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Imagine Dragons  

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American indie and alternative rock group Imagine Dragons was established in 2008 and is made up of four members from Las Vegas, Nevada (US). The lineup consists of vocalist Dan Reynolds, bassist Ben McKee, drummer Daniel Platzman, and guitarist Wayne “Wing” Sermon.

The band’s first big break came in 2009 at the Bite of Las Vegas Festival when Train frontman Pat Monahan fell ill. As a last-minute replacement, Imagine Dragons’ first major gig before an audience of 26,000.

Over the next two years, Imagine Dragons followed up with two EPs, Imagine Dragons and Hell and Silence. It broke out in 2011 with the single “It’s Time”, which led them to sign with Interscope Records. The band moved to California and worked with producer Alex da Kid on two more EPs: Continued Silence and Hear Me. Now ready for the big leagues, Imagine Dragons released its debut album Night Visions in the summer of 2012.

Night Visions was a smash hit across the board. The highest-charting rock album since 2006, it sold over 83,000 copies and reached the number one spot on Billboard’s Alternative and Rock Album chart. It topped charts worldwide, reaching the #1 spot in the UK, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, and Canada, and produced chart-topping singles “Radioactive” and “Demons”.

Imagine Dragons launched its Night Visions Tour, and the resulting series of sold-out shows across the US and Europe earned it recognition as “The Best Breakout Band of 2013” from Billboard. While touring, the band worked on dozens of demos which would lead to the band’s second studio release.

Over the course of 2014, Imagine Dragons honed these songs as it worked on other projects like the song “Battle Cry” for Transformers: Age of Extinction and “Warriors” for the esports event League of Legends Championships. By that October, its new single “I Bet My Life” heralded even greater successes in the coming year.

InFebruary 2015, Imagine Dragons’ second studio album, Smoke + Mirrors debuted at #1 on the Billboard charts. The record proved that the band had truly arrived and went on to sell well over one million copies. Another tour ensued in June of 2015 which would press on into early 2016. Along the way, the band also released a cover of the Eagles of Death Metal song “I Love You All the Time” in support of victims of the November 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris.

For a lot of 2016, the band took a break, releasing just a few singles for the films Suicide Squad, Me Before You and Passengers. Suicide Squad’s “Sucker for Pain,” featuring Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa, Logic, Ty Dolla Sign, and X Ambassadors, was a smash hit, topping the charts in what was otherwise a quiet year for the band.

In February of 2017, audiences would get its first taste of new music from the band with the song “Believer,” the first new single from the upcoming record, which also appeared in a Super Bowl ad. A few months later in May, the album arrived. Evolve was revealed with a whole new collection of songs, a brand new single (“Whatever It Takes”) and a tour announcement all on the same day. Evolve would go on to be nominated for multiple Grammys and win Best Rock Video at the MTV Music Awards for “Whatever It Takes.”

Imagine Dragons didn’t rest on its laurels after 2017. The Evolve Tour continued, more singles dropped including “Natural,” and a collaboration tune with Kygo called “Born to Be Yours” hit Twitter. But why stop there? Origins, the band’s fourth studio album in six years, hit audiences with full force, making it to number two on the Billboard 200 and #1 on Top Rock Albums.

Finally, Imagine Dragons took a more restful couple of years. As Reynolds focused on new fatherhood and COVID-19 shut down concert venues, the band’s output slowed down to singles and video releases of old songs.

Then, in 2021, Mercury – Act 1 came out. The next year, 2022, a sequel, Mercury, Acts 1 & 2 followed. Produced by the legendary Rick Rubin, the concept album would slap dozens of tracks down with yet another tour ramping up.

Catch Imagine Dragons in concert when the tour rolls around to your area.

Live reviews

The story of Imagine Dragons and their rise in popularity is an inspiring one. They're a band that put out a 4.5 star album (Night Visions) and toured religiously until it finally caught on. They played small clubs and were on the bottom of lineup posters just three years ago. Now they're one of the biggest bands around, headlining festivals and performing in arenas every night.

I was lucky enough to see Imagine Dragons when they were just getting going. I saw them play The Metro in Chicago (one of my favorite venues) in what ended up being one of the best shows of 2013. I also love Night Visions. It would have been the best album of 2012, if not for Mumford and Sons Babel being released that same month.

So when Imagine Dragons announced their summer tour, I was excited to see a Tampa stop included. I was not happy however, to see the show was at the 18,000 capacity Amalie Arena. This was quite the change from their first show in Tampa at the Ritz Theater with a capacity of 1,100.

I also wasn't as excited as expected for the show because the tour is in support of the groups much anticipated second album - Smoke and Mirrors. The record was put out in February of this year, and I was extremely disappointed. In my opinion, the Las Vegas rockers abandoned their alternative roots and made a poppy record that would just get radio play.

That record was on full display for their Friday night Tampa show. Imagine Dragons performed 12 songs from Smoke & Mirrors, essentially playing the album in full. Now I know this was the 'Smoke & Mirrors Tour,' but how about a nod to the album and the fans that got you to where you are today?

Instead, the guys just gave minimal nods to Night Visions. They played the four most popular songs from it ('It's Time,' 'Radioactive,' 'Demons,' and 'On Top of the World'). They also played one acoustic verse each from 'Nothing Left to Say' and 'Bleeding Out.' It was nothing close to the attention that album deserves and fans were hoping for. I would have loved to have heard just one of the following: 'Hear Me,' 'Amsterdam,' 'Nothing Left to Say,' 'Round and Round,' or 'Selene.'

Instead, I was listening to a poppy album in a half empty arena. That's right, sales were weak for this Friday night show in the music friendly community of Tampa. The floor was only at about half capacity. Maybe the $90 price point for a floor ticket was one reason, but it's never easy to get into the show when the band is playing at a venue much too large for their popularity.

Another negative of the night was the formation and style that the band chose to lay out. Lead singer Dan Reynolds played 80% of the show from an extended part of the stage that ran down the middle of the floor. At times, it seemed like a solo show for him, rather than a full band experience. I couldn't even tell you any highlights from the other contributing members of Imagine Dragons.

Lastly, one of my favorite things from the first three years of touring for ID, was their unique and constant use of rhythmic drums. They used to have drums of all sounds and sizes scattered across the stage. Each member would go to their drum station constantly throughout the set, and the beats and rhythms they came up with were addicting to watch. With the exception of 'Radioactive,' that fun portion of the show has completely disappeared from their live set.

Overall, this show was a disappointment. There was a great band that put out a superb debut back in 2003 entitled 'Songs about Jane.' That band (Maroon 5) went on to release 4 more albums, with each being worse than the album before it. At the same time though, their radio play and recognition in the top 40 community has increased with each release. I think Imagine Dragons might be the next Maroon 5.

