Diplo
5 Things We Learned From Diplo’s Billboard Interview
Diplo hits ’em with the dab in Paris. (DMahoney)
Billboard has named Diplo “Dance Artist of the Year” in their third annual Power List of DJs and Execs. The magazine also interviewed him for their current cover story.
The attention makes sense. Since 2015, Diplo’s groups have scored two worldwide hits: Major Lazer and DJ Snake’s “Lean On” featuring MØ and Jack Ü’s “Where Are U Now” featuring Justin Bieber. The tracks have amassed more than 758 million and 3.4 million combined streams and sales, respectively. In March, Major Lazer performed a historic concert in Cuba, becoming the first US act to do so in decades. Now, the group is working with Bieber and MØ together on “Cold Water,” the lead single off Major Lazer’s upcoming fourth album.
Here’s what we learned from the interview:
1. He’s focused on producing for his own groups now.
“Beyoncé is the only artist I’ve produced for the last year, because it’s more lucrative for us to make our own music now. When we put out a song with Beyoncé, cool, we’ll get a fee, we’ll get some [publishing] splits, but Beyoncé is going to make a billion dollars touring it. If I make a song and it’s my song, like ‘Lean On,’ we’re going to make money off the synchs, the Spotify and we get to headline festivals on it. That’s the model I want to explore.”
2. He’s still an independent artist at heart.
“It’s complicated because we just want to [release ‘Cold Water’] indie. And convincing Team Bieber to do that is hard. We don’t need to have some guy tell us, We don’t need to have some guy tell us, ‘Oh, this is what the market research says.’ I’m on the ground. I see it.”
3. He finds greater purpose when performing in places where other big American acts don’t go.
“In Pakistan, people were in tears. I’m not like the Red Cross, but the kids in Pakistan and Cuba want this. It feels like I’m doing something that’s important — I’m helping them create something that wasn’t there before.”
4. He doesn’t like the EDM scene.
“The DJ world is the corniest f–ing group of people. We’re not celebrities, we’re not famous for any good reason. We’re just … really lame. Besides people like Dillon Francis, who makes fun of the whole thing, or Calvin Harris, it’s a sinking ship. It’s a really lame culture. I’m sad that I’m part of it, but I play the game.”
5. He uses Spotify and his own shows to find the next hit.
“I think Spotify has been killing it with playlists. With Mad Decent we’re putting out like 400 songs this year. And we’re just doing it because we can find out which are playlist-friendly . . . Labels pay a lot of money for market research. I get it for free. Just give me an afterparty to DJ at.”
Related: Diplo Discusses Major Lazer’s Historic Cuba Concert
Diplo Discusses Major Lazer’s Historic Cuba Concert
Major Lazer performs in Havana, Cuba on Mar. 6, 2016. (Kent Anderson)
Last weekend, Major Lazer made history when they performed a free concert in Havana, Cuba for an estimated 400,000 fans. It was the first show by a major American act since diplomatic ties were restored between the two countries after decades of isolation.
To learn more about the concert, award-winning journalist Charlie Rose traveled to Havana to interview Major Lazer member Diplo for CBS This Morning. The two cruised around the capital city while they discussed the significance of the event, why Major Lazer’s single “Lean On” became a worldwide hit and more.
“I think it’s important to play places like this where the music is still brand new,” Diplo said. “These are the guys who are gonna change it. The kids in Havana, the kids in Pakistan, the kids in India — [they’re] the ones who are gonna to bring it to a new level.”
“I was surprised by how much they knew, how culturally aware the kids are, considering there’s sort of a blockade of culture reaching Cuba. And I think it’s going to change a lot, because when information starts to come, you can’t stop that flow.”
Watch the inspiring interview below.
Additional footage from the concert:
Related: Major Lazer Drops Video for ‘Light It Up’ Remix
Diplo and Bad Royale Remix Migos’ ‘Look at My Dab’
If you follow Diplo on social media, chances are you’ve seen a photo of him dabbing. The Mad Decent chief is clearly a fan of the dance craze, and now he’s remixed the song that helped it go viral: Migos’ “Look at My Dab.”
To make it possible, Diplo called on California’s Bad Royale, a rising group that recently flipped another dance craze: iHeart Memphis’ “Hit The Quan.” Like that remix, Royale and Diplo’s rework of “Look at My Dab” contains two drops that are intense enough to wake someone from a coma.
Stream the remix below and download it on DJcity.
Related: 5 Viral Songs That DJs Should Know About
Watch TroyBoi’s ‘Afterhours’ Video Feat. Diplo and Nina Sky
Nearly three months after dropping a mix for the DJcity Podcast, UK producer/DJ TroyBoi has shared visuals for his single “Afterhours.” The four-minute video, which was shot in New York, shows duo Nina Sky and a handful of dancers performing choreography. The song peaked at number 33 on DJcity in September.
Watch the video above and download the single on DJcity. Also, check out our interview with TroyBoi from summer.
Related: TroyBoi Drops Mix for the DJcity Podcast
Watch MØ’s ‘Kamikaze’ Video
Danish singer MØ premiered her Diplo-produced single “Kamikaze” two weeks ago, and today she is back with visuals to go along with it.
The action-packed video, which was shot in Kiev, Ukraine, shows the singer dancing on cars, driving down streets, and partying in an abandoned lot.
“‘Kamikaze’ is a happy party song, but at the same time also about being lost and restless,” MØ said in a press release. “What I really like about this video is that it embraces both those aspects: the party vibe — the friendships and the happiness — but also the darkness, the craziness and the doom. And it’s not just the song that has that duality, it’s very much who I am.”
Watch the video above and download “Kamikaze” on DJcity.
Related: MØ Returns With Diplo-Produced Single ‘Kamikaze’
Watch Skrillex & Diplo’s ‘To Ü’ Video Ft. AlunaGeorge
Skrillex and Diplo have released visuals for the AlunaGeorge-assisted “To Ü” — the third single off their debut Jack Ü album. The song recently received remixes from Armand Van Helden, Clean Bandit, and Oliver.
Watch the video above and download the original track and its remixes on DJcity.
Related: Skrillex and Diplo Drop ‘Where Are U Now’ Video Feat. Justin Bieber
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