GLU, the genre-blending solo project of Michael Shuman (Queens of the Stone Age, Mini Mansions), returns today with a striking, reimagined cover of Jennifer Paige’s ’90s pop classic ‘Crush’. The release signals a year of exciting activity, as well as a brand new recording deal with FLG (Skunk Anansie, Corella, As It Is).
Today’s cover reshapes a globally recognised pop hit into a darker, more cinematic version, preserving the song’s universal vulnerability while placing it firmly within GLU’s modern, sonic world.
Watch the video
Shuman reflects on the choice of song: “Looking for the right cover song is an interesting task. You’re searching for a song which inherently is so deeply personal to the person who wrote it, yet it has to connect with you enough to try and make it your own. The music side is the fun part, where you augment it to a completely different landscape, giving a totally different perspective to the original. Crush is an amazing pop song, but was produced at a time where I don’t think it got its due. That being said, it was a huge hit that most of the world knows well, so when you play live to an audience who may not know your material, there’s that one song in the set they already are a fan of.”
GLU blends hip-hop, pop, electronic, and alternative influences into a truly unique and exciting sound.. Built as an exercise in momentum and self-trust, the project finds Shuman writing outside his comfort zone, starting with beats, synths, and lyrics rather than riffs. “I wanted to do something that scared me,” he explains. “Something that felt fresh, and fully on my own terms.”
GLU first emerged in early 2023 with debut EP MY DEMONS, a raw and revealing release exploring struggle, loss, addiction, and childhood trauma. In 2025, GLU hit a new high point with the single ‘BOOGIE MAN’, an infectious, dance-forward track about losing yourself in the moment and letting go of self-consciousness. Drawing comparisons to Jamiroquai, Gorillaz, and Mac Miller, the song secured a major sync placement in MLB The Show ‘25 alongside Kendrick Lamar & De La Soul. The track pushed GLU past 3 million global streams.
That momentum has also translated directly to the stage, with tours and headline dates across the UK, Europe, and the US. GLU has toured with The Kills, Blood Red Shoes, Miles Kane & more, alongside UK headline shows of its own. Kicking off tonight in Glasgow, GLU will support The Blue Stones across UK and Europe (see dates below).
Radio support from BBC Radio 1 and 6 Music, as well as glowing press from the likes of the NME, Rolling Stone & more, has further established GLU as a project operating well beyond “side project” territory.
With its fearless approach to reinvention and emotional honesty, GLU’s take on ‘Crush’ signals the start of a year of exciting activity, whilst blurring genres, stripping away pretence, and creating music that feels both personal and relatable.
UK/EU TOUR DATES (supporting The Blue Stones)
Wednesday, 4 February 2026 - Oran Mor – Glasgow, UK
Thursday, 5 February 2026 - Academy 2 – Manchester, UK
Friday, 6 February 2026 - O2 Kentish Forum - London, UK
Saturday, 7 February 2026 – Trix – Antwerp, BE
Monday, 9 February 2026 - Zoom (Saal Room) – Frankfurt, DE
Tuesday, 10 February 2026 – Gruenspan – Hamburg, DE
Wednesday, 11 February 2026 - Columbia Theatre – Berlin, DE
Thursday, 12 February 2026 – Proxima – Warsaw, PL
Saturday, 14 February 2026 - Rock Café – Prague, CZ
Sunday, 15 February 2026 – Flex – Vienna, AT
Monday, 16 February 2026 – Technikum – Munich, DE
Tuesday, 17 February 2026 - Plaza Club - Zurich, CH
Thursday, 19 February 2026 – Trabendo – Paris, FR
Friday, 20 February 2026 - Melkweg Max - Amsterdam , NL
Saturday, 21 February 2026 - Bürgerhaus Stollwerck – Cologne, DE