CONCERT RATING: 2 Stars

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I’ve been listening to the group since so long, and the first song I heard from them was Radioactive, which everyone knows I’m sure of it. The concert run an hour late, but nobody was complaining and they started with I don’t know why, which immediately put everybody in the mood. There was many generations mixed, and all the adults around me didn’t really knew imagine dragons, weren’t really sure if they were going to like it, and were really surprised to see they were just loving the concert. The group was playing and singing at the perfection, all of them was contributing to the making of each songs, and there was such a good atmosphere it was really incredible. Dan Reynolds (the lead singer) talked really often to the crowd during the show and also took a moment to raise awareness about LGBT youth, which was a really touching moment. Their energy, their complicity with each other, everything was perfect, and the last song, radioactive, there so well known hit, just ended the concert with a great energy. I loved it, probably one of the best concert I’ve ever been. Imagine dragons is not like many artists who just come on stage, say hi, sing ( either in playback, or wrong), don’t interact with the crowd, and get out of stage without a thank you. Imagine dragons talked to us so many times it was really pleasant, I’ve never seen a group or an artist take the time to say something relevant, they even went into the crowd during the show, to the back of the concert hall so people in the back could see them at least for 3 songs. It was perfect, and I sure will go to their next concert, because seeing Imagine dragons in live, is just magic and unforgettable.

Listening to Las Vegas native band Imagine Dragons through headphones is one great experience, but seeing them perform their upbeat guitar and drum tunes in person, paired with the resonating vocals of Dan Reynolds, truly makes for a life-changing event.

The band has now performed all over the world due to their understandable success, and I saw them play at Lollapalooza in Brazil where they dressed in all black and gave the screaming crowd something they wouldn’t ever forget. The mellifluous band has a sort of chill, indie, rock and roll style, but they are far from an independent band – they embarked on a world tour after major success with their single “Radioactive” and have received lots of radio play for their cool guitar strums and cheerful yet relaxing music style.

Seeing the band live really makes you want to get off your feet, and the lively lyrics will truly dare you to try and stand still in one place, as the music urges you to let go and give in to the feeling of the music flowing through your whole body as your hear it the amazing instrumentals and sounds.

At Lollapalooza, the band didn’t require any props besides a simple few lights and their name in the background on a screen. All they need are their instruments, and Dan’s soulful voice.

This was the first concert that we took our two children to (ages 10 and 12) and they had a great time! The venue (Shoreline Amphitheater) was fantastic and we enjoyed our view from the lawn.

The opening bands were engaging and certainly warmed up the crowd! When Imagine Dragons appeared, our kids were really excited and ready for a "full concert experience"! Imagine Dragons did not disappoint! They played all the popular songs as well as some older ones. They even changed stages halfway through the concert which was a great bonus! The band definitely knew how to keep the crowd engaged from asking us to sing along to "Yesterday" and even releasing large balloons for the crowd to bat around throughout the second half of the concert.

Their final few songs, which included Radioactive, were absolutely brilliant! They had so much energy at the end it was infectious! Their extended drumming section in Radioactive was awesome! They ended with two songs instead of a typical walk off and then come back for an encore. Their final song, Believer, was a rocking anthem that had us all walking away singing at the end of the concert. Overall, it was a great first concert for my kids and a great reminder of why live music matters so much!

I haven't been on the Imagine Dragons bandwagon as long as some have. I picked them up after Night Visions came out and they quickly became an act I needed to see. Their catchy blend of pop and rock elements was always going to be a winner live. And it was.

I saw them play to a sold-out Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne. Their support act were British India, a local band who had achieved reasonable levels of success on the national stage. They were solid and a good lead-in to the main act.

They opened with Shots and built an amazing set list from there. They played all of their hits, debuted a couple of new songs they haven't done before and threw in a couple of covers (Forever Young and Beds Are Burning) to fill out their performance. Dan Reynolds is an amazing vocalist and his backing instrumentalists (Sermon, McKee and Platzman) complemented his eccentric and energetic performance style.

The only letdown of the night was the atmosphere. I'm unsure if it was the venue's acoustics or the audience but it wasn't as loud or electric as the gigs I've been to before.

Overall I'd give the show a 9/10 and that will only improve with another album or two of quality content. I'd definitely go see them again.

The concert was really great. Every members of the band had SO much energy that they shared with the public. Dan Reynolds made a speech on the LGBT youth at some point during the concert and that was great, he spoke with his heart and the public gave this love back. The light were blowing our minds and they were at their best during the whole concert.

At some point, there only were instumentals and the singer (Dan Reynolds) lied down on the ground and started doing yoga, which was pretty funny.

In the middle of the concert, they went on the second stage (smaller and in the middle of the room) so everyone could see them.

They ended the concert with the first song we have (my sisters and I) discovered them with six years ago.

I truly encourage people to go to their concert because they are one of the most fantastic band of the 21th century.

PS: if I can share an advise, if you really want to bring a goodie home, buy it BEFORE the concert. At the end, there are a lot of people and, I guess, less choice (we bought it before the concert so we had all the pleasure and time to choose what we wanted)

On October 1st I went to Imagine Dragons concert for the first time. It was a breathtaking performance. Dan’s beautiful and emotional speech is still in my mind, especially the part about things that don’t mean nothing and are given meaning like class, color, race. Dan’s voice is really powerful and very unique that makes you feel goosebumps. His personality is one of the best. He is an honest and a nice person which he expresses through his music, the way he talks and acts, the way he stays positive and inspires us to rise up, believe that the lost things will come back to us, be thankful to yesterdays, sometimes start over and do whatever it takes to make it up to our loved ones and become stronger, no matter how much pain we go through. Imagine Dragons does a great job in creating meaningful, inspirational and emotional music which is very rare in our day and age. My friends and I laughed, cried, danced, sang and screamed so much that we couldn’t talk after it. The feelings are unforgettable. It was an experience worth repeating a thousand times. Thank you Imagine Dragons.

really good live production, dan's voice is very beautiful live and wing's guitar solos were also impressive. the drummer did a very nice piece but unfortunately we didn't hear from the bassist.

we sat in block 102 of the o2 arena which was on the left of the stage. we had a good view but there were a lot of couples around us who were not very enthusiastic about the concert which made the concert slightly sedate to enjoy. if you want to really get into the music I recommend standing but if you want to go with a friend or something to just listen and watch nicely then sit.

also I wasn't really massively impressed with the track list. they didn't sing smoke and mirrors or bleeding out, which we were disappointed by. the encore song was "the fall" which wasn't the energetic fun song the audience was expecting. radioactive and demons were both excellent but I think they wanted to promote songs from the new album.

still would recommend as you can watch nicely or really get into the music.

Well-imagined dragons: an excellent performance from an extremely enthusiastic and (at times almost too) humble band, clearly enjoying every minute of their time on stage.

The support act, Sunset Sons, kicked things off excellently with some high-energy, high-tempo tracks to a very receptive crowd, setting the tone for the main event.

forty minutes or so later, the Dragons burst on to the stage to a huge ovation, got straight into it and kept the pace up the whole way through, only really stopping from time to time to thank the fans, be a bit grateful and have a bit of a joke from time to time.

