Imagine Dragons envisioned their "Smoke + Mirrors" album to be what holiday-themed idea?

Imagine Dragons envisioned Smoke + Mirrors as a New Year's resolution.

The phrase described the band's intention to create an album on its own terms and finish it only when the members felt the work was ready. Dan Reynolds and the group were determined not to rush the follow-up to their successful debut album, Night Visions, and emphasized their perfectionist approach to songwriting and production.

Work on the album developed during and after the Night Visions Tour. By the time Imagine Dragons entered the studio, the band had accumulated about 50 demos, giving them a large pool of material to refine. The album ultimately became the group's second studio release and arrived in February 2015.

The title Smoke + Mirrors is often mistaken for the New Year's resolution itself, but the question refers to the album's creative mission. Smoke + Mirrors produced singles including “I Bet My Life,” “Gold,” and “Shots,” and it debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.