Daniel Campbell Smith (born 14 July 1986) is an English singer, songwriter and record producer, best known as the founder, lead singer and primary songwriter of the English pop rock band Bastille. The band formed in 2010 and gained mass popularity in 2013 when the song "Pompeii" was released with their album Bad Blood. The band then released their second album, Wild World in September 2016. In June 2019, the band released their third album Doom Days. In February 2022, they released their fourth album Give Me the Future.
Career
Smith attended King's College School in Wimbledon, London, and the University of Leeds in Leeds, West Yorkshire, where he graduated with a degree in English Language and Literature[2] while also writing about film and music for the Leeds student newspaper. A film obsessive from a young age, he originally wanted to be a director or editor until admitting he was "more of a fan than a filmmaker".[3]
At age fifteen, Smith started writing songs on the piano and his laptop in his bedroom, but kept his music secret from his friends and family until he was persuaded by a friend to enter the Leeds Bright Young Things competition in 2007, which he ultimately became a finalist in.[4] His early recordings included "Alchemy", "Words Are Words", "Irreverence", and "Dictator". Smith did not achieve mainstream success in his solo career but continued writing songs both alone and with his close friend and roommate Ralph Pelleymounter of the band To Kill a King. The two formed a side project called "Annie Oakley Hanging" which was described as "cowboy-like" by Pelleymounter.[5]
After finishing his studies, Smith returned to London, where he continued pursuing his solo career, and eventually formed Bastille with Chris "Woody" Wood, Kyle Simmons, and Will Farquarson.[6] Bastille has released five albums called Bad Blood, Wild World, Doom Days,Give Me the Future and their fifth studio album, "&", was released in October 2024.
In 2014, Dan Smith took part in the Band Aid charity single, "Do They Know It's Christmas?".
In 2015, Smith featured as vocalist for the song "La Lune", produced and written by the French electronic musician Madeon for his 2015 album Adventure. In the same year, Smith co-wrote and provided vocals on "Better Love" with Foxes, which was released 4 September 2015.
In May 2024, he was invited by Greenpeace on a trip to the Sargasso Sea on their ship the Arctic Sunrise to learn about and raise awareness for their campaign to protect the area. It was here that he and cinematographer Tavish Campbell filmed the music video for "Intros & Narrators", the first track from a project titled 'Bastille Presents "&", Part One'.[8]
Influences
Smith is a fan of the TV series Twin Peaks, and of one of its creators, David Lynch.[9] The show inspired one of his first recorded songs, "Laura Palmer" and Bastille's first Virgin Records single "Overjoyed". Smith has said that his earlier work was influenced by Regina Spektor.[10]
Personal life
Smith writes and arranges some of Bastille's songs, apart from remixes and covers, and worked with friend Mark Crew to produce Bad Blood and Wild World.[11] He plays the piano, keyboard, percussion, and melodica. His original, "Dan Smith Piano" was stolen in 2010.[12][non-primary source needed]
Smith's parents are South African lawyers who met at university.[13]
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Smith performed music live on Instagram,[14][non-primary source needed] and also set up a film club named 'Distraction Tactics', inspired by different countries around the world; each week the club visits a different country and film. Its aim is to provide distraction and happiness to those in need of some relief from social distancing and isolation.[15]
^McCormick, Neil (25 October 2013). "Bastille's storming success". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 18 June 2015. McCormick says in October 2013 that Smith is 27 years old, and that his birthday is 14 July, Bastille Day.
