Digitalism (band)
| Company type | Music duo |
|---|---|
| Industry | Electronic music |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Headquarters | Hamburg , Germany |
| Products | Electronic music albums and singles |
| Website | www |
Digitalism is an electronic music pair originating from Hamburg, Germany, consisting of Jens Moelle and İsmail Tüfekçi, who came together in 2004. Their music is released under the French label Kitsuné, with additional international distribution through Virgin Records and Astralwerks.
Origins, Idealism, and I Love You Dude (2004–2011)
The duo met while working at a record store in Hamburg and started collaborating after being invited to DJ at a local event. Their recordings take place in a World War II-era bunker they own in Hamburg.
Their first album, Idealism, launched in 2007, was distributed across Japan (Toshiba EMI), France (Kitsuné), North America (Astralwerks), and Australia/New Zealand (etcetc and Virgin Records). It includes reworked versions of singles such as "Jupiter Room" and "Zdarlight," along with the "Digitalism in Cairo" reinterpretation of a track originally by The Cure.
To support the album, the Pogo EP was issued in May 2007 featuring alternative mixes. Subsequently, the Blitz EP was released via Kitsuné on 8 November 2010. On 7 April 2011, Digitalism revealed plans for their sophomore album, I Love You Dude, which was released on 20 June 2011.
DJ-Kicks compilation and singles (2012–2013)
From early 2012 through late 2013, Digitalism produced thirteen original tracks across five international dance labels spanning America, Europe, and Asia, alongside three remixes for fellow artists. Their DJ-Kicks mix album on Studio !K7 marked their debut appearance on German and UK album charts. The majority of this material was composed and recorded in Los Angeles during the winter and early spring months of 2012–2013. Throughout this timeframe, they toured worldwide as DJs and live performers, showcasing new dance music alongside selections from their first two albums across Europe, Japan, Australia, the Americas, and the UK.
"Fahrenheit 32" and "Wolves" era (2014–2015)
In January 2014, Digitalism debuted Fahrenheit 32 exclusively on SoundCloud during a US tour and studio sessions. The track quickly gained momentum, receiving airplay on BBC Radio as well as American stations KCRW and Sirius Radio.
Later that year, the duo relocated from Hamburg to Los Angeles to work on fresh material. In May, they released "Wolves," a collaboration with American indie group Youngblood Hawke, which premiered in Germany and garnered support from US radio outlets including KCRW and Sirius XM. Vodafone sponsored the release by featuring "Wolves" in an eight-month nationwide campaign, with Digitalism leading promotional efforts through DJ performances and interviews.
Mirage period (2016–present)
On 4 March 2016, Digitalism announced their album Mirage, marking their first full-length release in five years. It arrived on 13 May alongside singles "Utopia" and "Battlecry". They embarked on a global tour covering France, Germany, the US, and the UK. The official video for "Utopia" premiered via KALTBLUT Magazine on 19 March 2016.
Influences
The duo draws inspiration from artists such as Daft Punk, cinematic soundtracks, video game scores, Ennio Morricone, The Strokes, Stuart Price, and releases from Roulé Records.
Live performances
In alignment with their album I Love You Dude, Digitalism enhanced their live shows by integrating modular synthesizers and a live drummer. They have performed alongside acts like Queens of the Stone Age, DJ Shadow, Moderat, and Justice. Beyond live concerts, they have established themselves with house and techno DJ sets.
Digitalism has appeared at prominent festivals including Coachella, Lollapalooza, South by Southwest, Rhythm and Vines, Electric Picnic, and Ultra Music Festival.
Discography
- Idealism (2007)
- I Love You Dude (2011)
- Mirage (2016)
- JPEG (2019)