- Major Lazer
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Major Lazer 
Major Lazer performing at Sasquatch 2011Background information Genres Dancehall, reggae fusion, reggae, hip hop, electro house, daggering Years active 2009–present Labels Downtown Records, Mad Decent Associated acts Diplo, Switch Major Lazer is a collaborative musical project from DJ/Producers Diplo and Switch.
Contents
Background
Switch (left) and Diplo are the producers behind Major Lazer.
Made up of DJs Diplo and Switch, the two were introduced after working with M.I.A.. The duo's first album Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do was released on June 16, 2009, on Downtown Records. It was recorded in Jamaica at Tuff Gong Studios.[1] Vocalists such as Santigold, Vybz Kartel, Ward 21, Busy Signal, Nina Sky, Amanda Blank, Mr. Vegas, Turbulence, Mapei, T.O.K, Prince Zimboo, Leftside and others contribute guest vocals to the album, as well as additional production from Afrojack and Crookers.[2] This is the first release to come out of the label partnership between Downtown Records and Diplo's label Mad Decent.[3] Major Lazer ended a US tour last summer.[4] The album's first single was "Hold the Line", the video for which, directed by Ferry Gouw, was nominated for a MTV Video Award in the Breakthrough Video category. "Hold the Line" was also featured in the video game FIFA 10. The track "Zumbie" has a music video that features comedian Andy Milonakis.[5] Music videos for the songs "Pon de Floor" and "Keep It Going Louder" were both directed by Eric Wareheim. Major Lazer performed at the Falls Music & Arts Festival (Lorne, Victoria, Australia) on the December 30, 2009, the Coachella Music Festival in April 2010[6] they also performed at the Pitchfork Music Festival in July 2010 and the Sasquatch Music Festival on Monday May 30, 2011. Live visuals were created by Pomp&Clout. Major Lazer recently performed at the 618 Music and Arts festival that took place at Penn's Landing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on June 18, 2011, and the 2011 Outside Lands festival in San Francisco.
A mixtape with La Roux entitled "Lazerproof" was made available for free download on May 26.[7] Diplo posted cover art on his Twitpic. It is the character Major Lazer in War Machine's silver suit, Elly Jackson of La Roux in the signature Iron Man suit, and Whiplash, the villain in the Iron Man 2 movie.
On June 20, 2010, the group released an EP titled "Lazers Never Die". It contained two new songs and three remixes, by Thom Yorke and others.
Major Lazer's live shows usually include hype man Skerrit Bwoy.[8]
Switch provided production for Beyoncé Knowles' "Run the World (Girls)", which sampled "Pon de Floor" and Nicola Roberts' "Beat Of My Drum".
Discography
Albums
- Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do (2009)
- Lazers Never Die (EP) (2010)
Mixtapes
- Major Lazer Essential Mix (available as podcast) (2009)
- Lazerproof (with La Roux) (2010)
- Major Lazer Summer Mix (available as podcast) (2010)
Singles
- "Hold The Line" (2009)
- "Zumbie" (2009)
- "Pon de Floor" ft Vybz Kartel (2009) 125 UK
- "Keep It Going Louder" (2009)
- "Jump Up" (2009)
- "Original Don" (2011)
References
- ^ Dacks, David. "Major Lazer Shoots To Thrill ", Exclaim!, July 2009.
- ^ Pitchfork feature http://pitchfork.com/news/34831-major-lazer-diplo-switch-to-release-digital-reggae-lp/
- ^ Billboard story http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/diplo-takes-mad-decent-downtown-1003956901.story
- ^ Deluca, Dan "The songs of summer", Philadelphia Inquirer
- ^ "Major Lazer, Zumbie Video", Filter magazine
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ Serwer, Jesse (April 1–7, 2010). "Skerrit Bwoy". Time Out New York. http://newyork.timeout.com/articles/clubs/84213/skerrit-bwoy-major-lazer-interview. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
External links
Categories:- Jamaican musicians
- British DJs
- Reggae fusion artists
- Musical groups established in 2009
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