When you hit play on a Bastille song, what you’re hearing is a mix of the band’s physical talents, their creativity, and the state of mind that they were in when recording.
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Bastille opened up about just how much of a role their state of mind plays when it comes to making music.
“I think it completely influences everything,” frontman Dan Smith said. “It’s fundamental to absolutely everything that you’re doing all the time.”
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Bastille’s music is upbeat in nature, but the catchy melodies and rhythms don’t always reflect the lyrical themes of their songs.
“I think a lot of our songs are guilty of being musically upbeat and being lyrically incredibly bleak, which maybe says everything about us and about our band,” he Smith said with a laugh. “It has a trojan horse effect of sneaking some lyrical content that is maybe a bit more complicated and in-depth into a space that isn’t often inhabited by that.”
WATCH MORE: Bastille on music and their state of mind
“Music is also about escapism,” Smith added. “Whilst it’s also a cathartic place to put those thoughts and share things that other people are able to relate to and maybe haven’t articulated in a certain way. It’s also a place to not think about that and switch off. The music for us can be both, getting really into the depths of a guitar solo is a nice break from thinking about how sad you are.”
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Audacy's I’m Listening initiative aims to encourage those who are dealing with mental health issues to understand they are not alone. If you or anyone you know is struggling with depression or anxiety, know that someone is always there. Additionally, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-273-8255.