Bastille Biography

Bastille is an English indie pop band that found success with the release of their debut album Bad Blood.

Early Formation

Originally started by vocalist Dan Smith, Bastille became a band in 2010 with the addition of keyboardist Kyle Simmons, bassist Will Farquarson, and drummer Chris Wood. After the release of several online tracks, they quickly found support and were able to perform at major festivals like Glastonbury and the Isle of Wight. They were signed to the independent label Young and Lost Club and released the first EP, Laura Palmer. 

Success

Overjoyed was the band’s first single released under EMI Records in 2012. The first single to debut at Top 40 was Flaws. The first breakthrough single was Pompeii which reached number 2 in the UK charts. In 2013 Bastille released their debut album Bad Blood, debuting at number 1. As a result, the band received several Brit nominations and won Best Breakthrough Act in 2014. Next, they issued a mixtape entitled VS. (Other People’s Heartache, Pt. III) containing several collaborations. The quartet was nominated for a Grammy for Best New Artist in 2015. They embarked on a tour and started working on their second album on the road. They released singles that mixed rock, R&B, and dance music such as Hangin’, The Currents and Good Grief in 2015 and 2016. Bastille’s sophomore album was revealed as Wild World in 2016.

Photo credit: The Source