Today, Bastille’s Dan Smith unveils “&” Part Two – a two track release featuring new singles, Blue Sky & The Painter and Leonard & Marianne, taken from the forthcoming album “&” (Ampersand) out October 25th.
A beautiful new project from Bastille’s Dan Smith, “&” is collection of story songs that explores the worlds of fascinating figures from history, mythology, and pop culture, fed by instinctive new collaborations with friends and family, dazzling arrangements and an infectious spirit of musical freedom. Watch Dan introduce the making of “&” here
New single, Blue Sky & The Painter is inspired by the Norwegian expressionist painter, Edvard Munch and his relationship with his depression, and the difficult engine that allowed him to create. Uplifting and euphoric, the song is about seeing a crack of light in life after a long period of darkness. Watch Dan perform a stripped back version of the track in the middle of the Sargasso Sea, (one of the most important marine ecosystems on the planet) where he was invited by Greenpeace to raise awareness of protecting our oceans here. Leonard &Marianne is a mesmerizing love song about longing and loss, inspired by the complex relationship between Leonard Cohen and Marianne Ihlen, it’s one of the first tracks that Smith wrote for the “&” project back in 2020.
“&” Part Two follows the recently released “&” Part One which includes the four tracks, Intros and Narrators, Eve & Her Paradise Lost, Seasons & Narcissus and Emily & Her Penthouse In The Sky. Listen Here
A deeper dive into the characters on the album can be heard on, ‘MUSES: An Ampersand Podcast’ – a new podcast blending music, history and storytelling which launches on the 18th September. Smith and academic/podcaster Emma Nagouse (BBC Radio 4’s You’re Dead to Me and BBC Sounds’ Homeschool History) collaborate to uncover the lives of the poets, artists, anthropologists and trailblazers featured on the record and break down Dan’s journey of transforming their lives into songs for “&”.
Link to sign up here.
To celebrate the album’s release, the “&” live tour will take place in November with 7 special one-off shows across seven global cities including Paris, Belgium, Amsterdam, Berlin, Los Angeles, New York and at London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire on the 17th November. Tickets on sale here. Pre- sale tickets on sale on 18th September. General on sale 20th September. Full dates below.
“&” LIVE – 7 Special One-Off Shows – dates below.
10th November – La Cigale, Paris
11th November – Cirque Royal, Belgium
13th November – Royal Theatre Carré, Amsterdam
14th November – Theatre Des Westens, Berlin
17th November – Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London
23rd November – United Theatre, LA
25th November – Town Hall, New York
Full “&” Album Track listing
Intros & Narrators
Eve & Paradise Lost
Emily & Her Penthouse In The Sky
Blue Sky & The Painter
Leonard & Marianne
Marie & Polonium
Red Wine & Wilde
Seasons & Narcissus
Drawbridge & The Baroness
The Soprano & Her Midnight Wonderings
Essie & Paul
Mademoiselle & The Nunnery Blaze
Zheng Yi Sao & Questions For Her
Telegraph Road 1977 & 2024
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