“It can provide a weird emotional space but I’ve gotten used to it more, not completely, but more in the last few years.” Glenn elaborates that, due to his reclusive nature, being surrounded by people all the time can become overwhelming. “I used to not need people and was thrust into the touring life and being around people in close quarters all the time. I don’t mind it, I just think I forget that I also enjoy quiet and giving my mind time to breathe.”
It sounds as if Glenn would largely keep to himself if he weren’t in a touring band, which prompts the suggestion that being forced into a social setting could be healthy.
“I have fantasies more about throwing away my phone and being 50 years old and living with a dog on a beach somewhere. It is healthy to be reminded that I have people that I really love,” he says.
Even though he pines for a secluded idyll, Glenn doesn’t deny the esteeming perks of singing for a successful band.
“It’s giving me more purpose, playing shows and seeing that edification instantly. It’s very gratifying to see that I’ve got a role, not only for myself, but that I provide some sort of joy to selections of people around the world.”
Glenn displays evident appreciation for the people who’ve lifted Neon Trees into the limelight and explains how he engages in direct contact with their fanbase.
“Most of the time, especially when shows go well, of course I want to meet everyone. I like contact with fans, I like social media. Sometimes we’ll just Facebook message with fans. I’m grateful for those people, I think they’ve really helped us.”
The success of Habits might have compelled Neon Trees into simply satisfying fan expectations with the follow-up album. Glenn discusses the pressuring thoughts that occurred to them when working on Picture Show.
“We’re still conscious of the fact that we did something great on the first record and when we went to make the second record we didn’t want to pull the rug from under people that had become really invested in the band. At the same time, you can’t completely be devoted to making music for other people all the time.”
Animal was the highest played track on Australian radio in 2011 and reached platinum status in the US. Glenn admits the band were nervous about having an equally strong lead single from Picture Show.
“Animal was such a beast. It didn’t go away, which was a really great thing for us because it was our first time, but at the same time it was like, ‘What if we can’t put something else out.’”
However, Everybody Talks managed to eclipse the success of Animal and Glenn expresses clear surprise about this fact.
“I didn’t think Everybody Talks was a hit when we released it. I thought of it as like a bridge between the two albums, I thought, ‘Oh this is a nice segue,’ but it became even more popular than Animal. Now we’re enjoying the fact that we’re not a one hit wonder.”
Indeed, having songs on high mainstream rotation can lead to being dismissively classed as a ‘singles’ band. However, Glenn vouches for Neon Trees’ intentions to make enduring albums.
“I think it’s good that we love the art of making album. We love putting complete devotion into every song, we like making a sequence on a record, we like album packaging, because I think at the end of the day it shows to the people that are really into the band that we care. We’re not Rihanna – we’re not putting an album out to put one song out and then move on.”
BY AUGUSTUS WELBY
