Life couldn’t be better for UK game changers Glass Animals. Since the release of their highly anticipated follow up album, How to Be a Human Being, the mild-manner quartet from Oxford have become the toast of the town, in almost every city in the world, including the city of love – and this is where Forté Mag found drummer Joe Seaward strolling along the canals.
“I’m actually in Paris at the moment which is very nice,” he says happily [his British accent sounding more pronounced in contrast to the rowdy French-speaking passers-by]. “It’s a beautiful city.”
Seaward is enjoying some well-earned time off ahead of flying back to US to play a handful of shows, before spending the holiday season with friends and family at home in the UK. It all sounds very lovely, but surprisingly, the popular percussionist is more interested in talking about his favourite Australian musicians.
“I’d like to think I know a bit about your music scene. There’s a band I’ve seen a couple of times called King Gizzard & the Wizard Lizard that are great – they’re wicked, and I think Courtney Barnett is amazing. Tame Impala are OK, but their latest record [Currents] was really, really good,” he admits.
“Also, there’s a guy called D.D Dumbo who I think is really cool,” Seaward adds. “He’s just released a record which is great [Utopia Defeated, triple j’s Album of the Year 2016] I like it a lot.”
With Glass Animals due to play at every Laneway Festival around the country in January and February 2017, Seaward will no doubt be pleased to hear that D.D Dumbo has just been announced as the newest addition to the line-up. Funnily enough, Tame Impala will be there too.
“We always try to make it fun at festivals – it’s like a big party. We love to play with the tempos of the songs and add a bit more base in to get the crowd up and dancing.”
How to Be a Human Being was released in August this year to critical and commercial success, while also whipping social media into a frenzy with their clever use of artwork and the promise of an interactive video game to coincide with the release of their latest single ‘Season 2 Episode 3’.
“There was a definite difference in the way we approached the making of How to be a Human Being, compared to our first record, Zaba, and that was because we were a lot more confident the second time around,” Seaward admits.
“We were less worried about making mistakes, and I think when we made Zaba we were very conscious of trying to make the songs as good or as perfect as they could be. To me, How to be a Human Being feels more exciting, it’s more in-your-face, and it’s more up-front.”
However, Seaward warns fans not to expect to hear a carbon copy of the record at their live show because they’ll be in for a surprise. “When I go and see a band the most exciting part is that things go wrong, songs sound different, and guitar players (and drummers) can embellish things.
“I mean, if I went to see my favourite band and what I got was an exact replica of the record, I’d go home a bit disappointed because I could have just sat down on my sofa and listened to that!” he laughs. “It’s a game, and it’s fun to breathe new life into these songs night after night, and it’s more satisfying because it means we don’t go insane, the audience don’t get bored.”
As who will be joining the Glass Animals when they play their Laneway Festival sideshow remains to be seen, but I bet you can guess who Seaward would choose: “D.D Dumbo would be cool, but I guess he’s probably busy travelling around the world himself!”
You can play their online game based on their single ‘Series 2 Episode 3’ here!
When & Where: Laneway Festival, Melbourne – January 28 2017 & Town Hall, Melbourne – February 1 2017
Written by Natalie Rogers
