Through The Looking Glass

Glass Animals have the indie single of the summer in ‘life itself’. as they prepare to release second album ‘how To Be a human Being’, Larry Bartleet gives you nine things you might not have known about the latest great band to come out of oxford.

- Larry Bartleet

1.THEY’RE NOT AS NEW AS YOU THINK

Glass Animals met aged 13 at secondary school in Oxford and began playing together as a band in 2010. Now 27, they’re on the cusp of releasing their second album ‘How To Be A Human Being’. It’s the follow-up to 2014’s ‘Zaba’, which had huge success in America and Australia and has so far sold almost half a million copies.

2.THEY’RE FOLLOWING IN RADIOHEAD’S FOOTSTEPS

In 2010 they played their first gig at Oxford’s Jericho Tavern – the same place Radiohead played theirs. They were supporting Chapel Club and their set lasted nine minutes. Drummer Joe Seaward is glad their label owner, Adele producer Paul Epworth, wasn’t there to see it. “He would have left after about 25 seconds… Maybe less.” As an Oxford band, they’re also part of a glowing tradition that includes Ride, Supergrass and this year’s Reading and Leeds headliners Foals. Joe recalls Oxford’s tiny, sweaty Cellar venue fondly: “Once me and Dave saw Foals in there literally playing to about seven people and a dog.”

3.FRONTMAN DAVE BAYLEY KNOWS HOW YOUR BRAIN WORKS