Penguin Prison (born 1983) is an electropop project composed solely of New York City singer, musician, producer and remixer Chris Glover."Penguin Prison (No 664)", The Guardian. Retrieved 22 June 2012. His stage name comes from a freestyle rap he created with his friend about George W. Bush when they started saying "He's a penguin vision, he went to the penguin prison, and assumed a penguin position". Penguin Prison is known a solo act, but his original songs are often created with the help of other musicians. He has a band for live shows and tours consisting of Andrew Pertes, David Gross, Ben Grubin (of the band Hockey), and formerly Ernesto Karolys.
Life and career
Early life Chris Glover was born in 1983 and grew up in New York City's Upper East Side. His early musical influences came mostly from his mother's love of country music. Glover's favorite artists growing up were Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, and Hank Williams. Glover showed an interest in performing music at an early age when he joined his school's gospel choir at age 10, singing alongside future R&B artist Alicia Keys. When he was 12 years old he was on Star Search. In high school, he performed at CBGB's with his punk band The Museum.
1999-2008: Career beginnings and first album He attended Bard College, where he formed a popular "crazy, fake boy band" called Smartest People At Bard, which he describes as "a cross between Backstreet Boys and Beastie Boys". He was signed to Interscope in 2005 under his birth name in quotes, and recorded an unreleased pop-rap album called Hell Isn't Even That Funny. The album was promoted with the single "Stand On Your Seat" (2005). The album went unreleased because "[The record label] didn't really seem to know what to do with it so I just waited... and then finally said I'm gonna just do something else... and I started doing Penguin Prison shortly after that.".
2009-2014: Penguin Prison As Penguin Prison, he started remixing with the Jamiroquai song "White Knuckle Ride", the Faithless song "Feel Me", the Goldfrapp song "Rocket", and the Marina and the Diamonds song "I Am Not a Robot". These remixes, among others, led into the release of his self titled album Penguin Prison on October 11, 2011 through Downtown Records to positive reviews."Penguin Prison Review BBC MUSIC", BBC Music. Retrieved 22 June 2012. After this, he continued remixing songs, and created two songs for the soundtrack of the web series "Dirty Work".
2014-2016: Lost In New York In 2014, Glover collaborated with other artists such as RAC and Viceroy, and made covers of "All Night Long" by Lionel Richie and "Hang On to Your Love" by Sade. On May 5, 2015 he released his sophomore album "Lost In New York".
2017-2024: Turn It Up EP and singles Glover continued making remixes, and released the Turn It Up EP on February 9, 2018. On May 10, 2019, he released "The Heat". On October 9, 2020, he released "Better", a song about the COVID-19 pandemic. Glover stated on his Instagram "This has been a very difficult year for a lot of people - a global pandemic, social injustice, climate change and countless other troubling developments. I wanted to make a song about rising above it all". On February 12, 2021, he released "All Your Love". He explained the meaning of the song on his Instagram, saying "This song is my version of a ballad and a dedication to my wife - an acknowledgement put into record. The past year has brought on a lot of feelings for everyone. For me, a renewed sense of gratitude for the people closest to me." On February 23, 2024, he released a remix of "The Worst" by The Sometimes Island.
2025-Present: Fundamental Feelings In late 2025, Glover announced he has been working on a new album entitled Fundamental Feelings, named after the public access show he had in high school with his friend. He also provided background vocals for the single Undone by Alex Frankel (formerly a member of Holy Ghost!).
Discography
With Smartest People at Bard +EPsTitleDetailsTrack ListingWelcome To The CD Release Date: 1999 Label: Self-released Format: Digital...Or Both Release Date: 2001 Label: Self-released Format: Digital
As "Chris Glover" +Studio Albums and EPsTitleDetailsHell Isn't Even That Funny Release Date: 2005 Label: A&M Records Formats: CD, DigitalStand On Your Seat EP Release Date: March 22, 2005 Label: A&M Records Formats: CD, Digital download +SinglesTitleDetailsGo To Church Release Date: September 12, 2025 Label: Act Normal Music Formats: Digital downloadYou're My Baby (But I Ain't Gonna Burp You) Release Date: September 26, 2025 Label: Act Normal Music Formats: Digital download
As Penguin Prison +Studio AlbumsTitleDetailsPenguin Prison Release Date: October 18, 2011 Label: Downtown Records Formats: CD, Vinyl, Digital downloadLost In New York Release Date: May 5, 2015 Label: Downtown Records Formats: Vinyl, Digital download +Extended PlaysTitleDetailsGolden Train Remixes Release Date: November 1, 2010 Label: Stranger Records Ltd. Formats: CD, Digital downloadMulti-Millionaire Remixes Release Date: June 8, 2011 Label: Stranger Records Ltd. Formats: CD, Digital downloadFair Warning Remixes Release Date: August 29, 2011 Label: Stranger Records Ltd. Formats: CD, Digital downloadDon't Fuck With My Money Remixes Release Date: January 24, 2012 Label: Downtown Records Formats: Digital downloadCalling Out Remixes Release Date: December 15, 2014 Label: Downtown Records Formats: Digital downloadTurn It Up Release Date: February 19, 2018 Label: Act Normal Music Formats: CD, Digital download +SinglesTitleDetailsCalling Out Release Date: October 14, 2014 Label: Downtown Records Formats: Digital downloadNever Gets Old Release Date: February 10, 2015 Label: Downtown Records Formats: Digital downloadThe Heat Release Date: May 10, 2019 Label: Act Normal Music Formats: Digital downloadBetter Release Date: October 9, 2020 Label: Act Normal Music Formats: Digital downloadAll Your Love Release Date: February 12, 2021 Label: Act Normal Music Formats: Digital download +RemixesTitleYearArtist(s)I Am Not A Robot2009Marina and the DiamondsHurtfulErik HassleRocket2010GoldfrappFingers of SteelSébastien TellierResurrectionThe Temper TrapLittle SecretsPassion PitWhite Knuckle RideJamiroquaiGet Outta My WayKylie MinogueZombieNatalia KillsFeel MeFaithlessSettle DownKimbraRemedy2011Vinnie WhoTalk Talk TalkDarren HayesLittle White DovesDirty VegasStarry EyedEllie GouldingTrue RomanceGolden SilversBang BangManiIt's Time2012Imagine DragonsPaddling OutMiike SnowBlue VelvetLana Del ReyShe Gets Down On Her KneesYoko OnoBlue JeansLana Del ReyMy Mind2013HockeyChangeChurchillToo YoungGhost BeachDark AgainGold FieldsLove SomebodyMaroon 5StarsYoungblood HawkeWeekend2014VeriteBlast2015Allan KingdomMoleculesAtlas GeniusLegsChuck InglishLove Me BadderElliphantHead Up HighOh LandToo Much To HandleGreat Good Fine OkUs2016Kaskade & CIDBridgesBroodsI WishThe KnocksI Am My Only LoveBaby RaptorsBig Girls CrySiaAs Long As I Can See2017Broke RoyalsJunkieFreedom FryWaiting On The SummerVHS CollectionCellophane2018Soren BryceElectric Touch2019A R I Z O N AElectricCLARA-NOVAStripes + SquaresJuliettaDown LowLyrahSo Many WaysMonogemPreach2020Saint MotelTogether LonelyTim AtlasThe World We Were Born Into No Longer Exists2021DotlightsI'm AlrightLEADRAslan2022Kyle McEvoy & Sunshine RecorderThe Worst2024The Sometimes Island
References
External links
Penguin Prison on YouTube Penguin Prison on Spotify Penguin Prison on Apple Music Penguin Prison on Deezer