I'm not sure if I had lower expectations than was fair of this band, who I've only seen once previously at Glastonbury '14 (which mainly involved them all being covered in mud), but for me they massively over-delivered on staging, performance and energy to provide a fantastic night, culminating in the inevitable, uh, golden shower of glittery leaves from above. Excellent stuff.

Sound was pretty horrible, waaaay too loud, even with earplugs, which I almost never need to wear.

Many awkward choices of covers with awkward musical production choices. Feels like as they only have about 4 hits, they just spent the entire first hour of the concert stalling for time, giving every band member a chance for a below-average, horribly sounding solo.

The guitarist's overuse of harmonizer (+/-1 octave) only made his solo even more childish and simply sounded awful. Felt like he was trying to imitate Rage Against the Machine's creative guitar playing, although stealing techniques doesn't make it your own.

I believe that this is what happens when a young band gain a lot of popularity in relatively short time, experience is noticeably lacking here.

Visuals and lighting were good and with high quality though.

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Grace VanderWaal

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Grace VanderWaal To Open For Imagine Dragons On New Arena Tour

The rising star and "America's Got Talent" winner will join the GRAMMY-winning rock band on 40 dates of their upcoming arena tour

In the 18 months since winning the 11th season of "America's Got Talent," Grace VanderWaal has indisputably proven that singing and playing her way into the hearts of millions of viewers en route to taking home the grand prize on NBC's flagship talent competition truly was just the beginning.

And the hits just keep coming.  To wit, VanderWaal has some exciting news to share with her growing community of fans. A community which now counts some 2.5 million Instagram followers amongst its ranks, by the way. Starting this April, the young phenom will be joining GRAMMY-winning rock band Imagine Dragons as their opening act on 40 (!) show dates on the North American leg of their upcoming Evolve World Tour .

In just the last 12 months, VanderWaal has won awards , she's been featured in ranked lists of the hottest rising talent in music, she's performed at the Special Olympics, she was called one of the " biggest breakout acts " at Austin City Limits 2017 , she sold out her debut headlining tour, and she released her debut studio LP Just The Beginning . In short, it's been a pretty busy year for the 14 year-old singer/songwriter.

Amid such a torrent of activity, Ii's all the more impressive that VanderWaal has also made a commitment to leverage her platform as a rising star to take action to give back to the community through working to help promote music education and music programs in schools.

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Utilizing a portion of her winnings from the "AGT" competition, VanderWaal was able to partner with school officials and politicians to bring funding for arts programs back to a public school in her district where those programs had been cut. Along with donations of instruments and microphones from companies like Fender and Shure, VanderWaal put together a show choir at the school called "the Little Miracles" and performed with them in the school's auditorium. The initiative was documented by Uproxx and Honda as part of Honda's "Backstage" documentary series on rising stars.

VanderWaal's upcoming tour appearances with Imagine Dragons will kick off on April 21 at Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica, N.N, and run through Aug. 10, wrapping up at MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheater in Tampa, Fla. Presale tickets for most dates went on sale on March 2. Tickets and full show date listings can be found on VanderWaal's official website .

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Get To Know Benson Boone, The "Beautiful Things" Singer & Rising Pop-Rock Sensation

As Benson Boone's erupting smash "Beautiful Things" continues to dominate Billboard's global charts, GRAMMY.com rounded up seven things to know about the budding star, from his reality TV roots to his rock star mentor.

Benson Boone's swift rise to stardom has been a beautiful thing to witness. Over the past three years, the Monroe, Washington native has gone from viral TikTok influencer to one of Gen Z's most promising pop talents.

Remarkably, the 21-year-old pop-rock artist didn't even discover his voice until he reached high school, after his best friend asked him to play the piano in their school's battle of the bands competition and the singer dropped out at the last second. Boone found himself filling in, an impromptu decision that would unwittingly alter the course of his entire life.

"It's just like I unlocked something I didn't know I had," he mused recently to MTV . "And I stopped, like, halfway through the first verse and just looked around, and I was so shocked that I had just sang…It was, like, the best feeling of my life."

Cut to the present day, and Boone's voice has helped him soar to the top of multiple Billboard charts. His latest single "Beautiful Things," a desperate prayer of a love song that pinballs between warm, folksy verses and a rollicking chorus reminiscent of Freddie Mercury's electrifying vocals, has positively exploded since its January release. Boone's breakout hit has spent six consecutive weeks in the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 3 as of press time and topping both of Billboard's global charts for multi-week runs.

"My life has changed dramatically since the song came out," Boone reflected earlier this month in a sit-down with Variety . "It's so, so, so insane to me that this is happening. I'm trying so hard to formulate words. I have so much trouble processing it all right now…But when I sit back and look at what's happening, it really, truly blows my mind. Because it's something a lot of people dream of, and [I'm] one of those people."

Benson is steadfast in building on the runaway success of "Beautiful Things," too. The singer/songwriter's forthcoming debut album is expected some time later this year, and his just-announced Fireworks and Rollerblades World Tour kicks off April 3 in Chicago, with legs in North America, the U.K., Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

As Boone's rise to superstardom continues, GRAMMY.com rounded up everything you need to know about the buzzy star-in-the-making, from his brief stint on reality TV to the A-list rocker who's taken him under his wing.

He's A Proud "American Idol" Dropout

Before he became a rising star on the charts, Boone initially attempted to get his start in music on "American Idol." During Season 19, the then-18-year-old auditioned for the reality show with a piano-playing cover of Aidan Martin's 2017 single "Punchline" after producers came across his videos online.

Boone's jaw-dropping audition earned a standing ovation from judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan before Katy Perry confidently declared, "They're gonna swoon over Benson Boone." All three judges were baffled to learn that the teenager had only discovered his obvious musical talent the year before, and the "Roar" singer doubled down on her praise by predicting, "I'm gonna tell you something that you may not believe. But if you believe it, it might happen…I see you winning 'American Idol' if you want to."

"That is the biggest compliment I've ever gotten, thank you," a starstruck Boone replied. However, by the time Hollywood week rolled around, the fresh-faced teenager had apparently decided he didn't want to win the long-running reality competition, and withdrew after advancing to the Top 24. 

"The reason I quit 'American Idol' is because I wanted to do music," he explained a couple of years later during an appearance on The Zach Sang Show . "I don't want people to be like, 'Oh, Benson Boone, 'American Idol' blew him up. Like, that's where he comes from. No. I want to be Benson Boone 'cause I write smash hits and they love my music…I just didn't want that label on me."

He Has A Bonafide Rock Superstar For A Mentor

Part of Boone's success as a solo artist can be attributed to Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons , who came across the young talent and personally signed him to Night Street Records, the rock singer's own Warner Records imprint that has also boasted K.Flay on its exclusive roster, in 2021. 

"We sign artists so rarely at Night Street — it was one of those moments where you know you have no choice," the frontman told Billboard at the time Boone inked his record deal. "That's how I felt when I first sat in a recording booth with Benson. I'm excited for the world to get to know him the way I have these last months."

