The Chainsmokers are an American DJ duo consisting of Andrew "Drew" Taggart and Alexander "Alex" Pall.
The duo achieved a breakthrough with their 2014 song "#Selfie", which was a top twenty single in several countries. Their debut EP, Bouquet was released in October 2015 and featured the single "Roses", which reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Don't Let Me Down" became their first top 5 single and won the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording at the 59th Grammy Awards, while "Closer", featuring vocals from Halsey, became their first number-one single on the chart.
The duo's second EP Collage was released in November 2016, consisting of several previously released singles. Their debut studio album Memories...Do Not Open is set to be released on April 7, 2017.
Background[]
Members[]
Drew Taggart[]
Andrew "Drew" Taggart (born: December 31, 1989) is of Scottish descent and was raised in Freeport, Maine. His mother is a teacher and his father sold prosthetics. He was turned onto to EDM at the age of 15 while abroad in Argentina, where he was introduced to the music of David Guetta, Daft Punk and Trentemøller. Drew also contributes vocals in a variety of their tracks.
Alex Pall[]
Alexander "Alex" Pall (born: May 16, 1985) is of French descent and grew up in Westchester County, New York. His mother is a housewife and his father is an art dealer.
Musical style[]
Taggart has described the duo's music as "blur[ring] the lines between indie, pop music, dance music, and hip-hop." The pair have cited Pharrell Williams and Deadmau5 as musical influences.
Criticism[]
The Chainsmokers, though their acclaim and popularity in the mainstream, has also infamously been due to a lot of criticism, both musically and politically. Music wise, they're known to be repetitive, more so since they're breakthrough, with one of their hits, particularly "Something Just Like This", seemingly to be ripped off from one of their own songs, "Roses". "Closer," featuring Haley has particularly received a lot of backlash, though being the Chainsmokers' first number one hit single, its purposefully anti-climactic hook became massive in its own way, with many theorizing the only reason it became as big as it was, was due to the prominence in lyrics which other mainstream songs seemed to be lacking in that point in time. Nonetheless, "Closer" was made fun of due to its oddly specific and in a way "dorky" lyrics.
Drew, who often provides vocals in some of the tracks, has also been critisiced for his lack of vocal talent, more specifically live, and his inability to sing higher notes.
Their album, "Memories...Do Not Open" was also bombed by critics. An article by Pitchfork described it as "a lifeless, anodyne pop record that wallows in basic feelings of regret and narcissism", with many of the tracks sounding very similar to each other. The group seems to rely on the feelings of nostalgia to push their songs though, as the theme of the entire album and various tracks and singles after, such as "Young".
The duo have also been disliked by the public for their poorly thought-through, or otherwise "cringy" public statements, and general cockiness (thinking they're "the real deal", better than LMFAO, etc.).
Discography[]
- Memories...Do Not Open (2017)
- Sick Boy (2018)
- World War Joy (2019)
- So Far So Good (2022)
- Summertime Friends (2023)
Filmography[]
- The #SELFIE Tour (2014)
- King of Me Tour (2014)
- Friend Zone Tour (2015 - 2016)
- Memories Do Not Open Tour (2017 - 2018)
- World War Joy Tour with 5 Seconds of Summer and Lennon Stella (2019)
- So Far So Good Tour (2022)
