Glass Animals’ Joe Seaward on his life-changing accident, ‘Heat Waves’ magic, India, Diljit Dosanjh, and more

In an exclusive chat with indianexpress.com, Seaward opened up about his first impressions of Mumbai, what it takes to drum for a band that seamlessly blends electronic and organic sounds, and how a near-fatal accident in 2018 changed his perspective on music and life. We also got him to talk about Bollywood, Indian music, and much more.

Q: The performance at Lollapalooza in Mumbai is Glass Animals’s first in India. What are your initial impressions of the city? How has your experience in India been so far?

Joe Seaward: I’m not going to lie—I’ve been in India for maybe 12 hours, and most of those hours were nighttime, so I haven’t actually seen much of Mumbai. But I’m gonna get out into it in a minute when I finish talking to you.

 

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Q: India has a vibrant and diverse music scene. Have you come across any Indian musicians or bands that have caught your attention?

Joe Seaward: Yeah, actually, I was listening to someone earlier who I thought was really cool—Diljit Dosanjh. And there’s this old and cool band, Shakti—I think they’re amazing. I’ve been enjoying both of them recently. I’ve also heard there are loads of great electronic DJs here, so I’m planning to go on a musical adventure soon.

Q: Bollywood is a huge part of Indian culture. Have you ever watched a Bollywood movie or come across its music?

Joe Seaward: I know about Bollywood. I haven’t watched any Bollywood films. I think I’ve probably heard a lot of Bollywood music, though. It feels bigger than Hollywood––not just here, but globally.

Q: You’ve been the backbone of Glass Animals’ rhythm section for years. What are some of the most challenging and rewarding aspects of playing drums, especially in a band like yours?

Joe Seaward: It is very challenging. Our music can be quite complex, especially the drum parts, since there’s a mix of electronic and acoustic sounds. One thing we decided early on was that every sound we play live has to be performed in real time—no backing tracks, no click tracks—everything is live. That means I’m playing all the acoustic drums while also triggering electronic sounds simultaneously. It’s tricky, especially when we’re learning new songs, but once we figure it out, it becomes second nature. That’s really satisfying.

Q: Drummers often hold the groove together in a band. What do you think are the most important things a drummer needs to focus on when playing in a band setting?

Joe Seaward: The bass is probably the most important thing to focus on, and listening to the vocals is crucial too. Those two elements are the foundation, and everything else works around them.

Q: Do you adapt differently for live performances versus recording in the studio?

Joe Seaward: Yeah, they’re completely different. I mean, I’m still playing drums in both settings, but they require completely different parts of your brain and character.

 

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Performing live is extroverted—you have to be performative and outward-looking. Recording, on the other hand, is much more introverted, inward-looking, and precise; it requires a different mindset. Some musicians excel at one but struggle with the other. Balancing both is tough—it takes a lot of practice. We’ve been working on that for a long time, and we’re still learning.

Q: From Glass Animals’ catalogue, are there any songs that are particularly challenging and push you the most as a drummer?

Joe Seaward: Yeah, some songs are really tricky because they require me to switch rapidly between electronic and acoustic drumming.

Tangerine is one that’s pretty difficult to play live. Another one is Pork Soda, an older track of ours—it’s really complex. I love playing it, but I have to stay super focused the entire time. Those two songs are definitely on the harder end of the spectrum for me.

Q: Your 2018 accident was a life-changing event. Looking back now, how has that experience shaped your perspective on music and life in general?

Joe Seaward: Yeah, of course, it has. Any massively traumatic event changes how you see the world. It’s affected how I think about myself, the people around me, my job—everything. It made me more aware of the kind of person I want to be. It was a huge moment in my life, and it definitely changed me.

Q: With the rise of platforms like TikTok, songs like Heat Waves have taken on a life of their own, reaching massive audiences. How do you feel about social media’s role in music today?

Joe Seaward: Social media plays a huge role now in breaking songs and helping artists reach people. Heat Waves was a perfect example of that.

That song resonated with people for so many reasons, especially during COVID—it just hit at the right time. Social media trends helped it spread, but it wasn’t just that. It became part of films, video games, and all these different cultural moments. It was like a perfect storm.

 

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Heat Waves is one of those once-in-a-lifetime things you can’t plan for. You just have to let it take its own journey, and for us, it’s been incredible to witness.

Q: Outside of music, what are some of your other interests or hobbies? What do you enjoy doing when you’re not drumming?

Joe Seaward: I love spending time with friends and family. I also love being outside, exploring new places—which is exactly what I’m going to do later today. I’ve only been in Mumbai for a few days, and I really want to get out there, meet people, and try some food. Experiencing new things with people I care about makes me happiest.