Since then, Reynolds has also served as a sort of industry mentor figure for Boone, as the burgeoning rocker explained in a 2023 interview promoting the release of his EP Pulse . "He makes you feel comfortable in your own skin, he's very gifted in that way," Boone told iHeartRadio Canada . "So working with him has been incredible, and him taking time for an artist very much smaller than him is just…he's a very kind soul. 

"I think that the main thing that he's taught me is that in this industry, everybody wants something different from you," he continued. "Everybody has a different outlook on yourself than you actually do. And regardless of what that is, you are the leader of your own career and your own life. You have to do things that make you happy, write music that you want to be writing, releasing things that you're proud of…He's just taught me to stick to my gut and just follow my own dreams."

His Earlier Singles Pack An Emotional Punch (No, Seriously, Grab Some Tissues)

The runaway success of "Beautiful Things" may have earned Boone's legions of newfound fans in the last two months, but it's actually not his biggest song on streaming platforms (at least just yet). Before his soul-baring folk-rock anthem was burning up charts around the world, the singer released his debut single "Ghost Town" and heartbreaking follow-up "In The Stars," both of which are included on his debut 2021 EP Walk Me Home… (As of press time, the former has more than 336 million streams on Spotify, and the latter has a whopping 617 million.)

Another smoldering torch song, "Ghost Town" became Boone's first official entry on the Hot 100 after it was released in October 2021. "Maybe you'd be happier with someone else/ Maybe loving me's the reason you can't love yourself/ Before I turn your heart into a ghost town/ Show me everything we build so I can tear it all down," he laments on the soaring chorus over a running piano line and booming, orchestral percussion.

On the heels of "Ghost Town," Boone then penned "In the Stars" in 2022 about the death of his beloved great-grandma. "That kind of loss can be more emotional and heartfelt than a relationship," he told Genius about the song's tender meaning. "I wanted to write about something that was real. It's something I've never really talked about or dealt face to face with. Songwriting is very new to me, and so I'm still learning that process of figuring out how to cope with something through a song. And I think this is kind of where that starts for me." 

Other pre-"Beautiful Things" tracks worth checking out in Boone's quickly blossoming discography include the addictive TikTok smash "Sugar Sweet," wistfully upbeat bop "Coffee Cake" and the introspective "What Was."

His Stage Presence Is Downright Acrobatic

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Boone may be a relative newcomer in the music industry, but he's already developed a magnetic stage presence at his packed live shows. In fact, one of his signature tricks on stage is landing a backflip mid-song without so much as missing a beat.

To tease his upcoming world tour, the singer posted a clip of himself in late January belting out "What Was" in front of an ecstatic crowd. In the video, he impressively nails a flip before effortlessly transitioning right into the power ballad's bombastic climax, wailing, "Let me/ Start over/ The moment that I left you in tears/ Is a mem'ry that will haunt me for years/ And years and years and years and years."

"My dad is 49 years old and still backflips, I get it from him," the singer confessed to Australian outlet The Project on his first trip Down Under in the fall of 2022. "I always thought he was, like, the coolest…but yeah, I've been flipping since I was, like, four and it's just always been my thing."

He Has Roots In Mormonism

Boone grew up in small-town Washington as the only boy in a Mormon family with four sisters. He's never really spoken publicly about growing up in the clean-cut, high-demand religion, but he actually briefly attended Brigham Young University—Idaho, the Mormon university in Rexburg, for a semester before pausing his education to focus on music.

Mormonism is a trait he coincidentally shares with his mentor Reynolds, who's been outspoken throughout his career about his Mormon background and actually got kicked out of Brigham Young University around the same time he formed Imagine Dragons. 

While Boone grew up outside the "Book of Mormon Belt" — the geographic area that radiates from Mormonism's Salt Lake City headquarters to include parts of Idaho, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Wyoming and even southern Alberta, Canada — his Mormon roots have shown up in his music in subtle ways. He even filmed the official music video for "Beautiful Things" against the majestic backdrop of the red rock bluffs outside St. George, Utah (which just so happens to be this writer's hometown!).

He Serves As His Own Creative Team

Boone's creative side extends beyond the realm of music: he's also a talented artist who often draws the cover art for his own singles. When "Ghost Town" was released in 2021, he showed off his skills by sketching the song's artwork for Spotify's Today's Top Hits — even admitting it was his first time attempting to draw a self-portrait with charcoal.

"I've always loved drawing and painting," Boone said of his artistic flair in a 2023 interview, also noting that he designs all his own merchandise. "I get that from my dad…My dad's, like, a crazy artist, he's so good. And so it's kinda just always been something that I've done."

He's An Avid Rollerblader

As the name of his upcoming Fireworks and Rollerblades World Tour would suggest, Boone is both a self-proclaimed adrenaline junkie and has a not-so-secret passion for rollerblading. In fact, the singer's TikTok feed is littered with videos of himself landing tricks, stunts and, of course, flips on wheels in between the requisite promo material teasing new music like his upcoming single "Slow It Down," footage from live shows and other viral TikTok content.

What other tricks does Benson Boone have up his sleeve for the rest of 2024? Judging by his meteoric chart success thus far, the world is eagerly waiting to find out.

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GRAMMY Rewind: Kendrick Lamar Honors Hip-Hop's Greats While Accepting Best Rap Album GRAMMY For 'To Pimp a Butterfly' In 2016

Upon winning the GRAMMY for Best Rap Album for 'To Pimp a Butterfly,' Kendrick Lamar thanked those that helped him get to the stage, and the artists that blazed the trail for him.

Updated Friday Oct. 13, 2023 to include info about Kendrick Lamar's most recent GRAMMY wins, as of the 2023 GRAMMYs.

A GRAMMY veteran these days, Kendrick Lamar has won 17 GRAMMYs and has received 47 GRAMMY nominations overall. A sizable chunk of his trophies came from the 58th annual GRAMMY Awards in 2016, when he walked away with five — including his first-ever win in the Best Rap Album category.

This installment of GRAMMY Rewind turns back the clock to 2016, revisiting Lamar's acceptance speech upon winning Best Rap Album for To Pimp A Butterfly . Though Lamar was alone on stage, he made it clear that he wouldn't be at the top of his game without the help of a broad support system. 

"First off, all glory to God, that's for sure," he said, kicking off a speech that went on to thank his parents, who he described as his "those who gave me the responsibility of knowing, of accepting the good with the bad."

Looking for more GRAMMYs news? The 2024 GRAMMY nominations are here!

He also extended his love and gratitude to his fiancée, Whitney Alford, and shouted out his Top Dawg Entertainment labelmates. Lamar specifically praised Top Dawg's CEO, Anthony Tiffith, for finding and developing raw talent that might not otherwise get the chance to pursue their musical dreams.

"We'd never forget that: Taking these kids out of the projects, out of Compton, and putting them right here on this stage, to be the best that they can be," Lamar — a Compton native himself — continued, leading into an impassioned conclusion spotlighting some of the cornerstone rap albums that came before To Pimp a Butterfly .

