The Cure have booked studio time next month to demo new songs, Robert Smith says in a rare interview with BBC 6 Music. Smith says that curating this year’s Meltdown festival encouraged him to discover a wealth of new music, which became a “catalyst, because I’ve suddenly fallen in love with the idea of writing new songs.” He also announced that he’ll headline Meltdown’s final night backed by other Cure members. Rather than a traditional set, the show will comprise “interpretations of Cure songs” with “different configurations of people on stage,” including Smith solo. Listen to Shaun Keaveny’s full interview at BBC Radio 6.

Other new additions to the bill include Death Cab For Cutie, Frightened Rabbit, Low, Suzanne Vega, the Twilight Sad, the Joy Formidable, and more. “I have finally figured out my Meltdown festival psychedelic puzzle… and it really is just like heaven… ten delirious June days at London’s Southbank Centre await!” says Robert Smith in a press release. Nine Inch Nails, My Bloody Valentine, Mogwai, the Libertines, Deftones, and more made up the first announcement. The festival takes place June 15-24.

Speaking to Shaun Keaveny, Smith says, “Funnily enough, doing this Meltdown thing has actually galvanized me and I’ve booked studio time for the band.” He adds that he sent handwritten letters to all the invited artists. “My original shortlist pretty much materialized,” he says, though the Rolling Stones “politely declined” his tongue-in-cheek request.

Smith also says the Cure weighed up how to celebrate their 40th anniversary on July 9 this year, teasing a release of their first concert. “What shall we do?” he begins. “Go back to Crawley, where it all started? Play in the pub where we did our first show as the Cure? Or should we go mega, play a show in every capital city in the world?” He goes on, “It’s the 40th anniversary of the first album in 2019. I thought, if I don’t have something out new that year, that’s it for me. I don’t think the Cure will ever release another album.”

Since the Cure’s show this July at London’s Hyde Park was billed as their only European date, Smith says it “wouldn’t be fair” to fans if the Cure announced another concert at Meltdown. “So I’ve decided to call it Cureation 25,” he explains. “It’s recognising the 25th anniversary of Meltdown. But also the clue’s kind of in the name about who’s going to be on stage with me. It’ll be me and four other people that I know really well. [chuckles] But also some others.”

He adds that “ideally” the Hyde Park show will feature new music he’s working on. “Some of it’s good, some of it’s not so good,” he says. “I never wanted to be in a position where I was forcing myself to write.”