Glass Animals
Biography
Glass Animals are an English indie rock band that formed in Oxford in 2010. The group consists of childhood friends Dave Bayley (lead vocals, guitar, songwriter), Drew MacFarlane (guitar, keyboards, backing vocals), Edmund Irwin-Singer (bass, keyboards, backing vocals), and Joe Seaward (drums). Their sound is a blend of indie rock, psychedelic pop, indie pop, and electronic rock.
Formation and Early Years
The band members met at St Edward's School in Oxford. Bayley, who spent part of his childhood in the U.S., bonded with MacFarlane over their shared experience of being Britons who had grown up stateside. Bayley's insomnia during his time as a medical student at King's College London led him to write songs, which the group began playing together in 2010. They released their debut EP, "Leaflings," in 2012.
Zaba (2014)
The band's debut album, "Zaba," was released in June 2014. The album's sound is characterized by tropical percussion and jungle-like soundscapes, inspired by William Steig's children's book "The Zabajaba Jungle". The single "Gooey" from this album was eventually certified platinum in the United States, helping to establish the band in the alternative music scene. Following the album's release, Glass Animals toured extensively, playing over 130 shows in 2015 alone.
How to Be a Human Being (2016)
Their second album, "How to Be a Human Being," was released in August 2016. Each song on the album tells the story of a different fictional character, inspired by strangers the band met while on tour. The album received positive reviews and was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize. Lead single "Life Itself" became a hit on alternative radio charts.
Hiatus and Recovery
In July 2018, the band's momentum was halted when drummer Joe Seaward was severely injured in a cycling accident in Dublin. Seaward's long recovery process, during which he had to relearn how to walk, talk, and play the drums, led to a pause in the band's activities.
Dreamland (2020) and "Heat Waves"
Glass Animals returned in 2020 with their third album, "Dreamland," released in August of that year. Conceived during Seaward's recovery, the album is a deeply personal and nostalgic work, with lyrics referencing Bayley's childhood. The album's single, "Heat Waves," became a global phenomenon, going viral on TikTok. It reached number one on the charts in several countries, including Australia and the U.S., where it set a record for the longest climb to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song's massive success brought the band widespread recognition, including a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist in 2022.
I Love You So F***ing Much (2024)
The band's fourth studio album, "I Love You So F***ing Much," was released on July 19, 2024. The album was inspired by the existential crisis Bayley experienced following the immense success of "Heat Waves". It explores themes of love and human connection in the face of feeling small in a vast universe.