"Hip-hop. Ice Cube . This is for hip-hop," he said. "This is for Snoop Dogg , Doggystyle . This is for Illmatic , this is for Nas . We will live forever. Believe that."

To Pimp a Butterfly singles "Alright" and "These Walls" earned Lamar three more GRAMMYs that night, the former winning Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song and the latter taking Best Rap/Sung Collaboration (the song features Bilal , Anna Wise and Thundercat ). He also won Best Music Video for the remix of Taylor Swift 's "Bad Blood." 

Lamar has since won Best Rap Album two more times, taking home the golden gramophone in 2018 for his blockbuster LP DAMN ., and in 2023 for his bold fifth album, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers .

Watch Lamar's full acceptance speech above, and check back at GRAMMY.com every Friday for more GRAMMY Rewind episodes. 

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9 Artists Who Advocate For The LGBTQIA+ Community: Troye Sivan, Taylor Swift, Madonna & More

From Big Freedia to Beyoncé, artists who identify as queer and allies alike celebrate love in all its forms.

"GAY RIGHTS!!!!!" Betty Who captioned a cheeky photo earlier this month. Yes, it was a well-known inside joke among the LGBTQIA+ community, but the all-caps message held some serious meaning. The queer pop star's photo was from the White House's 2023 Pride Celebration, where President Biden formally announced the New Actions to Protect the LGBTQIA+ Community plan — and Betty Who was the star performer.

Music has always been a safe haven for gay and trans people of all kinds — from the closeted kids in Middle America finding sanctuary in the songs of their favorite pop stars, to the out-and-proud artists forming the soundtrack for the next generation of LGBTQIA+ fans. And Pride has always been a special time of the year to celebrate visibility and inclusion in the music industry — a place where everyone deserves to show up and be seen (and heard!) as their authentic self, and where every proverbial note, melody and harmony make up a beautiful and unique soundtrack that can only be yours.

Recently, queer musicians and allies who use their platforms to stand up for the LGBTQIA+ community has felt more important than ever. A rash of anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation has swept through state legislatures across the country, from so-called " Don't Say Gay " bills to blatant legal attacks on drag queens, trans kids and LGBTQIA+ history as a whole —  but those who stand for the community are fighting even harder.

As Pride month carries on, GRAMMY.com has rounded up a list of nine LGBTQIA+ artists, allies and bonafide gay icons who've made advocating for the community a central tenet of their music, their words and their actions. Of course, there are dozens to highlight, but take a look at how queer artists like Kim Petras and Troye Sivan and allies like Taylor Swift and Madonna have helped fans shine as their authentic selves.

Petras cemented her place as a rising star in the pop music echelon in February, when she became the first trans woman to win the GRAMMY for Best Pop Duo/Group collaboration with Sam Smith for their subversive collaboration "Unholy." (Smith, who identifies as non-binary, also made history with the win, though they graciously ceded the floor for Petras to give her awestruck acceptance speech on the GRAMMYs stage.)

As the cover star of Out 's 2023 Pride issue, the German pop princess spoke out about the rash of anti-trans rhetoric taking root in legislatures across the country and harming vulnerable trans youth. "I literally was very suicidal as a kid, and I just wouldn't still be here had my parents not believed me," she told the magazine. "I hate that another generation is going through this, and I hate that young kids are going through the same s–t I was going through, and that apparently just isn't changing. I think it's sad. I just never understood why people were so obsessed with what people do to be happy. Just focus on what you can do to be happy."

Lil Nas X has never been shy when it comes to sticking up for the queer community — and he usually does so with a healthy dose of snarky humor on social media. He's cheerfully clapped back about everything from the explicit queerness of his music videos to his place in the modern pantheon of hip-hop; mostly recently, he hopped on Twitter to hilariously take down conservative outrage over Pride-themed merchandise at Target.

"Can't believe target is supporting this nonsense, im never shopping there again, my son is not 'too cool for school' these shirts are ridiculous. He is going to school and he WILL learn," the GRAMMY winner wrote in a since-deleted tweet, mockingly referencing the anti-LGBTQIA+ crusaders upset with inclusive and trans-friendly apparel being sold at the popular retailer. 

In another instance from late April, Montero made his stance hysterically clear when he tweeted, "I want to clear all the straight rumors. i have many straight friends and i support their community, but that is NOT me!"

Troye Sivan

Years before releasing his debut album Blue Neighborhood in 2015, Troye Sivan came out publicly via YouTube. Since then, he's been consistently outspoken about his experiences as a gay artist in the music industry.

The Australia native, who announced his long-awaited follow-up to 2018's Bloom earlier this month, has made a consistent point in his career to turn his visuals into unapologetic examples of queer art — from the lusty defiance of 2018's "My My My!" to the "gushy juicy doting adoring power b^tt^m gay ballad" perfection that was 2021's "Angel Baby."

Perhaps most powerful of all, though, was his video for early single "Heaven" featuring Betty Who, which depicted historic moments in the LGBTQIA+ rights movement including some of the earliest Pride parades on record. "We have always been here. we will always be here. this video is dedicated to all those who've come before me and fought for our cause and those who now continue the fight," he wrote in the video's description. "in dark and light times, let's love forever. love, troye x."

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Betty Who (@bettywho)

Speaking of Betty Who, the indie pop star received an invitation directly from President Biden to perform at the White House's official 2023 Pride Celebration, where the commander in chief formally announced his administration's plan titled New Actions to Protect the LGBTQIA+ Community. The three-point roll-out promises to focus on "Strengthening Physical Safety," "Addressing Civil Rights Violations" and "Strengthening Mental Health and other Support Resources."

"Today was the biggest pride celebration ever held at the white house and i got to be a part of it!!!!!!!!" Betty, who identifies as both queer and bisexual, wrote afterwards on social media. "So many things i want to say! What an honour it is, how proud i am to be part of the lgbtqia+ [community], how special today's event was and how grateful i am to @potus, @drbiden and the amazing white house staff for hosting us. queer joy spouting everywhere!!! very grateful for this incredible experience."

Big Freedia

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Big Freedia 👑 (@bigfreedia)

Earlier this year, Big Freedia was honored by PFLAG — the nation's longest-running LGBTQIA+ organization — with its first-ever National Breaking Barriers Award. The new honor, which she received at PGFLAG's 50th anniversary gala in March, is meant to shine the spotlight on "an individual who uses their platform to help remove obstacles to LGBTQIA+ and intersectional equality in pursuit of a more just, equitable and inclusive world."

Upon receiving the award, the bounce music trailblazer (and 2023 GRAMMY winner) took to Instagram with a determined message, writing, "There's still so much work to do to fight discrimination and I will continue to work on behalf of our whole community to spread love, acceptance, inclusion and everyone's right TO BE FREE."

