Glass Animals Are This Month's 'One to Watch' Artist

Dave Bayley (singer, songwriter), Joe Seaward (drums), Ed Irwin-Singer (bass), and Drew MacFarlane (guitar), better known as Glass Animals are our ‘One to Watch’ artist for April!

Formed in Oxford in 2010, Glass Animals released their debut EP in 2012 titled, Leaflings.  The EP included the single, Cocoa Hooves.

Then, in 2014, Glass Animals released their debut album, Zaba.  The band then released a handful of singles off of their debut album: Gooey, which went certified platinum in the U.S., Pools, and Hazey.  To this day, the band considers Gooey to be a ‘modest debut,’ “We thought we’d go back to our jobs,” Bayley has previously said – that’s until it became a certified hit.

Once Zaba was released, the band made appearances on Late Night with Seth Meyers, The Late Late Show with James Corden, The Late Show with David Letterman, and in 2015, toured the extensively, playing over 130 shows.

Dave, who is the bands singer and songwriter, figured that most bands’ second albums are informed by life on the road, for better or worse. So, instead of writing about himself, he figured, “Why not tell the stories of some of the fascinating people we’ve met?”

In 2016, Glass Animals released their second studio album, How to Be a Human Being, which included the lead track, Life Itself.  The album peaked at No. 14 on Billboard‘s Alternative Songs chart

The band’s third album, Dreamland, was recorded in London in 2019, an known to be Glass Animals’ most enthralling album to date.  The album was produced by Dave, and mixed by David Wrench, Manny Maroquin, and Ali.  During this time, Dave began writing and producing for other artists, including Joey Bada$$, Flume, 6lack, Wale, Khalid and, on last year’s Tokyo Drifting, a duet with Denzel Curry, which is featured on Dreamland.  Their third album also includes the title track, and Your Love (Déjà Vu).

In June of 2020, the band announced Dreamland would be delayed, and eventually was released in August of that year.  In an interview with Atwood Magazine, the band shared, “We want to keep focus on the Black Lives Matter movement and the discussions taking place around racism and police brutality around the world.”  Dave then added, “I guess the goal with this record was to make something that was incredibly honest and incredibly us.” 

In September, the band revealed Heat Waves would be their next single, and would also be included on the FIFA 21 soundtrack. The track was also used during the announcement of the HomePod mini as part of the Apple Event.  The song has since reached No.1 in multiple countries.

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