Words by Riley Fitzgerald
Graphic by Glen Schenau

Nusidm is the bold project of Brisbane’s Glen Schenau, who dives headfirst into avant-garde and noise music with his new album, Manifesto Stick. His release serves as a personal statement from the city’s underground music scene.

Glen’s artistic journey spans nearly 20 years. He first made a name for himself in the Australian underground as a key member of several significant Brisbane acts, a short list of which includes Cured Pink, Gerald Keaney and The Gerald Keaneys, Kitchen’s Floor, Marl Carx, Per Purpose, Psy Ants, and Sky Needle. His role in each highlights an unwavering commitment to pushing musical boundaries.

More recently his focus has fallen on solo recordings, such as bruit direct disques release The Last Temptation Of Thrill, and visual art. With Manifesto Stick, Glen crafts a captivatingly unique form of expression that reveals an authentic creative voice. One that feels both deeply personal and resonant.

Recorded primarily on an iPhone and produced at Glen’s home in the inner city suburb of Woolloongabba, the album embraces a lo-fi quality that aligns beautifully with the ethos of noise and avant-garde music. Each song immerses the listener in a dynamic auditory landscape. Schenau weaves together ambient textures, field recordings, and unconventional instrumentation, drawing inspiration from the urban environment to create an intimate experience of solitude.

His choice of material makes a striking commentary on life in Brisbane. The approach Glen takes with Nudsim resonates with a broader trend in experimental music, where the environment serves as a crucial element of composition. Schenau’s deft use of everyday sounds captures the joy and chaos of contemporary life. His playful yet introspective insularity encourages listeners to reflect on both personal and collective experiences, to explore existential themes of identity and the everyday absurd.

At its core, Manifesto Stick is a testament to Glen’s ability to carve out his own identity in Brisbane’s landscape. Nusidm represents an authentic expression of creativity and emerges as a dynamic work of originality in Brisbane’s underground music scene. Schenau’s vision – unfiltered and innovative – casts Glen a unique role within Brisbane’s music and art scene. That of an outsider amongst outsiders. For collectors and enthusiasts alike, this album is essential, highlighting the exciting potential Nusidm holds for future experimentation.

Listen to the album here.