Taylor Swift

While she'd slyly referenced her support for the LGBTQIA+ community in the past on songs like "Welcome to New York," Taylor Swift took a public stand in 2019 with her Lover era single "You Need to Calm Down." The gay anthem's celebratory music video issued a call to action for her fans to support the as-yet-unpassed Equality Act with her very own Change.org petition.

During her Eras Tour stop in Chicago earlier this month, the superstar spoke specifically to her LGBTQIA+ fans, promising them that her concerts would always be a "safe space" for them to celebrate who they are. 

"I wish that every place was safe and beautiful for people in the LGBTQ community, I really wish that. We can't talk about Pride Month without talking about pain," she told the sold-out crowd of Swifties at Soldier Field. "There have been so many harmful pieces of legislation that have put people in the LGBTQ and queer community at risk. It's painful for everyone — every ally, every loved one, every person in these communities. And that's why I'm always posting, 'This is when the midterms are. This is when these important, key primaries are.'

"'Cause we can support as much as we want during Pride Month," the 12-time GRAMMY winner continued. "But if we're not doing our research on these elected officials — Are they advocates? Are they allies? Are they protectors of equality? Do I want to vote for them? — I love you guys so much and happy Pride Month."

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Madonna (@madonna)

What hasn't Madonna done in her iconic career to lift up the LGBTQIA+ community? In fact, there's an entire Wikipedia page dedicated solely to her status as a living gay icon.

Famously, Her Madgesty's love for the gay community started with her early mentor and dance teacher Christopher Flynn. Early in her career, she became one of the first artists to speak out about the HIV/AIDS crisis and decry the stigmatization of gay people at the time.

She's been recognized by the GLAAD Media Awards multiple times, including in 1991 with the Raising Gay Awareness award and in 2019 with the Advocate for Change award. (At the latter ceremony, GLAAD president Sarah Kate Ellis stated , "Madonna always has and always will be the LGBTQ community's greatest ally.")

More recently, Madge added multiple dates to her upcoming Celebration Tour, including a special stop in Nashville to stand in solidarity with the state's queer, trans and drag communities as they've been bombarded by a string of anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation from the state's Capitol.

"The oppression of the LGBTQIA+ is not only unacceptable and inhumane; it's creating an unsafe environment; making America a dangerous place for our most vulnerable citizens, especially trans women of color," she wrote on Instagram alongside the announcement. "Also, these so-called laws to protect our children are unfounded and pathetic. Anyone with half a brain knows not to f— with a drag queen. Bob and I will see you from the stage in Nashville where we will celebrate the beauty that is the queer community!"

Long considered a gay icon in her own right, Beyoncé paid reverential honor to the LGBTQIA+ community and her late uncle Johnny with 2022's Renaissance , an undulating magnum opus inspired by the underground ballroom scene sparked by Black, trans and gay pioneers of the 1970s, '80s, '90s, and beyond.

Queen Bey also holds space for queer artists throughout Renaissance 's sprawling, hour-long track list, collaborating with TS Madison and Big Freedia, sampling Kevin Aviance and late drag star Moi Renee, working with Honey Dijon behind the boards and more. "Thank you to all of the pioneers who originate culture, to all of the fallen angels whose contributions have gone unrecognized for far too long," the living legend wrote in a note posted to her personal website upon the album's release. "This is a celebration for you."

Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons

View this post on Instagram A post shared by LOVELOUD Foundation (@loveloudfest)

Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds has emerged as a powerful advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community through his nonprofit organization Loveloud and its popular Utah festival, which he launched in 2017 to support LGBTQIA+ teens in the state's overwhelmingly conservative (and outspokenly anti-LGBTQIA+) Mormon community.  

This year, though, Reynolds and the Loveloud board — which includes out and proud musicians like Tyler Glenn of Neon Trees, Vincint, Wrabel and Parson James — have expanded Loveloud's mission beyond the Mormonism of the Wasatch front. In early March, Loveloud announced it would be transforming into a traveling festival for its sixth year with stops in Austin, Texas, where dozens of anti-LGBTQIA+ laws have been pursued by the state legislature and Gov. Greg Abbott, and Washington D.C.

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Photo:  Rachel Kupfer  

A Guide To Modern Funk For The Dance Floor: L'Imperatrice, Shiro Schwarz, Franc Moody, Say She She & Moniquea

James Brown changed the sound of popular music when he found the power of the one and unleashed the funk with "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag." Today, funk lives on in many forms, including these exciting bands from across the world.

It's rare that a genre can be traced back to a single artist or group, but for funk, that was James Brown . The Godfather of Soul coined the phrase and style of playing known as "on the one," where the first downbeat is emphasized, instead of the typical second and fourth beats in pop, soul and other styles. As David Cheal eloquently explains, playing on the one "left space for phrases and riffs, often syncopated around the beat, creating an intricate, interlocking grid which could go on and on." You know a funky bassline when you hear it; its fat chords beg your body to get up and groove.

Brown's 1965 classic, "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag," became one of the first funk hits, and has been endlessly sampled and covered over the years, along with his other groovy tracks. Of course, many other funk acts followed in the '60s, and the genre thrived in the '70s and '80s as the disco craze came and went, and the originators of hip-hop and house music created new music from funk and disco's strong, flexible bones built for dancing.

Legendary funk bassist Bootsy Collins learned the power of the one from playing in Brown's band, and brought it to George Clinton , who created P-funk, an expansive, Afrofuturistic , psychedelic exploration of funk with his various bands and projects, including Parliament-Funkadelic . Both Collins and Clinton remain active and funkin', and have offered their timeless grooves to collabs with younger artists, including Kali Uchis , Silk Sonic , and Omar Apollo; and Kendrick Lamar , Flying Lotus , and Thundercat , respectively.

In the 1980s, electro-funk was born when artists like Afrika Bambaataa, Man Parrish, and Egyptian Lover began making futuristic beats with the Roland TR-808 drum machine — often with robotic vocals distorted through a talk box. A key distinguishing factor of electro-funk is a de-emphasis on vocals, with more phrases than choruses and verses. The sound influenced contemporaneous hip-hop, funk and electronica, along with acts around the globe, while current acts like Chromeo, DJ Stingray, and even Egyptian Lover himself keep electro-funk alive and well.

Today, funk lives in many places, with its heavy bass and syncopated grooves finding way into many nooks and crannies of music. There's nu-disco and boogie funk, nodding back to disco bands with soaring vocals and dance floor-designed instrumentation. G-funk continues to influence Los Angeles hip-hop, with innovative artists like Dam-Funk and Channel Tres bringing the funk and G-funk, into electro territory. Funk and disco-centered '70s revival is definitely having a moment, with acts like Ghost Funk Orchestra and Parcels , while its sparkly sprinklings can be heard in pop from Dua Lipa , Doja Cat , and, in full "Soul Train" character, Silk Sonic . There are also acts making dreamy, atmospheric music with a solid dose of funk, such as Khruangbin ’s global sonic collage.

