Glass Animals”How To Be A Human Being‘ has been shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize.
And rightly so.
In the twelve months since its release, the band have been wicked busy. Embracing the carnival celebration at the heart of the record while offering a very real connection to the audience, it’s an album that bends but never breaks.
Being shortlisted for the prize is “really weird,” according to the band’s Dave Bayley. “Because we grew up with the Mercurys. Every year the list comes out, we check it then buy all the records and argue about who’s going to win. We thought it was so unlikely we were going to get shortlisted that we booked a whole tour in America that covered the day of the announcement, the ceremony, the shows and everything. So, we had to cancel that and leg it back over here. I really can’t believe it.”
Writing the record for themselves and their audience, accolades like the Mercury Music Prize couldn’t be further from the creative process but even then, it had an impact. “The Mercury Prize has always taught us to think of full cohesive albums. All my favourite records play really well from start to finish. They’re stronger as a whole than as the sum of their parts. I personally think that’s what the Mercurys are about, celebrating the album as an artform. It’s very nice that someone realised that we were trying to do that.
Glass Animals “love the list a lot. It’s full of really good records and anyone can win,” but if they had to back someone, it’d be Kate Tempest with ‘Let Them Eat Chaos’.
Once the Mercury drama has passed, Glass Animals are back off on tour. “America, Canada and Mexico. We’ve got something big looming on the horizon but we’ll probably have a couple of weeks off touring, then we go to Australia. We’ll think about what we do next after that,” explains Joe Seaward.
“I remember that American tour at the end of the last album cycle is when I was like, I’ve got an idea for the next album'”
“And we made it in 2 months so I’d quite like a couple of weeks off,” laughs Joe. “Maybe have that idea just after we get back. I know what’s going to happen. On the flight back he’s going to go ‘Joe, I’ve got an idea!’ and Dave mate, don’t. Just write it down, record it into your phone and shush.”
“Sorry,” shrugs Dave. “It will happen and I’m excited already.”
The Mercury Music Prize winner is announced September 14th.