Q+A: Bastille’s Dan Smith talks ‘Twin Peaks,’ turning 30, Backstreet Boys
The music world knows frontman Dan Smith and his British band Bastille for their 2013 global hit “Pompeii” from the album “Bad Blood,” but Smith also is an avid fan of the television cult classic “Twin Peaks” and its creator, David Lynch, both of whom are on Showtime on May 21 in a return of the series 25 years later.
“I’m trying to keep my expectations in check. I’m excited to revisit that world even though it was before my time,” Smith said. “I love it retrospectively — it is brilliant and innovative and awesome. I have to reign in my fan boy!”
(Smith’s fanaticism of “Twin Peaks” isn’t so surprising if fans of the band understood the meaning of the single “Laura Palmer,” also from “Bad Blood” and no relation to Taylor Swift.)
Smith chatted over the phone March 22 about “Twin Peaks,” turning 30, Las Vegas, The Backstreet Boys and more ahead of the band’s headlining date at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on April 14:
Since we last talked in December 2015, Bastille released the album “Wild World” in September. How did it differ from “Bad Blood,” and are you happy with the album?
I’m very happy with the album. It differs in a lot of ways. It’s still Bastille, but we’re exploring different sounds. It’s a sprawling record and a different sound, like a soundtrack to a movie. It’s different genres and different thematically.
It’s about us growing up now and reacting to the world we live in, the news and grown-up relationships and friendships, getting our heads around the world in 2016. Our first album looked back at mythology and fiction, and this one is firmly rooted in 2016. It’s a slightly more challenging record where we also worked with 3- to 4-minute songs.
You sample Kelly Le Brock from “Weird Science” in the first single, “Good Grief.” Are you a fan of the 1980s film?
Massively! I’m a cinephile, and I love John Hughes films. “Weird Science” is such a great film. It was fun to have someone else’s voice open the record and use quotes and take them out of that context into our context. It allows you to listen to songs differently and expand the sounds and voices. It’s a nod to the movie and Hollywood that we love so much.
You also turned The Big 3-0 last July. Feel any different?
No. Should I? My friends threw me a big party, and I felt different the day after — I was horribly hung over.
You’re about to perform at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas for the first time in April. You’ve performed in Las Vegas at The iHeartRadio Music Festival at MGM Grand Garden Arena, House of Blues at Mandalay Bay and The Joint at The Hard Rock Hotel. Is there an experience in Las Vegas that stands out?
IHeartRadio was a mind-blowing experience. We’re just this little band in England, and we played in between Alicia Keys and Nicki Minaj. It was incredible and surreal. We always have a good time in Las Vegas. We’ve jumped off The Stratosphere. We rushed there and got the last slot of the night. We love to visit Las Vegas. It is so much fun, so iconic; it is always a pleasure.
After your date at The Chelsea on April 14, you’re at Coachella on April 15 and 22. Are you excited, and what do you do during the week in between the two dates?
I’m so excited! I love festivals, and I have 10 friends from the U.K. who are going to Coachella. We’ll stay in the area because we have a TV show in L.A. that week and other commitments. We love the States, and we’ll spend time in the desert and L.A. and see friends and be tourists and go to shows. There are so many incredible bands in town.
We’re both fans of David Lynch and his cult-classic TV series “Twin Peaks.” Are you excited to see what he does with “Twin Peaks” in May on Showtime?
Of course I am! I am so excited. I have to not think about it because I’m not patient. I can’t wait for it to happen. He filmed it in one big shot to cut it up later. The cast looks amazing. I’m sure that it will be amazing. I am an avid fan, and it’s going to be amazing!
I’m trying to keep my expectations in check. I’m excited to revisit that world even though it was before my time. I love it retrospectively — it is brilliant and innovative and awesome. I have to reign in my fan boy!
Any predictions? Or what would you like to see happen?
I really don’t know. The first half and second half were so different evolving from when Laura Palmer was the central plot. It’s a new lease on life and a new direction. “Twin Peaks” was 25 years ago, and television has moved on since then, when it was a pioneering show.
I watched “Fire Walk With Me” over the weekend, and the tease for the new “Twin Peaks” gave me shivers.”
“Fire Walk With Me” was so divisive because the tone was so different than the TV series. But now television is almost more of a free medium than cinema. It will be interesting to see how dark it will go — there are so many possible directions.
Bastille should do a cover of the haunting “Falling in Love” by Julee Cruse from the “Twin Peaks” soundtrack. You would slay the song with your gorgeous voice.
That’s such a nice thing to say. We did use the riff from “Falling” in our mix tape!
What is on your to-do list when you’re in Las Vegas this time around and not working?
Ooh, any recommendations? It’s a different world to wander round. The Backstreet Boys posted a cover of our single “Good Grief.” It was so cool, and they reached out to us saying when you’re in town, come to the show. That’s an option! I also want to explore Old Vegas — and jump off more buildings.
Bastille headlines The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on April 14.