There are many bands that play heavily with funk, creating lush grooves designed to get you moving. Read on for a taste of five current modern funk and nu-disco artists making band-led uptempo funk built for the dance floor. Be sure to press play on the Spotify playlist above, and check out GRAMMY.com's playlist on Apple Music , Amazon Music and Pandora .

Say She She

Aptly self-described as "discodelic soul," Brooklyn-based seven-piece Say She She make dreamy, operatic funk, led by singer-songwriters Nya Gazelle Brown, Piya Malik and Sabrina Mileo Cunningham. Their '70s girl group-inspired vocal harmonies echo, sooth and enchant as they cover poignant topics with feminist flair.

While they’ve been active in the New York scene for a few years, they’ve gained wider acclaim for the irresistible music they began releasing this year, including their debut album, Prism . Their 2022 debut single "Forget Me Not" is an ode to ground-breaking New York art collective Guerilla Girls, and " Norma " is their protest anthem in response to the news that Roe vs. Wade could be (and was) overturned. The band name is a nod to funk legend Nile Rodgers , from the "Le freak, c'est chi" exclamation in Chic's legendary tune "Le Freak."

Moniquea 's unique voice oozes confidence, yet invites you in to dance with her to the super funky boogie rhythms. The Pasadena, California artist was raised on funk music; her mom was in a cover band that would play classics like Aretha Franklin’ s "Get It Right" and Gladys Knight ’s "Love Overboard." Moniquea released her first boogie funk track at 20 and, in 2011, met local producer XL Middelton — a bonafide purveyor of funk. She's been a star artist on his MoFunk Records ever since, and they've collabed on countless tracks, channeling West Coast energy with a heavy dose of G-funk, sunny lyrics and upbeat, roller disco-ready rhythms.

Her latest release is an upbeat nod to classic West Coast funk, produced by Middleton, and follows her February 2022 groovy, collab-filled album, On Repeat .

Shiro Schwarz

Shiro Schwarz is a Mexico City-based duo, consisting of Pammela Rojas and Rafael Marfil, who helped establish a modern funk scene in the richly creative Mexican metropolis. On "Electrify" — originally released in 2016 on Fat Beats Records and reissued in 2021 by MoFunk — Shiro Schwarz's vocals playfully contrast each other, floating over an insistent, upbeat bassline and an '80s throwback electro-funk rhythm with synth flourishes.

Their music manages to be both nostalgic and futuristic — and impossible to sit still to. 2021 single "Be Kind" is sweet, mellow and groovy, perfect chic lounge funk. Shiro Schwarz’s latest track, the joyfully nostalgic "Hey DJ," is a collab with funkstress Saucy Lady and U-Key.

L'Impératrice

L'Impératrice (the empress in French) are a six-piece Parisian group serving an infectiously joyful blend of French pop, nu-disco, funk and psychedelia. Flore Benguigui's vocals are light and dreamy, yet commanding of your attention, while lyrics have a feminist touch.

During their energetic live sets, L'Impératrice members Charles de Boisseguin and Hagni Gwon (keys), David Gaugué (bass), Achille Trocellier (guitar), and Tom Daveau (drums) deliver extended instrumental jam sessions to expand and connect their music. Gaugué emphasizes the thick funky bass, and Benguigui jumps around the stage while sounding like an angel. L’Impératrice’s latest album, 2021’s Tako Tsubo , is a sunny, playful French disco journey.

Franc Moody

Franc Moody 's bio fittingly describes their music as "a soul funk and cosmic disco sound." The London outfit was birthed by friends Ned Franc and Jon Moody in the early 2010s, when they were living together and throwing parties in North London's warehouse scene. In 2017, the group grew to six members, including singer and multi-instrumentalist Amber-Simone.

Their music feels at home with other electro-pop bands like fellow Londoners Jungle and Aussie act Parcels. While much of it is upbeat and euphoric, Franc Moody also dips into the more chilled, dreamy realm, such as the vibey, sultry title track from their recently released Into the Ether .

The Rise Of Underground House: How Artists Like Fisher & Acraze Have Taken Tech House, Other Electronic Genres From Indie To EDC

• 1 Grace VanderWaal To Open For Imagine Dragons On New Arena Tour
• 2 Get To Know Benson Boone, The "Beautiful Things" Singer & Rising Pop-Rock Sensation
• 3 GRAMMY Rewind: Kendrick Lamar Honors Hip-Hop's Greats While Accepting Best Rap Album GRAMMY For 'To Pimp a Butterfly' In 2016
• 4 9 Artists Who Advocate For The LGBTQIA+ Community: Troye Sivan, Taylor Swift, Madonna & More
• 5 A Guide To Modern Funk For The Dance Floor: L'Imperatrice, Shiro Schwarz, Franc Moody, Say She She & Moniquea

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Imagine Dragons announce 2023 European tour

Jelena Jelisavcic November 25, 2022 News , Tour Leave a comment

Multi-platinum, Grammy award-winning pop rock band Imagine Dragons just announced 11 upcoming European shows as a part of their Mercury World Tour 2023 .

European fans are going to enjoy the band’s newest album Mercury – Acts 1 & 2 as well as their biggest hits such as Radioactive , Believer & Demons.

Europe 2023 dates:

• August 2 Skanderborg, Denmark – Smukfest
• August 4 Cluj-napoka, Romania – Untold Festival
• August 5 Rome, Italy – Circus Maximus
• August 8 Pula, Croatia – Pula Arena
• August 14 Warsaw, Poland – PGE Narodowy
• August 16 Vilnius. Lithuania – Vingis Park
• August 20 Bratislava, Slovakia – Lovestream Festival
• August 22 Nanterre, France – Paris La Defense Arena
• August 29 Tel Aviv, Israel – Yarkon Park
• September 6 Athens, Greece – Athens Olympic Sports Complex
• September 8 Chambord, France – Chateau de Chambord

The presale starts on November 29. Hurry up and grab your tickets here.

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Ben McKee and Imagine Dragons Embark on 2023 World Tour (Interview)

We sat down with bassist Ben McKee to talk about his playing in one of the biggest arena bands

Imagine Dragons was formed in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2008, and consists of lead singer Dan Reynolds, guitarist Wayne Sermon, bassist Ben McKee and drummer Daniel Platzman. The band released their debut studio album, Night Visions , in 2012. The album’s second single, Radioactive , reached No. 1 on the Billboard Alternative Songs, Billboard Rock Songs, and sold more than 14 million singles in the United States, entering the top 3 of the most selling songs digitally ever.

The band’s second studio album, Smoke + Mirrors , was released in 2015, and reached number one in the US, Canada and the UK. This was followed by their third studio album, Evolve , released in 2017, which resulted in three chart-topping singles, Believer , Thunder , and Whatever It Takes .

Their fourth studio album, Origins , released in 2018, featured the single Natural , which became their fifth song to top the Hot Rock Songs chart. The band released their fifth studio album, Mercury – Act 1 , on September 3, 2021, and its follow-up, Mercury – Act 2 , on July 1, 2022.    

