Bastille Interview

Fresh off the back of their critically acclaimed debut single ‘Flaws’, the innovative, infectiously alternative ‘Bastille’ return with their latest E.P. ‘Laura Palmer.’ We decided to catch up with lead singer-songwriter Dan Smith to discuss festival highlights, international busking, French Revolution, classic 90’s covers and the inspiration behind their latest release.

Welcome to BBM, how the devil are you?
I’m good thanks. Just having a couple of days off in the midst of our tour.

It’s been a rather busy year for you guys, how was the summer festival circuit?
It was really fun getting to play at so many festivals, big and small. I’ve been along to Glastonbury and Bestival for the last few years, but it was great getting to go and play at festivals that we probably wouldn’t normally choose to go to. It also meant that we got to see loads of the bands that we love, play live every weekend.

Any random stories?
Kyle, who plays keyboards, got kicked out of Glastonbury (luckily after we’d played our gigs). That was a high point as you can probably imagine. We also played at Glade Festival, which was a bit mad, seeing as it’s a pretty full on dance festival – and we obviously don’t make dance music, and obviously everybody there was a bit chemically enhanced. One girl, who was wandering around the tent we played in, walked face-first into a pole and floored herself during one of our songs.

What’s the best thing a fan has ever given you?
Well I know they’re not technically presents or anything, but being sent cover versions of my songs by people on youtube is always pretty awesome. It’s interesting to see some people’s interpretations of the songs, but also obviously massively flattering that they like them enough to take the time to learn them.

You recently had a gig in the St. Pancras International terminal, how was it?
Surprisingly good actually. We weren’t all that sure what to think about playing in the middle of a huge train station at rush hour, but we had a good enough crowd, and quite a few people were singing along to the songs which made the situation both less …and also a lot more weird.

Did anyone think you were deluxe buskers and throw a few coins your way?
Someone did actually try and throw some money our way during the sound check. We hadn’t left a cap out though, and I don’t think it was that much money, otherwise we’d have probably taken up busking by now.

Back to the band, where did the name come from?
My Birthday is on the same day as Bastille Day, which is a French public holiday. It’s named after a prison in Paris that was stormed during the French Revolution. Anyway, when I was hunting for a band name (harder than you might think), one of my mates suggested it and it just seemed to fit.

The BBM office loved your first release ‘Flaws’, what we can expect from your upcoming sophomore record?
Thanks, I’m really glad you like it. In my mind, the new EP is pretty different from Flaws and I guess it shows a broader picture of the band and what our album will be like. I found it really hard to decide what song to release as a follow up to Flaws, so we compromised and picked 4 of the songs that we like the most. I think the EP is a bit darker in sound than Flaws was, lots of piano, different kinds of beats. Again, it’s a mix of real and live instruments. I hope people like it.

The new E.P. is called Laura Palmer, would that be a by any chance a cheeky reference to the infamous Twin Peaks character? If not, then who is Laura Palmer?
It’s not a cheeky reference, it’s a full-on, all out, direct reference to her. I’m a bit obsessed with David Lynch and Twin Peaks especially. I was watching a lot of it when I wrote the song and so it became loosely based on the character, or at least elements of her.

How’s the album coming along? When can we expect it?
The album is going well thanks. I’ve been working on it over the last year so I just can’t wait for a chance to finish it off properly and get it out. It should hopefully be out at some point in the first half of next year.

In an age of duets and artists crossovers on singles, who would be your ideal collaboration/most like to work with?
Janelle Monae.

Which up and coming bands are really standing out for you at the moment?
Some friends of mine are in a (biases aside) brilliant band called To Kill A King. They are an incredible live band to see. I also really want to know what’s going on with Jai Paul. His song BTSTU is awesome and I want to hear something, anything else by him.

Which song do you wish you had written and why?
Man, that’s a difficult question. Off the top of my head, I wish I’d written “Hope there’s someone” by Anthony and the Johnsons. It is haunting and beautiful. But I definitely wouldn’t be able to pull it off without his voice. Maybe ‘Only living boy in New York’ by Simon and Garfunkel

Speaking of which we saw your cover of one hit wonders City High – ‘What would you do’. Have you got any more plans for any rethinks of 90’s classics?
Nah, sadly we don’t have plans to mine away at any more 90s hits at the moment, I reckon one is probably more than enough for now. I have recorded a full-on, produced-up Bastille version of the track, which was a lot of fun. It should be up online pretty soon.

Will you come and do a ‘live lounge’ session in the BBM office?
We’d absolutely love to.

By James Stapleton