Bastille is back and better than ever in their latest single ‘What You Gonna Do’. In the last couple of years, the English band has dabbled in mostly light pop with strokes of alternative thrown in.

Their latest endeavour, however, goes all out in embracing Brit-rock at it best; it’s rambunctious, it’s daring, and it’s oozing with some serious confidence. The grimy chords on the electric guitar will grab your attention from the get-go but the song only amps up more and more as the verses take off. 

The chorus repeats the title of the song with repeating lines of ‘You Got Us Listening’, though it’s never clear to whom the band is speaking to. There are references of a Johnny and a Sally, who may be stand-ins for our current generation of social media addicts and complacent youth. The melody seems to be some sort of a challenge to these thought leaders, but the lyrics are kept just mysterious enough to never underline a complete meaning. That’s what makes the ride all the more naughty and exhilarating. 

Lead singer Dan Smith’s voice is one of the most recognizable these days, and he holds out fantastically on his own, even with the overpowering instrumentation, including the percussion and bass, roaring with all its might. This year’s been full of lows, so it’s quite the feeling to have a band blast off a composition that’s jam-packed with hot, grimy fun. The number also features Graham Coxon of iconic band Blur on vocals and the guitar, and his presence is instantly recognized in the third verse of the harmony. He brings an old-school style of classic rock into the proceedings, allowing Bastille to complete their homage to the beloved genre of music. 

Speaking on his inspiration for the song, lead singer and producer Smith said, “This next phase feels like a new beginning. It’s about completely tearing up our process, being spontaneous and starting again. 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.”

 pop     indie 

Author: Shaoni Das

Shaoni Das is a writer/editor currently based in Edmonton, Canada. She remains eager to inspect how the changing culture of music impacts upon the greater world.