Imagine Dragons lead singer Dan Reynolds reveals: “Divorce is really hard”; talks about his ex-wife

Imagine Dragons’ Dan Reynolds is opening up about the process and experiences he’s had following his divorce from singer Aja Volkman. As an estranged couple, they barely managed to spend five months apart, but now, after more than a year and a half of separation, the 36-year-old musician spoke to PEOPLE about how they remain one for the sake of their four children.

After acknowledging his divorce from his wife of 11 years last March, Reynolds admitted it was very painful, but: “Divorce is really hard, especially from a person you really love.” Dancing with the star’s partner Volkman, they weren’t mad at each other after the split for not cheating on each other. However, they effectively made sure they remained open to each other throughout the year-long process.

Reynolds and Volkman, 44, married at 23 and have navigated significant changes in the decade they’ve spent together, including raising their four children: Arrow, 11, Gia, 7, Coco, 4, and Valentine, 4. But Reynolds also stresses that even after the divorce, they remain a good team and SHE is the one who will always care for and support the kids.

Dan Reynolds talks about divorce and healing through music

As close partners, Dan Reynolds and Aja Volkman talked about how they tried to stay together for a while and saw several therapists. Although they don’t regret the decision to separate and divorce, it is quite painful because they have children. Not only the issues they would prefer to discuss, but also what is preferable for their children.

“We’ve worked hard to stay together and have seen many different therapists,” he says. “It’s one of those situations where I know the right decision was made, but it still hurts a lot. Even when you know something is the right decision, that doesn’t mean it’s an easy decision. Especially when children are involved. It’s about a lot more than just the two of you and your hearts.”

Of course, Reynolds’ true nature was expressed in music, as always. One of the themes of Imagine Dragons’ song “In the Loom” is the ambivalent breakdown of a relationship. Music became his language for understanding life’s problems and challenges, whether it was his Mormon heritage or heartbreak, happiness or grief. It was the only way the man could cry in his unique way and let his emotions flow.

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Dan Reynolds finds joy in fatherhood amid new beginnings with Imagine Dragons

After the divorce, Dan Reynolds also met actress Minka Kelly, but emphasizes that Aja Volkman remains an important person in his life.

He laughs and continues, “(Fatherhood) is my favorite part of life. It brings me so much joy,” he says. “I feel really lucky to have an incredible co-parent.”

Reynolds is currently preparing for the band’s biggest North American tour in support of the album “Loom”.

He said the album is more or less about the present, but it analyses both the past and the future, describing the feeling of new beginnings and nothingness. “The album is actually about the present, but it also looks to the past and the future, is a little bit scared of what is to come, but also excited – (it’s about) new beginnings,” he says.

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