The Cure's Robert Smith on grief, death and new album Songs Of A Lost World

Robert Smith: 'Performing New Album Aids My Grief'

Earlier this week, The Cure held a cozy concert for Radio 2, and it will be aired on BBC Two this weekend.

Robert Smith, the lead singer of The Cure, revealed that singing tracks from their recently launched album, "Songs Of A Lost World," has assisted him in coping with the pain of losing loved ones in recent years.

In an interview with Huw Stephens on BBC Radio 6 Music, he mentioned that performing live had a profoundly therapeutic effect, helping him break free from the negativity he was experiencing.

"You suddenly experience a unique feeling. You sense a bond," he continued. "That's what keeps me going... sharing that collective experience with an audience. It's truly something special."

The band held a live session before taking the stage for a special Radio 2 In Concert performance in front of a limited audience at the BBC Radio Theatre on Wednesday.

The London concert featured a rendition of "Alone," marking the group's first new song in 16 years. This track is the lead single from their upcoming album, *Songs Of A Lost World*, which is set to be released this Friday.

The much-anticipated album comes after 2008's 4:13 Dream and has been in the works since 2019, after the band celebrated their 40th anniversary performances.

Smith felt a sense of relief after wrapping up the process. He confided in Stephens that as he’s gotten older, it has become increasingly challenging for him to write lyrics he feels are meaningful.

As I've gotten older, I've discovered that it's increasingly difficult for me to create lyrics that I want to turn into songs. I can put words together, but they don't inspire me to sing.

"Getting to the stage where I feel it's valuable to sing these songs has proven to be quite challenging," he mentioned.

He shared that his wife Mary, whom he met back in high school, played a crucial role in shaping the album's tracklist. She emphasized the importance of finding a balance between the darker themes.

I was wrapping up the more somber songs when Mary chimed in, saying that my best albums actually feature a few more lively tracks. She was absolutely right.

I wanted to wrap everything up because I believed it was only right to give each song equal attention, as if they were all my little kids—I'd rather not show any favoritism.

The Cure, which started out in Crawley, West Sussex in 1978, remains a lasting symbol of alternative rock with its gothic style. They blend themes of love, anxiety, and despair with a diverse range of melodies.

In 1987, The Cure featured current bassist Simon Gallup (on the far left) alongside their lead singer, Robert Smith, who remains the band's sole enduring member. Robert still has his signature big hair, just like back then.

In their early days, they drew inspiration from the sparse sounds of Joy Division's post-punk darkness and the somber tone of David Bowie's Low album. By the late 1980s, they evolved into major players in the indie-pop scene, marked by Smith's emotional depth and sadness.

This period produced several hit songs that reached the top 10 in the UK, such as "Lullaby" and "Friday I’m In Love," which is one of the band's most famous songs from their successful 1992 album, "Wish."

Guitarist and main songwriter Smith is the sole enduring member of the band, with longtime bassist Simon Gallup not far behind.

Reeves Gabrels and Perry Bamote are presently on tour playing guitar, accompanied by Jason Cooper on drums and Roger O'Donnell on keyboards.

However, it's Smith's influence that stands out on Songs Of A Lost World, the band's 14th album.

The album includes tracks that date back to 2010, but recent experiences have added a more intimate touch to it. Smith reflects on his grief over losing family members, particularly his brother Richard.

His passing gave rise to the song "I Can Never Say Goodbye," capturing the deep emotions of sadness, frustration, and regret that come with losing someone.

As the track was featured in the new songs from last year's tour, Smith frequently found it difficult to get through it without being overcome by feelings. He shared with Stephens that performing the song "night after night" eventually turned into a truly beautiful experience.

In a recent interview with Matt Everitt for Uncut magazine, which is now available on the band's YouTube channel, Smith shared how these genuine life experiences shaped the album and distinguished it from their previous works.

"When you’re young, you often have an idealized view of death, even if you don’t realize it. But when it begins to affect your close family and friends, it changes everything," he explained.

"I had a hard time figuring out how to express this in my lyrics. I feel like I've changed a lot since we last recorded an album, and I really wanted that transformation to show in the music."

The Cure played a concert to promote their first album in 16 years, titled Songs Of A Lost World.

This feeling of vulnerability and recognition of life's impermanence is present throughout, as Smith, who is now 65, confronts the flow of time with a fresh sense of immediacy.

The mood and atmosphere of "Songs Of A Lost World" reflect the darker tones found in "Pornography" from 1982 and the highly praised "Disintegration" from 1989. Nevertheless, this new album is more concise, featuring just eight songs, which is nearly half the duration of those earlier works.

Critics have praised Songs Of A Lost World, calling it a noteworthy comeback.

The Telegraph gave it a five-star rating, with Neil McCormick noting that it is "oddly uplifting in its bleakness and the best release they've had since their first album." The Guardian's four-star review highlighted the album's deep introspection, especially its exploration of "the issue of Smith's own identity."

“Things appear to be breaking apart,” noted Kitty Empire, even with fans’ strong perception of a legendary figure in British rock. She also pointed out the surprising pop hit, Drone: Nodrone—one of Mary’s chosen tracks—as the standout feature of the album.

These themes come together in the album's final track, "Endsong," which is an impressive 11-minute piece that shone during the band's Radio 2 In Concert show on Wednesday. This performance will be aired on BBC Radio 2, iPlayer, and BBC Two this Saturday.

Starting with a deep, steady drum beat, the guitars gradually rise to create a powerful wave of swirling sounds and persistent bass lines, reminiscent of the 1992 album Cut.

The Cure took the stage for a live session on Huw Stephens' show at 6 Music.

In the lyrics, Smith reflects on his past, reminiscing about the aspirations and dreams he once had. He contemplates what became of the "little boy" he used to be and how he ended up feeling so much older.

It may seem like typical sadness when you read it, but when performed live, it feels raw and unfiltered, striking a balance between fierce anger and a sense of acceptance.

In another part of the venue, the atmosphere was vibrant and festive, featuring beloved tracks and top hits. The set flowed from the soulful sadness of "Pictures of You" to the more upbeat vibes of "Inbetween Days" and "Just Like Heaven."

The band seemed to be in high spirits, sharing smiles and enjoying themselves. Smith even joined in the fun with some playful dancing during the encore, which featured songs like Close To Me and Lullaby.

Finding happiness amidst new content that sometimes feels more somber than before shouldn't really be a shock.

"I've always disliked the thought of being tied to a specific timeline for my career," Smith shared with NME in 1983 when he turned 25. "I find it quite awful. Perhaps it's just that I'm getting older and more aware of my age."

Smith recently mentioned to The Times that the band could possibly disband around their 50th anniversary in 2028, when he will be nearly 70 years old.

When chatting with Stephens, he humorously mentioned that he doesn't expect to reach that milestone age and would be "really happy" just to celebrate Christmas.

However, Smith informed Uncut that the band is close to finishing three albums after their highly fruitful recording sessions in 2019.

He tells Stephens that he's "almost finished" with his second album. "Once I wrap that up, I'll take a moment to relax and see what lies ahead, but for now, I’m focusing solely on completing it before thinking about what to do next."

Time doesn't pause for anyone, but Smith and The Cure are definitely not prepared to remain stagnant.

Radio 2 Live Performance:

BBC Radio 6 Music performance