Imagine Dragons are back, marking the beginning of a fresh new era with the release of their new single, “Eyes Closed.”
Imagine Dragons Kick Off New Era
The GRAMMY award-winning group, comprised of Dan Reynolds, Daniel Wayne Sermon, Ben McKee, unveiled this new chapter of their career on Wednesday, April 3, releasing the tune through their label, KIDinaKORNER/Interscope.
The song blends elements of alternative, rap, electronic, and rock. It features industrial-style production supporting skillfully crafted verses filled with confident swagger. Against a backdrop of gritty hip-hop beat-craft spiked with jarring synths and string swells (per a press release), frontman Dan Reynolds leads the charge with bold and unapologetic vocals, delivering lines that exude swagger and determination. As he declares, “I could do this with my eyes closed,” the song reaches its peak of self-assurance.
Dan Reynolds Describes The Song’s Sound
Upon the release of “Eyes Closed,” Reynolds described the sound and the meaning of the new song. He also detailed how it was inspired from taking some time off to reconnect with family and friends.
“After taking some time off the road and spending time catching up with family and loved ones, I finally have felt the desire to go back to the sonic places that originally brought me the most joy, but with a new outlook and mentality,” Reynolds said of the track.
He also acknowledged the changes that come with being a band for over a decade and emphasized the evolving nature of their musical journey. Reynolds continued, “The world looks much different after being a band for more than a decade. But some things will always remain the same. It’s finding that right balance of nostalgia and freshness that brings me the most joy in the studio. We had a lot of fun making this one and hope you enjoy it too.”
Watch The “Eyes Closed” Music Video
In addition to dropping the new single, Imagine Dragons also shared the music video for the future-facing track. Directed by Andrew Donoho and produced by Ian Blair at Invisible Inc., the cinematic clip features the band and seemingly symbolizes a rebirth of the popular group.
The music video opens with Dan Reynolds buried in the sand as his surroundings are crumbling. Despite the adjacent challenges, he promptly rises from beneath the sand and confronts the difficulties head on. As the clip continues, Reynolds is seen overcoming several challenging situations in a storyline that is flawlessly intertwined with clips of Imagine Dragons performing the tune.
Have Been Teasing The Tune On Social Media
Imagine Dragons first hinted their new era just days before the release of “Eyes Closed” with teaser photos on social media. On March 27, Reynolds took to Instagram and shared an image of himself with his back to the camera beneath the glow of a spotlight, which he simply captioned, “soon.”
Following his initial teaser, the band shared several other clips signaling their comeback and to launch their new era.
Marks Imagine Dragon’s First New Music Since Release Of Starfield-Inspired Song
This new song marks the band’s first new music since the release of their 2023 single, “Children of The Sky (A Starfield Song),” which was inspired by the Sci-fi role-playing game, Starfield, about six months ago. Prior to releasing “Children of The Sky,” Imagine Dragons dropped a two-part album, titled Mercury, which arrived in 2021 and 2022.
This is only the beginning for Imagine Dragons’ new era, as the band has more new music on the horizon later this year.
