Pit Perspective: Blue Medusa’s Alissa White-Gluz Interview at Aftershock 2026

Blue Medusa and Creative Freedom

At Aftershock, Alissa White-Gluz says Blue Medusa gives her room to express herself fully. The songs now feel complete, she says, and writing with musicians who share her tastes and can bring any idea to life has been especially rewarding.

The band’s lineup came together through past collaborations and songwriting sessions. Alissa jokes that the similar names can make it hard to keep everyone straight: she’s joined by bassist Alicia, guitarist Alyssa, guitarist Danny, and drummer Delaney.

Getting on Stage—and Reworking Sayings

The band had begun playing shows in Berlin about a month earlier, so Aftershock wasn’t their first live outing. Alissa objects to calling it their “first rodeo,” pointing out that rodeos involve animal cruelty. After some discussion, the group settles on “first party” as a replacement.

That leads to a playful conversation about expressions. Alissa prefers “feed two birds with one seed” to “kill two birds with one stone,” and suggests “pet a cat” instead of “skin a cat.” The hosts also discuss the grim history behind “don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater,” expressing surprise that the water could be filthy by the time a baby was washed.

What’s Next for Blue Medusa

Alissa says Blue Medusa has European dates planned, with more singles and videos on the way and a full album expected that year. She’s also co-directing the videos, which she sees as a way to shape a song’s mood visually—not merely release music.

The conversation turns nostalgic about MTV’s music-video era and the music the interviewees grew up with. Alissa mentions ’80s music, Soundgarden, and Pearl Jam. They also celebrate women who pushed through a male-dominated rock scene, including Lita Ford.

Blue Medusa is announced for the Faultline stage that afternoon. After an initial mix-up about the time, the interview settles on 4:00.

People Mentioned

• Alissa White-Gluz
• Interviewers: Lisa Holt and Chel Evah
• Blue Medusa members: Alicia, Alyssa, Danny, and Delaney