Photography Simons Finnerty
Stylist Rudi Edwards
Interview Jodie Hill
John Glacier isn’t interested in fitting into neat narratives or musical tropes. For years, the London-born, Hackney-raised rapper, poet, producer and self-described “airy boss,” (more on that later) was branded “enigmatic.” But the truth is that she was just quietly building an entire creative universe on her own terms—one that’s now spilling out into the mainstream through her music, high-profile fashion campaigns (Burberry, Stone Island, Adidas), and her deliberately chaotic social media presence. When I sat down with John at the tail end of a blazing, chaotic summer, she had just played her first Glastonbury and was gearing up to release a deluxe version of her album Like A Ribbon; a fragmented, poetic exploration of life tied together by four seasons. We talked about fashion rumors (no, she does not buy £20 shoes), why her style icons have always been close to home, and how people are finally getting the memo that she’s neither mystic nor mystery, all while casually flexing a perfectly matched lip-boot-bag combo.
DURAN LANTINK hanging denim pants; STONE ISLAND sweater; LACOSTE polo shirt; ADIDAS sneakers.
Jodie Hill: So, how was your summer? Big summer.
John Glacier: Summer was busy. Shit, summer’s basically gone. I did my first Glastonbury!
JH: How was it?
JG: It was insane. It’s, like, really hard to process.
JH: Had you been before?
JG: No, I’d never been. I played on the Park Stage, which has a lot of anti-fascist, anti war statements all over it. It was a beautiful stage to perform on.
JH: Of all the stages, you definitely want an anti-fascist stage. That’s a good vibe.
JG: Literally. I put out my first album this year called Like A Ribbon, and from the stage I could see this beautiful ribbon tower. It was perfect.
JH: Who did you see at Glastonbury?
JG: I saw Charli XCX and I can finally say… I’m a fan. We were just going nuts and could barely see anything from the crowd. She’s a vibe.
JH: I kinda think she’s all vibes? Are you more of a club girl or a chill girl?
JG: I like a bit of everything in life.
JH: Why is the album called Like A Ribbon?
JG: To me, the title is very basic. The best thing I could compare life to, or the journey of life, is a ribbon. Like a bow, you can always untie it and re-tie it. You can think you’re stuck but you’re never truly stuck. There’s always a way out, it can just take a little longer sometimes.
LOUIS VUITTON shoulder pleat detail turtleneck top and Nomad mid boots; TOGA boxer shorts; KNWLS belt.
“I’ve always known who I am and I’ve always been there, so I don’t know how I always get this title of being ‘mysterious.’”
JH: Now that summer is over, what’s next?
JG: Actually, I have a new release coming out next week. It’s a deluxe album of Like A Ribbon, with five new tracks, and it’s the final chapter in this series. This project is inspired by the seasons and the cycles of life. Skrillex produced one of the tracks on it, which is cool.
JH: Really cool. Do you have a favorite track?
JG: I feel like they all mean something different to me; they all have their own intentions. I wouldn’t exactly say it’s my favorite, but there’s a song called “Let the Money Fall, Let the Money Rain”, which is about being raised in Hackney.
JH: Do you feel like the album is representative of a specific time in your life?
JG: I think each song reflects a mood of mine in a moment, but I wanted it to reflect the seasons. There’s four sides, to represent each one.
JH: So like, winter reflects sadness and summer reflects happiness?
JG: Not really. On the winter side I have this song called “Found”, which is about discovering yourself. I guess by the time winter comes, you’ve made it to the end of the year, but winter is also the beginning of the year, so it travels from the end to the beginning.
JH: I’ve never really thought about it that way.
JG: To me, winter is the season of reflection. It is the end and the beginning, at once.
JH: That’s deep. What’s your favorite season?
JG: Funny, I don’t think I have one. I like countries that just have hot weather all round.
JH: So you’re a sun chaser.
JG: Yeah! I think so. I’m definitely all about tanning. When I’m in Jamaica, my skin is this solid lovely color.
LACOSTE polo shirt; SIMONE ROCHA faux fur scarf; vintage trackpants courtesy of Cassie Mercantile.
JH: London is not really giving, is it?
JG: Everyone goes feral in the summer.
JH: Yeah it’s not cute. Let’s talk about your style… You’ve been fronting some big fashion campaigns lately. Has modeling changed the way you dress?
JG: I think my style is always changing. I always look for practical clothes but I also want to look nice. Comfort is an essential, like these boots I’m wearing right now are so comfortable.
JH: I heard a rumor that you only spend £20 on shoes.
JG: I don’t know where anyone’s getting shoes for £20. I used to wear some designer stuff before I started doing more fashion brand collaborations,bbut nothing was £20. I’ve always liked stuff that’s shiny, like my boots. And I like colors that complement my skin tone.
JH: Wow, I just realized your lips, handbag and boots all match.
JG: It’s not even a conscious decision, it’s innate.
MIU MIU dress and slingback sandals; vintage necklace courtesy of Rellik.
JH: What would you call this color you’re wearing? Bordeaux?
JG: It’s maroon.
JH: It really suits you.
JG: Thank you!
JH: When you were growing up, did you have any style icons?
JG: If I’m being real, my mum and my grandma were all I needed. My grandma kept some of my mom’s clothes when she was younger, so I have access to all of that. My granddad could fucking dress too. I think my family are my style icons. Those four can really dress.
JH: What are you excited about at the moment?
JG: I don’t even know anymore. Definitely the deluxe album coming out. Also I just got back from L.A. — I made a track with Montell Fish and we shot a music video for it.
JH: What are you doing in the video?
JG: Being eerie… Being strong…
JH: …being a boss?
JG: An airy boss.
GIVENCHY BY SARAH BURTON lace bustier mini dress and sliced square ballerina flats; vintage hoodie courtesy of Cassie Mercantile; stylist’s own socks.
Is John your real birth name?
“Yeah.”
Why did your parents call you John?
“Because they are fucking legends.”
ASHLEY WILLIAMS dress; vintage earrings courtesy of Rellik.
JH: Do you think people sometimes mistake your vibe because of your
music?
JG: Yeah, I’m not gonna lie. I’m a boss, but people are only now connecting the dots. Since the beginning, when I was coming up, I’ve always said I’m from Hackney. I’ve always known who I am and I’ve always been there, so I don’t know how I always get this title of being “mysterious.” When my fifirst album Shiloh came out, everything that was written about me was that I was mystical, enigmatic or mysterious. But now, it’s very much “Hackney rapper,” which I’m cool with.
JH: Hackney rapper is very far from enigmatic and mystical.
JG: Everybody’s finally gotten the message and I’m like, thank you! I’m happy about it.
JH: I definitely thought you were this chill, quiet girl until I went onto your Instagram… And it’s so not that!
JG: My Instagram is so unstructured. I’m way too chaotic to act in that way.
JH: Is John your real birth name?
JG: Yeah.
JH: Why did your parents call you John?
JG: Because they are fucking legends.
HERMÈS cashmere and leather dress; LACOSTE polo shirt; vintage earrings courtesy of Rellik.
“I’m not gonna lie. I’m a boss, but people are only now connecting the dots.”
BURBERRY crochet fringed mohair cape; ADIDAS Originals shoes.
Makeup Rebecca Wordingham
Hair Jaz Lanyero
Nails Abena Robinson
Casting GK-LD
Production VP Projects
October 2025