Imagine Dragons won three American Music Awards, nine Billboard Music Awards, one Grammy Award, one MTV Video Music Award, and one World Music Award. To date, the band sold more than 75 million records worldwide, making them one of the world’s best-selling music artists.

Bassist Ben McKee and his bandmates are gearing up for their 2023 world tour, so we sat down with him to talk gear and what it’s like performing on the biggest stages around the globe.

You’ve been playing Sadowsky basses for a long time. What is it that you love about Roger’s instruments?

I LOVE that man, Roger is amazing. He makes the best basses in the world. If someone else made better basses I’d play them (laughs). Anything I can do for Sadowsky, I’m there. Every time I call the Sadowsky number to talk to somebody, I hear “Hey It’s Roger” and I’m like you’re answering the phone?

What gear will you be using on this upcoming tour?

A while ago, all the tours sort of ran into each other a little bit, and two or three tours ago we decided to really clean up the look on the stage. Before we had speaker cabinets and everything onstage behind us, but we decided to sort of streamline that. Right now we don’t have any speakers, cabinets, or amps onstage. Our guitarist and I both use Kemper rigs for our live stage sound. They’re easy to transport and they’re reliable and a lot of the built-in effects that are in there are great for live sound. When I’m in the studio, I love to pull out all the analog gear and my old 1967 B-15 and all the pedals in the world in front of me. Besides that, I’ll have my Sadowsky basses onstage, the two that I play most. I have a Sadowsky Jazz bass that’s tuned B-E-A-D, it’s the four lowest strings on a 5-string. I have smaller hands and there’s never a time that I really need the 5th string unless I’m playing Jazz-Fusion stuff with chords. That’s when I used a 5-string, when I was at Berklee. Now I really like the feel of a 4-string, anything I can do to keep the weight down. I had a custom paint job done on that is a trans-flag and when I flip it upside down it has a heart. I just wanted something to make sure than anyone in the LGBTQIA+ community at our concerts can see that they are fully supported and fully included. Even if they don’t see someone from the community onstage, they get to see a symbol of themselves on that stage and know that they’re represented up there. I love that bass. The other bass I play the most is a 4-string Sadowsky P-Bass Standard tuning. I use Elixir strings, and my picks are actually the thing I’m most particular about. I use Dunlop Ultex picks, which I don’t think they make anymore.

Where does the sound of Imagine Dragons come from stylistically?

It really comes from our diverse backgrounds, but also being on a live stage is where we really cut our teeth. We had five days of rehearsal before we started gigging. We started gigging 5 to 6 nights a week every week when we were there [Vegas]. People were not coming to see us. These were gigs where we were playing on a stage in the corner of a casino behind slot machines and we were trying desperately to get people to pay more attention to us and all of the bells and whistles, sirens, and showgirls is a sensory overload in those casinos. In order to reach those people, we had to become larger than life when we were on the smallest stages. We had big drums and were moving as much as we could. Dan [Reynolds] was always getting out into the audience and working with them. I think the way we really developed our sound was just from experimenting and finding out what was successful in a live environment, what people connected to, what would turn that head in the back of the room. Someone that’s been sitting there on a slot machine for 3 hours. I think that we tapped into everything we had learned at Berklee with me, Dan Platzman, and Wayne [Sermon], as we had alot of World Music influence. We all have a good sense of rhythm so we were all able to play drums and stuff and I think rhythm is sort of the most core element of music and if you can make that relevant and really prominent and bash people over the head with it sometimes. Since then, we’ve been touring and don’t do the same things anymore, we don’t have to fight for fans every time. Now we’re in these arenas and as we’re composing music, we’re thinking about the way this music is going to perform in this space where it’s going to be kind of writing music for arenas. We we’re always writing music for venues bigger than could contain us. Now we’ve finally arrived at the venues we’ve been writing for.

What is it like working with Rick Rubin in the studio?

Whatever kind of music you listen to, Rick Rubin has produced one of the most influential albums in that genre – everything from Country to Hip-Hop. I grew up being a huge fan of a lot of Rick Rubin albums. When we got to meet him and work with him, it was a different experience than we had with other producers that we worked with before. He was more present. He’s not a musician and doesn’t play instruments, but he is a professional, expert level music consumer and listener. He listens to music in a global way. Musicians that have been training themselves from a young age to listen to music, you reinforce all of these different neural connections and pathways that cause you to go into analytic listening mode when listening to music. Rick has developed and strengthened what the connections the non-musician listener listens to. He can hear the quality of the sound. He can hear a song and tell whether or not it’s going to be received as an honest and genuine performance by the general. He represents the ears of everybody in a way that I don’t think anybody else can. He knows music, songs, and records so well that if he’s trying to push us in a direction, he can pull out a record by an artist you’ve never heard of, something 300 people in the world have ever heard, but it is the exact reference you need to get a song from 90% to 110%. It’s hard to put into words what he does, but if you meet him and talk to him about music, it’s apparent where his genius is. 

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Imagine Dragons

Eyes Closed

Children of the Sky (a Starfield song)

Origins (Deluxe)

Night Visions

Night Visions (Expanded Edition / Super Deluxe)

Imagine Dragons - Mercury Acts 1 & 2

Enemy (with JID) [from the series Arcane League of Legends]

Enemy (from the series Arcane League of Legends)

Demons (TELYKast Remix)

Mercury - Act 1

Follow You (Summer ’21 Version)

Shots (The Young Professionals Remix)

Shots (AtellaGali Remix)

I Bet My Life (Bastille Remix)

It's Time

On Top Of The World (RAC Remix)

Smoke + Mirrors (Asia Tour Edition)

Smoke + Mirrors (Deluxe)

Smoke + Mirrors

Night Visions (Deluxe)

Follow You / Cutthroat

original me (feat. dan reynolds of imagine dragons)

Continued Silence EP

Bad Liar – Stripped

Believer (feat. Lil Wayne)

Zero (From the Original Motion Picture "Ralph Breaks The Internet")

Born To Be Yours

Thunder / Young Dumb & Broke (with Khalid) [Medley]

Whatever It Takes (Miss Congeniality Remix)

Whatever It Takes (Jorgen Odegard Remix)

Thunder (With K.Flay) [Official Remix]

Live At AllSaints Studios

Believer (Kaskade Remix)

Levitate (From The Original Motion Picture “Passengers”)

Gold (Jorgen Odegard Remix)

Sucker For Pain (with Logic & Ty Dolla $ign feat. X Ambassadors)

I Love You All the Time (Play It Forward Campaign)

Dream (Jorgen Odegard Remix)

Shots (The Funk Hunters Remix)

Imagine Dragons (Spotify Sessions)

I Bet My Life (Remixes)

I Bet My Life (Riot Games Remix)

Radioactive

Radioactive (Grouplove & Captain Cuts Remix)

Imagine Dragons (Live London Sessions)

It's Time (Cherry Cherry Boom Boom Remix)

It's Time (Passion Pit Remix)

It's Time Remixes

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