Bastille - 'Drawbridge & The Baroness'
Bastille’s lead singer Dan Smith has always centred his projects around exploring new experiences. From launching a film club called ‘Distraction Tactics’ to help Bastille fans navigate the pandemic lockdown, to a trip with Greenpeace to the Bermuda Triangle, he is one of those artists who finds inspiration in everything. Bastille has toured extensively across the globe in recent years, promoting their latest album, ‘Give Me the Future’, released in 2022. This intensive schedule led the band to take a break from performing in 2024.
However, Smith couldn’t remain idle. Since 2020, he has been working on “&”, an album dedicated to honouring figures from history, mythology, pop culture, and even philosophical dilemmas. “We had planned this quieter year for a while. There have been so many things I’ve wanted to do, creatively. And it’s been amazing to have the time and space to do them. It’s been one of the most productive years of my life. Musically, and across loads of other projects, I’ve really loved it,” he told CLASH.
The latest single, ‘Drawbridge & The Baroness’, is based on the Drawbridge Dilemma. If you’re unfamiliar with this psychological test, the details can be found in the lyrics. Smith sings from the Baroness’ perspective, reflecting on her own death after she defies her husband’s warning not to leave the castle to meet her lover. After spending hours with her beloved, she decides to return to the castle, only to find the bridge blocked by a madman ready to kill her. “Why did you pull the drawbridge on me?” she questions.
The song was co-produced by Smith and Mark Crew, who has worked with Bastille since their debut album, ‘Bad Blood’. ‘Drawbridge & The Baroness’ draws heavily on influences from Bastille’s ‘Orchestrated’ project, featuring orchestral arrangements, choral vocals, and a uniquely textured sonic palette. For ‘&’, Smith also took guitar lessons specifically for this project.
“This is one of the oddest and most unique songs on the record, but I love it. It’s based on a philosophical dilemma called the Drawbridge Exercise, which is all about power and people’s worldviews. I chased the idea while sitting at my kitchen table, layering hundreds of tracks of my own voice harmonising with itself. I’m really proud of it,” he told Apple Music.
With all the upcoming gigs sold out, fans eager to learn more about the songs can tune into the podcast “MUSES: An Ampersand Podcast”. Hosted by Smith himself and academic Emma Nagous, the podcast delves into the characters behind the songs, featuring guest appearances and fun facts about the recording process as well as the stories behind the album.
Words by Gabriela Simionato
