Daniel Campbell "Dan" Smith (born 14 July 1986) is an English singer-songwriter. He is the lead vocalist, producer, songwriter and founder of the indie rock band Bastille. The band formed in 2010 and gained popularity in 2013 when the song Pompeii was released.At age fifteen, Smith started off writing songs on the piano and his laptop in his bedroom, but kept it secret from his friends and family. That was until his secret was discovered by a friend who stumbled upon him producing music from his student digs. This friend entered him for a local competition for which the prize was studio recording time and performing a gig. Some of his recordings included "Alchemy,Words Are Words", and Irreverence. Smith did not achieve mainstream success in his solo career, but continued writing songs both alone and with his close friend, and roommate, Ralph Pelleymounter from To Kill a King. The two formed a side project called Annie Oakley Hanging, which was described as cowboy like by Pelleymounter