Bastille admit they’ve steered away from politics in third album: ‘We wanted something warmer and more nostalgic’

The band are gearing up to release new music later this year 
New direction: Bastille's third album is all about escapism
Jim Dyson/Getty Images for Hilton Honors
Jennifer Ruby11 June 2018
The Weekender

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Bastille have said that their forthcoming third album will be more “warm” and “human” after their last record delved into politics and took swipes at Donald Trump and Nigel Farage.

The band’s new record will focus on “escapism” rather than addressing large world issues, in a conscious decision to do something different to 2016’s “sprawling” Wild World.

“It’s quite personal, quite inward looking but also speaks to wider things. I think for us it’s bit of a reaction to our last album which was this big, sprawling record that addresses quite a lot of things that we were bemused by and perplexed by and troubled by,” frontman Dan Smith told the Standard ahead of their gig at LSO St Luke’s as part of the Hilton Honors concert series with Live Nation.

“It was definitely a reaction to our last album campaign, which we really enjoyed and are so proud of, but it was a record that criticised politicians and looked at massive changes in the world.”

Back on the road: Bastille perform at LSO St Luke's
Jim Dyson/Getty Images for Hilton Honors

Smith added: “We never particularly saw ourselves or wanted to be a band that was engaging in politics, because it’s a really tough line to tread.

"I think we just wanted to be honest with the last album, and as much as there were those elements to the record there were also songs about gangsters and old books that we liked.”

Smith said that the band realised that some audiences wanted “escapism” when they went to a gig rather than songs that address serious world issues.

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“There was definitely a point mid-summer last year where we were at festivals and people were trying to escape those things,” said Smith.

“And then we come along with songs that were f*** you to Trump and Farage and there would be big news media visuals behind us and I remember one particular festival in Germany thinking they probably don’t want to be thinking about that this weekend.”

The band have already recorded their third album, which they will release later this year, described by Smith as an “apocalyptic party album”.

“I think with this record we wanted it to feel warmer and nostalgic and it very vaguely nods back to some of the more rough around the edges dance music from the 1990s. I think it still feels very us but it’s certainly a more focused, intimate record,” he said.

“This record is about looking inwards, about friendships and relationships and about escapism and avoiding your real life for a night - and the pros and cons of that and everything in between.”

Smith said the band are currently in a “bizarre hinterland-y time period” as they wait to release their new music to the public.

He said: “I remember growing up, bands that I loved or artists that I loved, the thrill of getting a new record and 90% being stuff you’ve not heard before - that first listen is always really great. So I think, even though it’s not necessarily what people are doing at the moment, we are quite keen to hold back as much as we can.”

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