Imagine Dragons Frontman Dan Reynolds Gets Personal About Latest Album ‘Smoke + Mirrors’

Stephanie Hernandez

Alt-rock group Imagine Dragons are proof that hard work pays off, after years of grassroots gigs, they found their breakout record “Night Visions” exploding onto the airwaves in 2012. Hailing from Las Vegas, the band had powered through playing long sets to distracted gamblers in casinos, and then set off from their hometown for over 130 grueling tour dates and 50 music festivals in support of “Night Visions,” their first studio album. When the intense show schedule started winding down, the four rockers of Imagine Dragons realized that their monster sound had become a monster hit with crowds.

Easily, the biggest fan favorite song from the album, “Radioactive,” was almost prophetically named as the emotive, apocalyptic rock anthem went viral. The crushing single became one of the most downloaded rock songs ever, spent over a year climbing up the charts, and culminated with a 2014 Grammy win for Best Rock Performance. Even though they have already reached a level of success most artists only dream about, Imagine Dragons is recharged and ready to do it all over again.

With many hours to burn traveling on the road for their tour schedule, frontman Dan Reynolds had the time and inspiration to write new material exploring the many experiences Imagine Dragons has had as they rose to fame. While roaming the world, the 27-year-old who was raised in a Mormon household let out some of his most personal lyrics to date that grapple with reconciling his rockstar lifestyle and career with his religious upbringing. Many of those confessional songs appear on the band’s second studio album, “Smoke + Mirrors,” which is just as emotional, honest, and energizing as ever.

Reynolds opened up to Entertainment Voice about the band’s process for making their second album and follow-up to such a colossal success that was “Night Visions.” The band custom built a home studio where they recorded “Smoke + Mirrors” precisely how they wanted it, and Reynolds explains how this personal environment helped shape the record, how the band manages their expectations, and how personal and meaningful his lyrics have become.

You are a native of Las Vegas and Imagine Dragons hails from Sin City. How do you feel that has influenced the landscape of your music?

It has definitely played a big role in our development as a band. We used to play cover gigs at casinos, and we would be fighting for the attention of people at slot machines. We would play six-hour sets sometimes, and it was exhausting, but it was how we earned a living. Those shows helped shape our live performance in a way that definitely made its way onto our recorded music as well.

You guys just wrapped up the band’s second studio album “Smoke + Mirrors.” What are your expectations for the upcoming album after the blowout success of your debut album “Night Visions,” which included a Grammy for “Radioactive”?

We could never have anticipated the success we had on “Night Visions.” But we really try not to set any expectations for the success of our music. At the end of the day, all you can do is write the best and most honest music you can and then move forward.

The band constructed a home studio where you recorded “Smoke + Mirrors.” What do you think that personalized environment helped bring to the record?

It was great. We were able to create an unusually healthy recording environment. It meant taking all the time we needed and wanted to record and produce the music. We were working relatively normal hours, exercising, eating healthily. Definitely not your standard rock album recording process and a long way from the 16-hour days and sweaty takeout food sessions on “Night Visions.”

Your new single “I Bet My Life” is a personal song about your relationship with your parents. Tell us what this song means to you.

All the songs on the album are personal in one way or another.” I Bet My Life” is a song about my sometimes strained relationship with my parents growing up. But in the end it celebrates what we mean to each other.

The second single off “Smoke + Mirrors” is titled “Shots.” The intro sings, “I’m sorry for everything. Oh, everything I’ve done.” It tells a story of deep self reflection. What inspired the lyrics?

Almost all of the album was written on the road, and reflected the struggles that come with being away from family and friends in random hotel rooms. There is obviously a lot of regret and introspection that happens when you go through the highs and lows of tour life. Like some of the other songs on the album, there is a juxtaposition of the dark and light in this song.

Did the overwhelming success of your previous album help you to open up more on a personal level when writing, “I Bet My Life” and “Shots”?

It’s hard to say, but probably not. We were on the road touring on “Night Visions” while writing these songs, and in many ways shielded from the success of the album. It didn’t really sink in that the album was doing so well until we were off the road. But, to some extent, it probably does free you up to go to an honest place when writing when you see people connecting with honest music you’ve written in the past.

You underwent vocal-cord surgery back in 2012, but have obviously spent the past few years recording and performing. How do you balance taking care of your health while still delivering the physical demands required for your intense schedule?

It is really hard, and I am still trying to figure it out. I am on a crazy strict diet, exercising every day, and trying to do whatever I can to stay healthy. It’s tough when you have already had issues in the past, and there is a lot of pressure that comes with knowing your voice cannot be replaced when you are on tour.

Imagine Dragons last tour included 130 headlining shows and 50 music festivals. Do you have similarly ambitious touring plans for this upcoming record?

Yes. It will be similar, only more so.

“Smoke + Mirrors” releases Feb. 17 on Apple Music.