Vienna Vienna is an exciting new artist carving out his own musical genre by blending vibrant, shimmering guitars with infectious melodies and personal lyrics with a queer twist, to create a sound he’s coined, “glimmer rock.” Vienna Vienna’s sound is melody-forward, built on a foundation of shimmering reverb, electric guitar riffs full of personality, and juicy hooks lathered in witty playfulness, and ultimately, empowerment. 

The Fresno, California born, LA-based singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist has just released his debut EP, Wonderland, via PULSE Records (in collaboration with Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz’ label, DCD2), and just dropped the new unapologetically queer anthem, God Save the Queens.

Vienna Vienna’s journey to Wonderland has been one of self-discovery and embracing his queer identity, themes that are deeply reflected in the EP’s music. It’s a vibrant universe that embodies the singer’s radiant weirdness, exploring the juxtaposition of his queerness and his reevaluated relationship with faith, being brought up in a religious family and singing in church at a young age.

The first single, “Vienna (Everything’s Fine),” brings a refreshing approach to the electric guitar, delivering a gripping alternative rock sound. The track fuses dreamy guitar riffs with raw, revealing lyrics, offering a glimpse into the messy process of self-improvement that’s both sarcastic and soul-searching. Vienna Vienna sings, “I’m not scared to die, yeah fucking right, you’re too cool to care but you fucking tried…” capturing the tension of confronting inner turmoil.

“An ego check, cold sweat and realization, a bit of a bummer. I approach this like I approach everything, facetiously and lathered in distortion,” says Vienna Vienna with regard to the track. “Accepting that people care about you hurts like hell, but could you learn to be more like them? If you poke around inside yourself for long enough, you might see love underneath the rubble; It might be worth digging for.”

The video viewers on a bizarre, dreamlike journey where Vienna Vienna finds himself dosed and interrogated by a group of mysterious, surreal orange men, the quirky, offbeat sequence blurs the lines between reality and imagination, perfectly capturing the track’s tension between self-reflection and escapism. The visuals add an extra layer of intrigue, drawing audiences deeper into the singer’s unique artistic vision.

Pete Wentz, Fall Out Boy’s bassist and primary lyricist, and founder of DCD2, recalls listening to Vienna Vienna the first time upon receiving a demo copy. “Have you ever heard something that both felt so familiar and so alien all at once? That’s how I felt when I first heard the Vienna Vienna song, Sex, Drugs, Whatever. The lyricism feels adjacent to something our band would do, but also completely new and odd in the best way.”

“Truly, the whole experience has been very affirming; I knew early on that PULSE Records and DCD2 totally saw my vision, and it felt very natural to team up,” Vienna Vienna shares. “Pete and PULSE, they just get it. I’m grateful to be surrounded by unique and whole-hearted creativity every day. Strangeness is celebrated here, which is all I’ve ever asked for. PULSE is definitely the right home for me.”

Growing up, Vienna Vienna spent so much time in the church, which is where he found community and friendships, but at the same time having to hide a part of himself, and not able to be honest about his queerness. He began writing lyrics, first for himself, then showing other friends, and realized it wasn’t actually harder to be authentic.

He then discovered the punk and hardcore scenes while living in Nashville, and found a new love of music. At its core, he describes glimmer rock as a shared catharsis of a loud fucking show, not holding back, and being dramatic because it’s fun and campy. Catch hold of a glimmer, this special light at the end of a tunnel, where you can see yourself, and you can feel yourself. 

Vienna Vienna are performing in Toronto on March 10, 2025 at Danforth Music Hall, opening for K Flay. Vienna Vienna invites his fans to get there early and immerse themselves into a space of shared catharsis, where joy and relief take centre stage.

About the Author

Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist with a focus on travel, lifestyle, entertainment and hospitality. He has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors and other public personalities. He enjoys discovering delicious eats, tasting spirited treats, and being mesmerized by musical beats.