British Sensations Bastille Erupt in Exclusive Live Performance for Yahoo Music

Bastille

The group may take their name from a French national holiday (founder Dan Smith was born on Bastille Day), but Bastille is actually a British alt-rock sensation; and one that's flying high and burning bright as the fireworks and airplanes launched around Europe on July 14. The quartet -- which released its debut studio album, "Bad Blood," last year --  recently won Breakthrough Act at the 2014 Brit Awards, as well as racked up three other nominations at the prestigious ceremonies.

Additionally, they hit No. 1 on the U.K. albums charts with "Bad Blood," which came as a happy surprise to the band "We just wanted to release an album," Smith explains. "We never, ever imagined we'd come near the charts...We found ourselves in a chart battle between us, Justin Timberlake, and One Direction. Just even saying that sentence is so obscenely absurd!" (That's not meant in a negative way: If you've heard Bastille's music, you're simply sure to agree it's a bit of an odd grouping for them to be in!)

Bastille has also been making considerable waves across the pond, having appeared on "Saturday Night Live" in January and racking up fans in the States at a rapid pace. We at Yahoo Music were excited to host the band in our studios for an exclusive performance of three of their hits, with an added bonus -- a string quartet as backup!

The guys also sat down to chat with us about their formation and history, as well as some of the music that's shaped them over the years. "I know our influences are probably miles away from where we sound," smiles Smith.

Regardless of where they started or where they've been, this is a band that's, well, erupting (if you'll pardon the pun; their fourth single is named after the city of Pompeii, which was, of course, historically demolished by a very famous volcano). Hot? Definitely.