Imagine Dragons interview 2021: The Music That Made Me

Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons interview, 2021: The Music That Made Me

Music can save a life, inspire activism, bring joy and release grief. It has done all these things for Dan Reynolds. And as the singer of Grammy-winning American rock band Imagine Dragons, he wants to make his fans feel the same way.

“I think music is more powerful than spoken words. I think it saves lives. I would say music has saved my life,” he says.

Reynolds has long been known for wearing his heart on his sleeve, openly talking about his struggles with mental ill health and his Mormon faith, through both Imagine Dragons’ music and his social media. His sense of responsibility to his audience is obvious. For Reynolds, it isn’t good enough to go through the motions and collect the cheque. The moment that happens, he says, “is when I’m going to quit music”.

In 2018 Imagine Dragons were the most streamed group on Spotify, but the pressures of global touring were starting to make the singer “feel numb”. Not long after, he put the band on a long hiatus. He took time off to “be a dad and a normal person” and to refind himself.

As Imagine Dragons return with an emotional new album, produced by the legendary Rick Rubin, Reynolds (above, pictured front) tells us about the music that has helped him get through hard times, as well as the artists who have shaped his activism and his songwriting.

00:00 Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons: The Music That Made Me
00:40 Catharsis from Cat Stevens
02:06 Joy and grief in Graceland
03:09 The underrated Harry Nilsson
04:36 Music inspires action as an LGBTQ+ ally
06:54 On stage with Third Eye Blind

Imagine Dragons’ new album Mercury – Act 1 is out now

Watch the full series of The Music That Made Me at https://www.bigissue.com/tag/the-musi...