The Cure’s frontman Robert Smith shares how performing songs from their new album, Songs Of A Lost World, has been a vital way for him to cope with the loss of loved ones in recent years. In a conversation with BBC Radio 6 Music’s Huw Stephens, Smith described live performances as “hugely cathartic,” allowing him to escape the “doom and gloom” he has felt.
“You just suddenly feel something. You feel connection,” he reflected, emphasizing the joy of sharing those moments with an audience. This week, The Cure played an intimate concert for Radio 2, showcasing their first new music in 16 years, including the lead single “Alone.”
The new album, released this Friday, follows 2008’s 4:13 Dream and has been in the works since 2019, after the band’s 40th anniversary shows. Smith expressed his relief at completing the album, admitting that writing lyrics has become increasingly challenging with age. “It’s the one thing that as I’ve grown older, I’ve found much harder to do,” he noted.
His wife, Mary, played a crucial role in shaping the album, encouraging him to include more uplifting tracks amid the darker themes. “I wanted to finish everything, but she insisted that I balance the depth of the darkness,” Smith explained.
Formed in 1978, The Cure has solidified their status as goth icons in alternative rock, blending themes of love and despair with captivating melodies. Smith, the band’s only constant member, along with longtime bassist Simon Gallup, continues to drive their creative vision.
The album features songs dating back to 2010, with recent events adding a personal touch, especially the track “I Can Never Say Goodbye,” which reflects on the loss of Smith’s brother, Richard. During recent performances, singing this song has been emotionally overwhelming for him, but he eventually found it to be a “wonderful moment.”
In an interview for Uncut magazine, Smith discussed how personal experiences have shaped the album. “When you’re younger, you romanticize [death], but when it happens to family and friends, it feels different,” he said. He aims for his lyrics to capture this reality, acknowledging a shift in perspective since the last album.
Smith, now 65, confronts the passage of time with urgency, and the album’s tone resonates with the dark atmospheres of earlier works while remaining concise with just eight tracks. Critics have praised Songs Of A Lost World as a powerful return for the band, with The Telegraph calling it “perversely uplifting in its nihilism.”
The album closes with the 11-minute “Endsong,” showcasing Smith’s reflections on his life. Despite its melancholy themes, the live performances convey a sense of celebration, blending classic hits with new material. Smith’s spirit on stage radiates joy, even as he confronts darker themes.
Looking ahead, Smith mentioned that The Cure might end around their 50th anniversary in 2028. Yet, he also indicated there are three more albums in the works, suggesting that he isn’t
