The Chainsmokers
The Chainsmokers are an American electronic DJ and production duo consisting of Alexander "Alex" Pall and Andrew "Drew" Taggart. They started out by releasing remixes of songs by indie artists. The EDM-pop duo achieved a breakthrough with their 2014 song "#Selfie", which became a top-twenty single in several countries. They have won a Grammy award,[3] two American Music Awards,[4] seven Billboard Music Awards and nine iHeartRadio Music Awards.[5] According to Forbes 2019 list of highest-paid celebrities, the Chainsmokers were the highest-paid DJs, dethroning Calvin Harris after six years.[6]
"Chainsmokers" redirects here. For the term, see Chain smoking.
The Chainsmokers
Their debut EP, Bouquet, was released in October 2015 and featured the single "Roses", which reached the top 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100. "Don't Let Me Down", featuring American singer Daya, became their first top-five single on the Billboard chart and won the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording at the 59th awards ceremony. Their single "Closer", featuring American singer-songwriter Halsey, became their first number-one single on the Billboard chart. The duo's second EP, Collage, was released in November 2016. Their debut studio album, Memories...Do Not Open, was released in April 2017 and topped the US Billboard 200 chart. Their second album, Sick Boy, was released in December 2018. Their third studio album, World War Joy, was released in December 2019 and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Dance/Electronic Albums Chart.[7] So Far So Good, their fourth studio album, was released on May 13, 2022.[8]
Career[edit]
2012: Formation[edit]
The Chainsmokers were initially made up of Pall and former DJ Rhett Bixler.[9][10] The Chainsmokers were re-formed as an EDM DJ duo in 2012 under the management of Adam Alpert in New York City. Pall attended New York University for art history and music business[11] while Taggart had been attending Syracuse University and was an intern at Interscope Records before the two met. Taggart had taken an interest in being a DJ and released some original songs on the website SoundCloud. Taggart was informed by someone working for Alpert that a duo, which was being managed by Alpert, had an open spot after Bixler left, which prompted Taggart to leave Maine in order to go to New York City.[12] Pall, who had grown up as a DJ and had been working at an art gallery in Chelsea, Manhattan at the time, was introduced to Taggart by Alpert.[10] In April 2013, the Chainsmokers released a remix of "Medicine" by Daughter and it reached number 1 on HypeMachine.[13]
The duo started out by making remixes of indie bands.[14] In 2012, they collaborated with Indian actress and recording artist Priyanka Chopra on the single "Erase" which was followed by "The Rookie" in early 2013.[15]
During an October 2016 television interview, ABC News Nightline reporter Nick Watt asked Pall and Taggart "What's with the (duo's) name?" Pall replied that, "At the time of conception, it was... it was totally just like I was in college. You know I enjoyed smoking weed and you know it was just like such a 'yeah the domain's open'. I don't have to have any, like, underscores." Taggart added "It's just a name."[16] In an interview during the Upfront Summit 2023, Alex Pall stated that the name "Chainsmokers" was a provisional based on the fact that he used to smoke a lot of cigarettes and they needed only one name for promotional flyers.[17]
Musical style[edit]
Taggart has described the duo's music as "blurring the lines between indie, pop music, dance music, and hip-hop."[12] The pair have cited Pharrell Williams, Linkin Park and deadmau5 as musical influences.[129][11][130] Acts who have inspired the Chainsmokers' songs include Blink-182, Taking Back Sunday,[131] Taylor Swift,[132] Max Martin,[133] The xx, Beach House, and Explosions in the Sky.[134]
Despite their commercial success, the duo has faced criticism and ridicule from some quarters for their "Silicon Valley bro" vibe.[135] Billboard has referred to them as "two of the most ridiculed artists in mainstream music,"[136] while The New York Times has described them as "easily loathed",[137] Pitchfork, in an early review, mocked the duo for their "full-throated support to the tech bro lifestyle" and their use of Silicon Valley buzzwords such as "iterating", "disrupting", and "return on investment".[138]
Members[edit]
Alexander "Alex" Pall was born on May 16, 1985.[139] He shares the role of producer and DJ alongside Andrew Taggart, performing programming, mixing and mastering songs. He also co-writes and plays the piano on some songs. According to Billboard magazine, Pall was raised in Westchester County, New York as the "son of an art dealer and a stay-at-home mom."[38]
Andrew "Drew" Taggart, born December 31, 1989,[140] was raised in Freeport, Maine. He shares the role of producer and DJ alongside Alex Pall, performing programming, mixing and mastering. He is the band's primary songwriter, and performs vocals and guitar on some songs.[141] His mother is a teacher and his father sold prosthetics.[142] He got into electronic dance music at the age of 15 while abroad in Argentina, where he was introduced to the music of David Guetta, Daft Punk and Trentemøller.[38]
Matt McGuire serves as the group's drummer and music director for live shows, and currently performs with them when they go on tour. McGuire also frequently appears alongside the duo in various music videos.[143][144]
In 2019, Pall and Taggart started Mantis VC, a venture capital firm, raising a total of $110 million in 2020 and 2021.[135]