“Sometimes all I think about is you…” In this episode of Riffs on Riffs, Joe and Toby revisit Glass Animals’ breakout hit “Heat Waves” — the indie-pop anthem that simmered for more than a year before reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. They explore how a song written in an hour became a global phenomenon, fueled by TikTok trends, a FIFA soundtrack placement, and a slow-burn resonance during the isolation of the pandemic.
The hosts unpack the track’s hypnotic melodies, hip-hop-inspired production, and Dave Bayley’s vulnerable lyrics about loss and memory. They also dive into the band’s evolution, from earlier experimental sounds to the more personal storytelling on Dreamland and beyond, reflecting on how near-tragedy and resilience shaped their music.
Along the way, Joe and Toby bring their signature mix of humor and insight — from stories about pickleball shorts and Johnny Depp’s unexpected cameo as the song’s first listener, to bigger conversations about why authenticity in music matters, the role of community, and how the best songs manage to capture both personal grief and universal connection.
If you’ve ever had “Heat Waves” stuck in your head (and who hasn’t?), this episode takes you deeper into why the song lingers — not just as an earworm, but as a reminder of the bonds that carry us through.
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