Daft Punk

After 28 years “They’re really kind of house- music that involves a computer,” of making hold beats even though people don’t Lee said. music to- know who did it,” Lee said. Additionally, Daft Punk can gether, the electronic duo Daft Punk was a duo of many be credited with popularizing big Daft Punk have parted ways. firsts—they were entirely unique stage productions at shows, espeMusicians Guy-Manuel de and because of their innovation of cially EDM shows. “They have big Homem-Christo and Thomas techniques, sound and visuals, they screens that are showing and doing

Bangalter left their community inspired and influenced countless things rather than just a DJ up there of fans with “Epilogue,” a cryptic artists including Madonna, Kanye with some random lights,” Lee said. eight-minute YouTube video an- West, Skrillex and others. But to From 2006 to 2007, Daft Punk nouncing their split. limit their influence to inspiring did a world tour, which they lat-

“It’s pretty rare that an artist individual artists would be unjust, er turned into their album “Alive.” goes out on a high note like that,” because perhaps their most signifi- One of their most notable shows said Brian Lee, an avid listener of cant achievements was the popular- during that tour was a 2006 CoachDaft Punk. Many fans were shocked ization of EDM elements in music ella performance in which they took by the split-up, as well as saddened, across the industry. to the stage on a platform inside a but despite the fact that they will no “They helped influence a lot of huge, color-changing pyramid struclonger be making new music, their sound engineering, and digital pro- ture. The sides of the pyramid and impact on the industry is everlast- duction that moved into pop mu- elaborate array of lights around ing. Daft Punk’s trailblazing ways sic,” Lee said. “They started using them changed colors throughout have changed pop music, stage pro- synthesizers and lots of electronic the show. This, combined with ductions and visual music as well as mechanisms to start making pop smoke and head-banging music, led paved the way for many artists and music, which was a lot less common to a revolutionary and awe-inspiring DJ’s to soar into popularity. before.” performance.

Most people know Daft Punk for Their debut album, “Home- “That [their Coachella perfortheir few most popular songs, such work,” released in 1997 introduced mance] was huge and influenced a as collaborations with rapper Kanye heavily-filtered music into main- lot of the stage production for a lot West in “Stronger,” and Pharrel Wil- stream music, and was soon followed of other really really big acts,” Lee liams on one of by Madonna’s al- said. “They were inspired by the githeir most pop- “Daft Punk bum “Music” in ant, big spectacle idea of it.” ular songs, “Get did it, they 2000 which includ- This performance not only inLucky.” These songs have been were loved by ed resemblances of this style. Album fluenced stage productions, but also popularized EDM music in the played in stadi- everybody. ” after album they United States. American DJ Skrillex, ums throughout Brian Lee created entirely cites that performance as his first exthe world, even new-sounding mu- posure to EDM music. Five years making an appearance in the 2014 sic and shifted the pop industry each later, in 2011, he was named best Olympics when Russian police sang time. EDM artist of the year by MTV. a cover of “Get Lucky.” Because of “Most people, especially profes- Even now, Skrillex’s shows bear Daft Punk’s mainstream exposure, sionals in the industry, consider Daft lasting resemblance to Daft most people can recognize their Punk to be influential to most music Punk. songs. that we’re listening to now, and most “That’s the kind of

vibe he [Skrillex] wants to give to a Daft Punk amassed a following of live show, really high energy,” Lee fans from the pop and rap industries said. combined with their original follow-

Additionally, Daft Punk was a ers. “It’s very hard to make music pioneer in the that bridgmusic industry off-stage. They “The masks really es any divide but produced two just omit all that especially short films that [criticism] and that divide tell the stories of two of their allow people to [between pop and albums. The focus on their EDM], movies “Inter- music. ” Daft Punk stella 5555” and is able to “D.A.F.T.” are Alex Washburn make muvisual accom- sic that paniments for albums “Discovery” almost everybody likes,” Lee said. and “Homework” respectively. The “Daft Punk did it, they were loved by animated film “Interstella 5555” tells everybody.” the story of an abducted interstellar Their music merged into so many band and their adventures through different playlists, no matter the prespace and on earth amid their rescue ferred genre of the listener. “Their by an alien space pilot named Shep, music is played across the globe and who dies saving them. across so many different communi-

While Daft Punk was not the very ties,” Paly senior Alex Wasburn said. first to make films for their music, Washburn has been listening to the there’s no denying it overall contrib- duo since late-elementary school. uted to their popularity. Seven years One of the many reasons why after “Interstella 5555” was released, their music is and can be loved by Kanye West released the film “Run- a variety of people is because it inaway” that is a visual accompani- cludes so many different rhythms ment to songs from his album “My that can go along with anything. Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.” “[Their music] is good for a dinner

“He [Kanye] does all the songs in party or good for when you’re driva different way, with a visual that tells ing,” Washburn said. the story,” Lee said. The last album they produced

The Daft Punk fandom has ex- was “Random Access Memories” panded over the years, first starting in 2013. Eight years is a long time with just electronic listeners, but without coming out with any new once they collaborated with materials for any artist. The last colKanye West, Pharrel Wil- laboration recorded was when the liams and The Weeknd, duo collaborated with The Weeknd in 2016 for his album “Starboy.”

Many fans, including Lee, saw the split up as less of a shock, as they hadn’t come out with any new material. “I wasn’t expecting it, but I understand,” Lee said. “I’m not surprised or disappointed.”

When Washburn found the news, he reminisced on their music. “When I heard they split up, I just listened to them for a day and that brought back some pretty strong memories,” Washburn said.

Not only was Daft Punk loved for their music, many fans also enjoyed the mystery of their masks. The motorcycle helmet shaped masks are one of the quintessential elements that made Daft Punk who they are.

Washburn saw the masks as more than an article of clothing. Since artists in the music industry are subjected to inevitable scrutiny and judgement, the masks provided more than an intriguing look. “The masks really just omit all that [criticism] and allow people to focus on their music,” Washburn said.

Although Daft Punk’s time is over, their legacy will live on forever. The impacts they have made on the music and film industry have been astronomical and long lasting. Whether it was collaborating with artists from different genres to headlining at Coachella, they have further influenced the EDM community as well as other artists to show that nothing is impossible.