Electronic Music Legends You Need to Know
Contents
Discover the stories behind some of the most influential and game-changing artists in the history of electronic music.
Daft Punk
Daft Punk is a French electronic music duo that has taken the world by storm since the release of their debut album, Homework, in 1997. The duo, Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, are considered legends in the electronic music scene, and their unique sound has inspired countless other artists.
Origins
Daft Punk is a French electronic music duo formed in 1993 by Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter. They achieved popularity in the late 1990s as part of the French house movement; they also had success in the years following, combining elements of house music with funk, techno, disco, rock and synthpop. They are considered one of the most successful electronic music acts of all time.
The duo’s music uses a variety of styles and influences, including techno, house, disco, rock and synthpop. It is characterized by sparse arrangements and use of vintage synthesizers and drum machines. Their incorporation of funk elements into their music helped give rise to the genre known as “French house.”
Daft Punk released their debut albumHomework in 1997 to critical acclaim. It was followed by albums Discovery (2001) and Human After All (2005). The duo’s fourth album, Random Access Memories (2013), won five Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, making Daft Punk the first electronic music album to receive that distinction.
Music style
Daft Punk is a French electronic music duo consisting of musicians Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter. Daft Punk is considered one of the most influential electronic music groups of all time. They are known for their innovative, visual, and musical style, and for their incorporation of elements from a wide range of genres including rock, pop, hip hop, disco, and house.
Daft Punk’s debut album Homework was released in 1997 to critical acclaim. The album’s single “Da Funk” peaked at number 2 on the UK Singles Chart and became a club hit in several countries. Daft Punk’s second album Discovery was even more successful, reaching number one in several countries and selling over three million copies worldwide. The album’s singles “One More Time”, “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger”, and “Face to Face” were all international hits.
Daft Punk’s third album Human After All was released in 2005 to mixed reviews, but still managed to reach number two in France and number three in the United States. The album’s lead single “Robot Rock” peaked at number one on the dance charts in both the UK and the US.
In 2017, Daft Punk announced their retirement from touring and making new music.
Legacy
Daft Punk is one of the most influential and significant electronic music artists of all time. The two-piece band, Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, rose to prominence in the early 1990s with their unique brand of French house music. The duo’s debut album, Homework, is widely considered to be one of the most important dance albums of all time. Daft Punk’s follow-up album, Discovery, was an even bigger success, spawning the hit singles “One More Time” and “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger.”
Daft Punk’s refuse to conform to traditional music industry norms has helped them maintain a level of mystery and intrigue throughout their career. The duo rarely gives interviews and they never perform without their trademark robotic masks. In 2013, Daft Punk made headlines when they unexpectedly dropped their fourth studio album, Random Access Memories, with no prior promotion or announcement. The album was a critical and commercial success, winning five Grammy Awards including Album of the Year.
Despite their relative obscurity, Daft Punk’s influence can be felt throughout the electronic music landscape. Their unique blend of disco, house and techno has inspired countless other artists and they are widely credited with helping to bring electronic dance music into the mainstream.
Aphex Twin
When it comes to electronic music, there are a few artists that stand out above the rest. One of those artists is Aphex Twin. Aphex Twin is a British electronic music producer who is widely regarded as one of the best in the genre. He has been making music since the early 1990s and has released a number of critically acclaimed albums.
Origins
Aphex Twin is the stage name of English electronic musician Richard D. James. He is best known for his influential and idiosyncratic work in styles such as techno and IDM in the 1990s, for which he won widespread critical acclaim. He has also been associated with the rise of the microhouse genre.
Born in 1971 in Cornwall, England, James began producing music at an early age, experimenting with acid house and techno in his teens. He first gained notoriety in the early 1990s with a series of releases on Rephlex Records, including the 1992 EP Analogue Bubblebath. In 1996, he released his debut album …I Care Because You Do on Warp Records to critical acclaim; it was followed by 1998’s Drukqs, an album of more experimental work. In 2001, he returned to a more commercial sound with the album Drukqs, which was met with mixed reviews.
James has been credited with helping to pioneer a number of genres, including IDM and microhouse. He has also been highly influential on subsequent generations of electronic musicians, both via his own work and through his label Rephlex Records, which he co-founded in 1991.
Music style
Aphex Twin is the stage name of English electronic musician Richard D. James. He is best known for his influential and idiosyncratic work in styles such as techno and ambient techno in the 1990s. He is also a respected IDM and experimental artist. His music often utilizes very complex time signatures and detailed sound design.
