just a nostalgic operation, but an act of renewal that allows one of the band’s most beloved works to shine with a new and vibrant light. We invite all readers to support the band by visiting the official store and to let themselves be carried away once again by the timeless sonic textures of tracks like “Guardian” and “Journey.” Solstice‘s rebirth continues, and the journey is more fascinating than dreamy than ever.
Purchase “New Life” Remastered here: https://solsticeprog.uk/solstore