If you thought you knew what to expect from Bastille at this point, take a step back and think again. Today, the band have released an electrifying new single that features Graham Coxon, and it’s a good one.
It’s sort of a surprise release, but not to the band themselves. Frontman Dan Smith explains, “We finished the song, and it felt urgent. We didn’t want to sit on it.”
“What You Gonna Do???” is a thunderous and furious track, that comes on the heels of the band’s third album, Doom Days — the final instalment in a trilogy that’s spanned eight years and brought Bastille multi-platinum sales, global success and a position as one of the world’s most-streamed bands.
Fans may have grown accustomed to albums arriving with fully formed, meticulously executed, creative ecosystems, but this time it’s all a bit different.
“This next phase feels like a new beginning. It’s about completely tearing up our process, being spontaneous and starting again,” Smith states. “We’re just really excited by the new songs. I think we’re making some of the best music we’ve ever made. We want to put it out now and not wait for the whole album to be done before anyone starts to hear it. This is about where we are now and hearing us in real-time.”
The song was produced by Smith and Mark Crew, and comes accompanied with a music video for fans to enjoy as well. The video sees Bastille collaborate with Rezza, a British/Iranian, London-based animator who brings a seismic visual shift for Bastille: the video is a mash up of mixed media using illustration, photography and live action, which results in a unique and innovative style that is winningly berserk.
Watch the new video for “What Are You Gonna Do???” below.
