NMM: BΔSTILLE

Photo: BBC Radio / MixTapeLive.Wordpress.com

We're going across the pond to London where we find BΔSTILLE, a band that's making a mark here in the States.

It all began as a solo project for singer-songwriter Dan Smith but he decided to add members to form a band. Currently, the four-piece consists of Smith, Chris "Woody" Wood, Will Farquarson and Kyle Simmons.

So what's with the awesome name BΔSTILLE? It derives from Bastille Day - or French National Day - which is celebrated on Smith's birthday, July 14.

It's a fitting name in that Bastille Day represents the beginning of the French Revolution and the march toward freedom from a constitutional monarchy. It was a break away from traditional practice and way of life in France. Similarly, BΔSTILLE breaks away from the ordinary with its music.

The music of BΔSTILLE is indescribable - in a good way of course. It's unconventional yet very addicting. That's very true for the first track - "Pompeii" - off the band's new album - Bad Blood - which takes a while to set in with listeners but is truly amazing. 

Smith said in an interview with Australian radio station, NovaFM, that the song is a conversation between two inhabitants of Pompeii as the city was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. 

A commenter on SongMeanings.com had another interpretation that was genius, saying it talked about "the moment between something terrible happening and having to face the consequences. The moment at the top of an unpleasant roller coaster."

"Pompeii" leaves its listeners with the chance to interpret it however they see fit. And that's the sheer beauty of it.