Pete Wentz, Angel Wings and Viennese Whirls: Inside Vienna Vienna’s Glasgow Debut
Written by Lauren Page | @LiveWithLP
Vienna Vienna is having a bit of a moment. Not just because he’s travelled across the Atlantic for his first ever run of shows on this side of the world, or because he was about to play his first Scottish show at Glasgow’s Garage.
He was also quite enjoying being cold.
“I get to wear a sweater,” he laughed when I caught up with J ahead of the show. “It’s so hot back home. It’s nice to just relax, enjoy the cool weather.”
Welcome to Scotland, J. We can absolutely guarantee you that one.
But questionable Scottish temperatures aside, there was something genuinely lovely about watching J (known as Vienna Vienna on stage) take in exactly how far his music has travelled.
This is his first time performing over here at all, and after a long time away from playing his own headline shows, getting back in front of his fans has clearly meant a lot.
“They’re pretty amazing,” he said of the UK crowds. “I haven’t played a headliner show in a really long time, so it’s been really nice to get that feeling again with the crowds and meet the fans out here.”
It was interesting to hear that these really are new fans and new places for Vienna.
“I’ve never been here. So I’m meeting all these lovely people for the very first time and seeing all these wonderful faces.”
Then came the sentence that probably sums up this entire chapter of his career better than anything else.
“I can’t believe I’m in Scotland right now.” Honestly, fair.
“The places that this has taken me are pretty unbelievable. I really can’t believe it.”
Of course, there was one thing I felt it was only right to warn him about before stepping onto a stage in Glasgow for the first time. Scottish crowds.
“I’ve been hearing this,” he laughed. “Everybody I’ve spoken to is like, ‘Everybody gets really excited for Glasgow shows.’ So I’m getting really excited as well.”
I warned him we might get a little feral. “Get feral? OK. Good to know.”
Consider yourself warned.
But behind the brilliantly chaotic personality and a live show that feels like stepping directly into the world of Vienna Vienna, there’s a vulnerability to his songwriting that has connected with a remarkably broad group of people.
One of the best examples is Angel Wings - a song I had to admit has been played so many times on my Spotify this year that if it doesn’t appear in my Wrapped, I’ll be filing a complaint.
Thankfully, Vienna loves it just as much. “I love that song, is the first thing I’ll say.”
The track came together alongside K.Flay, with J describing a pretty relaxed writing session in California involving guitars, a drum machine and a little inspiration.
“We just did what we usually do. Pulled some guitars out and kind of started fumbling around.”
But underneath it is something much more personal.
For Vienna, Angel Wings explores growing up queer and religious, particularly the strange experience of hiding part of yourself from the people closest to you.
“There was an aspect of it which is the unique feeling that is hiding it from the people you’re close to,” he explained. “You feel a bit like you’re on the run.”
There was even, he admits now, something almost romantic about believing he'd successfully kept that secret. “I’m doing a really good job of hiding this right now.”
Apparently, he wasn't.
“It turns out plenty of friends that I have kept from those days have been like, ‘What? Come on.’”
It’s that ability to take something deeply personal and turn it into music that other people can find themselves within that makes Vienna Vienna’s songwriting so interesting.
He’s still figuring out exactly what his voice as a songwriter is.
“I’m enjoying right now getting a sense of my voice as a songwriter,” he said. “I think that’s always the goal, to figure out what that thing is so I can really hone it and sharpen that skill.”
So when I asked if there was an aspect of his life he hadn't managed to put into a song yet, there wasn't an immediate answer.
“I’ll keep finding and keep digging.”
We agreed I’ll ask him again in a year. Hopefully by then there’ll also be a song about Irn-Bru.
There is, however, another pretty significant person in the Vienna Vienna story: Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz.
Long before Glasgow, headline shows and fans screaming his lyrics back at him, Vienna had an unreleased private SoundCloud link that he was sending around.
Well, “private” might be stretching it.
“I basically texted it to everybody,” he laughed. “So I sort of leaked my own music for like a year or two.” Iconic behaviour, really.
Eventually, that music found its way to Wentz through a friend of a friend.
“I guess it got to him and he wanted to have a meeting. Then now I’m in Glasgow.”
Quite the pipeline.
But Wentz’s influence has gone much further than simply discovering the music. J now has someone with decades of experience in the industry to turn to while navigating a world that is still relatively new to him.
“It’s great to have somebody with a lot of experience in the world that I’m in now to guide me,” he explained, particularly when it comes to “some of the parts that I’m just not used to.”
“I’m grateful for Pete.”
For anyone currently sitting on their own version of that private SoundCloud link wondering how on earth you go from making music to actually building a career from it, Vienna’s advice is refreshingly simple. Perform.
“I think the thing that I’m the most grateful that I pursued was performing and taking any opportunity that I could to perform.”
It wasn’t simply about becoming more comfortable on stage either.
Through playing live, J found musicians, collaborators and friends - and ultimately became part of a community.
“I think that’s been the key, involving myself in a scene and trying to just stay connected to people and make more friends,” he said. “Finding community in live music was probably the biggest thing for me.”
Which feels particularly fitting while sitting inside one of Glasgow’s live music venues ahead of his first ever Scottish show.
There was, however, one final piece of important business to deal with before Vienna headed on stage. British cuisine.
His trip had already included Walkers Prawn Cocktail crisps, mushy peas, pie and mash, gravy and a Yorkshire pudding.
“The food’s quite good,” he declared. “It’s been a delightful little food tour for me.”
But there was one thing missing.
A Viennese Whirl.
Obviously, I couldn't interview Vienna Vienna in Britain and not arrive armed with a packet of Mr Kipling Viennese Whirls.
“Oh, these are beautiful,” he said after opening the packet.
Then came the taste test. “These are great.” Success.
In fact, there was very little chance of them surviving until after the show. “These are gonna be gone if you come back later. I’m gonna devour these.”
So there you have it.
Vienna Vienna arrived in Scotland for the first time, prepared himself for a feral Glasgow crowd and discovered Mr Kipling Viennese Whirls.
Not bad for one night at The Garage.
Judging by the way he spoke about meeting the people who have found his music thousands of miles from home, I don't think the novelty of any of this has quite worn off yet.
“I can’t believe I’m in Scotland right now.” Hopefully next time, J, you will, and we’ll have the Irn-Bru waiting.