The Cure’s Robert Smith Says He’s Reluctant To Write Songs About Death Now That He’s Older

In a new interview with Uncut, the Cure’s Robert Smith opens up about how aging has affected his songwriting. The goth rock icons released their first new album in 16 years, Songs Of A Lost World, on Friday (November 1). While there are lovelorn, moody tracks filling the record, Smith was hesitant to write openly about death now that he is older. “Our songs have always had that element of a fear of mortality,” Smith said. “I’ve kind of wrestled with it since I was like 8 years old. But as you get older, it becomes more real. When you’re younger, you romanticize it even without knowing it. Then it starts happening to people you know, your immediate family and friends, and suddenly it’s a different thing. It’s something that I struggled with lyrically, was how to put this into the songs.” The Cure celebrated their new album by playing a release show at London’s Troxy on Friday, which featured a livestreamed performance of the entire record along with other hits and fan favorites. (Entertainment Weekly)