Image via Complex Original
In 2014, Glass Animals burst onto the scene with an Oxford-bred sound of spirited indie rock, memorable hooks, and a pop sensibility. They were ready to take over the world. The band—made up of Dave Bayley, Drew MacFarlane, Edmund Irwin-Singer, and Joe Seaward—didn’t break overnight, however. Rather, they steadily gained a following by releasing songs like “Hazy,” “Black Mambo,” and “Cocoa Hooves,” and selling out shows from Australia to the U.K.
The group’s not afraid to experiment, either. From their debut album, ZABA, and the Hazey EP that included a re-work from Atlanta rapper Rome Fortune, to their knack for writing lyrics as strange as “ride my little pooh bear,” Glass Animals will take chances most bands won’t. They’re paving their own way, becoming known for wobbled bass lines, punch-drunk melodies, and quirky lyrical themes. Over the next few months, they will embark on a massive North American tour through the United States and Canada, following a wild performance at Coachella. Watch out for these guys, and take note of the Five Reasons You Should Be Paying Attention to Glass Animals.
They were Paul Epworth’s first signing to his Wolf Tone imprint.
After releasing their first EP on XL Recordings imprint Kaya Kaya, the band caught the attention of super-producer Paul Epworth. Though they’d never met, Paul had already influenced the boys through his work with pioneering bands like Animal Collective and Bloc Party, not to mention icons like Adele, the Rapture, and Florence and the Machine. After Epworth watched Glass Animals perform live in London, they became the first signing to his newly founded label called Wolf Tone, under which they released their first full-length album.
Drew MacFarlane isn’t afraid to get slapped with a fish.
Making good on promises is a true mark of character. Glass Animals told their fans that if they made it into the top 20 of the Triple J’s Hottest 100, Drew MacFarlane would strip down and get slapped with a fish. And then it actually happened. Glass Animals landed at No. 12 and they all got together to slap Drew with not one, not two, but three fish, fulfilling their promise to fans and also staying conscious of the environment by not letting the fish go to waste, as they filleted and ate the fish afterward. There ain’t no award for that, although there should be.
Their art direction is next level.
Music aside, Glass Animals are standing out for some of the best visuals and art direction of today’s up-and-comers. Their videos hit the sweet spot between captivating viewers and creeping them out. They’ve worked with Georgia Hudson and Rafael Bonilla on everything from stop-motion videos to cinematic shorts filled with striking choreography featuring the "bone-breaking" Solitary dance crew. Last year, Pitchfork also cast their album cover for ZABA, art directed by England’s Boat Studio, among Aphex Twin and Swans on the list of the Best Album Covers of 2014.
They put on an amazing live show.
Slow growth has been pivotal in the creative process for Glass Animals’ live set. From selling out bars with the capacity of only a few hundred to playing huge venues and festivals like Coachella, they have had time to figure out “the science” behind giving a great performance. It’s ever-changing too; the band isn’t comfortable with doing the same thing night after night. They’re constantly working on their live sequencing. Whether it’s a stripped-down acoustic performance or a 5,000-person festival show, Glass Animals know how to deliver.
Their studio sessions break the mold.
Glass Animals started out in Dave Bayley’s bedroom, so their production style has retained a bit of the DIY quality that they relied on in the early days. At any given time, they might be physically recording animal sounds from YouTube clips or holding a pineapple named “Sasha Fierce” whilst laying down vocals. It’s a tradition. The boys are versatile too, recording anything from hip-hop beats to covers of Kanye West’s "Love Lockdown."