Legacy
Aphex Twin is one of the most influential and innovative electronic musicians of our time. His unique style and approach to music has influenced countless other artists and helped to shape the sound of modern electronic music.
Born in England in 1971, Richard D. James began experimenting with music at an early age. He first started making his own music using a home computer and a rudimentary synthesizer. After a few years, he began to develop his own unique style, fusing elements of techno, ambient, and industrial music.
In the early 1990s, James began releasing his music under the alias Aphex Twin. His first album, Selected Ambient Works 85-92, was released in 1992 and is considered a classic of ambient techno. Over the next decade, James would release a string of critically acclaimed albums, cementing his reputation as one of the most innovative and respected electronic musicians around.
In recent years, James has continued to push boundaries with his music. He has collaborated with artists from a wide range of genres, including Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke and singer Björk. He has also continued to release new Aphex Twin material, much to the delight of his legion of fans.
There is no doubt that Richard D. James is one of the most important electronic musicians of our time. His groundbreaking work has helped to shape the sound of modern music and influenced countless other artists along the way.
deadmau5
Joel Thomas Zimmerman, better known by his stage name deadmau5, is a Canadian electronic music producer, DJ, and musician. Zimmerman produces a variety of styles within the progressive house genre and sometimes other forms of electronic music. His works have been included in numerous compilation albums, such as the Grammy-nominated A State of Trance 2006.
Origins
deadmau5 (stylized as deadmau5; pronounced “dead mouse”) is a Canadian electronic music producer and DJ. He produces a variety of styles within the progressive house genre and sometimes other forms of electronic music. His tracks have been included in numerous compilation albums, such as the 2007 In Search of Sunrise 6: Ibiza CD. The February 2008 issue of Mixmag’s music magazine included a free CD which featured, among other artists, deadmau5’s “Pandemonium” US
Joel Thomas Zimmerman (born January 5, 1981), known professionally as Deadmau5 (stylized as deadmau5; pronounced “dead mouse”), is a Canadian electronic music producer, DJ, and musician. Zimmerman mainly produces progressive house music and sometimes other forms of electronic music. His works have been included in numerous compilation albums, such as the 2007 In Search of Sunrise 6: Ibiza CD. The February 2008 issue of Mixmag’s music magazine included a free CD which featured, among other artists, Deadmau5’s “Pandemonium” US
Music style
deadmau5 is a Canadian electronic music producer and DJ. His musical style has been variously described as minimal techno, progressive house, Electro house, and EDM. He has received six Grammy Award nominations for his work.
deadmau5 produces a variety of styles within the house genre and sometimes other forms of electronic music. His tracks have been included in numerous compilation albums, such as the 2007 In Search of Sunrise 6: Ibiza CD. The February 2009 issue of Mixmag’s music magazine included a free CD which was titled MixMag Presents: The Hottest New Names In Dance! deadmau5 was one of them.
In 2010, he was nominated for five Grammy Awards at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards, including Best Dance Recording for “Animal Rights”, Best Dance/Electronica Album for 4×4=12, and Best Remixed Recording for “Rise dmsr (Deadmau5 Remix)”. At the same awards ceremony, Kaskade won the award for Best Dance Recording for “Move For Me” (featuring Skylar Grey), while Skrillex won three awards including Best Dance/Electronica Album and Best Dance Recording.
Legacy
Joel Thomas Zimmerman, better known by his stage name deadmau5, is a Canadian electronic music producer, DJ, and composer. Zimmerman produces a variety of styles within the progressive house genre and sometimes other forms of electronic music. His works have been included in numerous compilation albums, such as Tiësto’s Magik and DJ-Kicks series. Zimmerman has received six Grammy Award nominations for his work.
Zimmerman was born in Niagara Falls, Ontario. His mother, Nancy (née Johnson), is a visual artist, and his father, Rodney Thomas “Rod” Zimmerman, is a General Motors plant worker. He has two brothers, Chris and Tim. His cousin Steve Duda is a professional sound engineer who has worked with him on several of his albums. When Zimmerman was six years old he began attending Julliard School where he studied classical piano; he quit at age nine claiming he hated it because it was “too restrictive”. Then he attended Westlane Secondary School in Niagara Falls until grade 11 when he transferred to Great Lakes Secondary School in Grimsby. He left school at age 16 and worked part-time for John Carnegie as an A&R assistant until 2003 when he quit to pursue his musical career successfully full-time asdeadmau5 which is pronounced “dead mouse” not “dead mow five”.
