The Chainsmokers
The Chainsmokers originally came together in New York City in 2012, initially consisting of Alex Pall and DJ Rhett Bixler. After Bixler left the project, Pall's manager introduced him to Maine-born producer Andrew "Drew" Taggart, creating a powerful creative partnership that would eventually reshape the landscape of modern electronic pop music. The duo began their professional journey by producing electronic remixes of popular indie artists, building a grassroots following among digital music communities. In late 2013, they released a satirical electronic track mocking social media culture titled "#Selfie" as a free promotional giveaway. The song became an immediate viral breakthrough in early 2014, entering the top twenty charts in several countries and establishing them as resident party-vibe creators on a global stage.
Determined to move past being known as a novelty act, the duo significantly shifted their creative focus toward a distinct brand of indie-infused melodic dance-pop. In 2015, they dropped their debut extended play record, Bouquet, featuring the multi-platinum single "Roses," which cracked the top 10 of the US Billboard Hot 100. They rapidly followed up this success with the explosive, trap-influenced track "Don't Let Me Down" featuring vocalist Daya. The song reached the top five on the charts and earned the duo their first career Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording in 2017.
The absolute pinnacle of their commercial chart dominance arrived in late 2016 with the release of "Closer," a collaborative track featuring singer Halsey. Driven by Drew Taggart's debut as a lead male vocalist alongside Halsey, the track spent a historic 12 consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, solidifying itself as one of the biggest pop songs of the decade. In April 2017, they leveraged this massive momentum to release their debut full-length studio album, Memories... Do Not Open. The project debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart and featured the blockbuster Coldplay collaboration, "Something Just Like This," which broke global streaming records for lyric videos upon arrival.
By 2019, Forbes officially named The Chainsmokers the highest-paid DJs in the world, dethroning Calvin Harris's six-year consecutive streak at the top of the financial rankings. Over the subsequent years, they established multi-year Las Vegas resident club shows, packed sports arenas across multiple continents, and released successful follow-up studio records including Sick Boy, World War Joy, and So Far So Good. Their signature performance style cleverly crosses elements of indie rock guitar riffs, electronic synth pads, and alternative pop soundscapes. Today, they remain a driving force in global music culture, successfully bridging the gap between underground electronic club rooms and mainstream stadium pop festivals.
