Dan Smith (singer)
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Dan Smith | |
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 Smith performing with Bastille at Lollapalooza in 2015 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Daniel Campbell Smith |
| Born | 14 July 1986[1] London, United Kingdom |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, record producer |
| Instruments |
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| Years active | 2008–present |
| Labels | |
| Website | bastillebastille |
Daniel Campbell "Dan" Smith (born 14 July 1986) is a British singer-songwriter and record producer. He is the lead singer, record producer, songwriter and founder of the British rock band Bastille. The band formed in 2010 and gained mass popularity in 2013 when the song "Pompeii" was released. The band recently released their second album, Wild World in September 2016
Career
Smith was educated at the University of Leeds in Leeds, West Yorkshire, where he gained a degree in English Language and Literature.[2] 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.[3] Some of 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.[4]
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.[5] Bastille have released two albums called Bad Blood and Wild World.
In 2015, Smith featured as vocalist for the song "La Lune" produced and written by the French electronic musician Madeon for Madeon's 2015 album Adventure. In the same year, Smith co-wrote and provided vocals on "Better Love" with Foxes, which was released 4 September 2015.
Influences
Smith is a fan of the TV series Twin Peaks, and of one of its creators, David Lynch.[6] The show inspired one of his first recorded songs, "Laura Palmer" and Bastille's first Virgin Records single "Overjoyed". Smith has previously said that his earlier work was heavily influenced by artists such as Regina Spektor.[7]
Personal life
He writes and arranges all of Bastille's songs, apart from remixes and covers, and worked with friend Mark Crew to produce Bad Blood and Wild World.[8] He plays the piano, keyboard, percussion, and melodica. Smith's parents come from South Africa.[9]
Side projects
Smith continues to collaborate with Ralph Pelleymounter of "To Kill a King" in a project known as "Annie Oakley Hanging".
References
- ^ McCormick, Neil (25 October 2013). "Bastille's storming success". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
- ^ The Independent Bastille's Dan Smith: The quiet man who can't stop singing
- ^ BBC Leeds Local: Bright Young Things 2007
- ^ Sofar chat with Ralph, lead vocalist of To Kill A King
- ^ Earmilk.com, Earmilk Interview: BASTILLE
- ^ Bastille Obsess on David Lynch, Explain They're Not Rock
- ^ http://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/2012/09/new-noise-bastille/
- ^ Bastille Interview (Part One) SPGtv
- ^ http://www.you.co.za, Performing in South Africa was ‘slightly surreal’ – we chat to Bastille, 15 January 2014
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