Diplo
Diplo Teams Up With Smithsonain Airspace for Ambient “Under Ancient Skies” Album
Last month, Diplo turned heads as usual with the release of his ambient album, MMXX. That record now also serves as the soundtrack for a new project from Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum (AirSpace), titled Under Ancient Skies. The album uses tracks from Diplo’s MMXX release, with accompaying narration by Hrishikesh Hirway of the Song Exploder podcast. It is broken down into 12 chapters that each explore the human connection with nature, from humanity’s first concepts of the universe all the way through to our modern understanding of life. Under Ancient Skies is both an educational and aural experience that aims to give listeners a better understanding of humanity’s explorations of the sky within Earth’s atmosphere and...
Major Lazer Announce Release Date of First Album in Five Years and Drive-In Concert Tour
It’s been five years since Major Lazer dropped an album, but the wait is almost over. Fans can now look forward to the impending release of Music Is The Weapon after the Latin Grammy Award-nominated group announced the official release date of their highly anticipated fourth studio album. Major Lazer took to Twitter to share the news that the record will drop on October 23rd, 2020. Major Lazer’s last full-length album came back in summer 2015 when they released Peace Is the Mission, a critically acclaimed project that featured arguably the group’s most famous song to date, the DJ Snake-assisted global hit “Lean On” featuring MØ. If the trio’s recent singles are any indication, fans can expect a similar moombah-pop crossover style in Music Is T...
Diplo Has Urged Fans to Vote—In His Birthday Suit
Editor’s Note: This article includes a photo that contains partial nudity, which some readers may find offensive. One day, Diplo is performing ambient music at a stargazing concert. The next, he’s going full nude on Instagram. The Grammy Award-winning DJ and music producer took to Instagram today, September 22nd, to remind his fans to vote in one of the most unorthodox ways you’ll see. Ahead of the impending federal election, Diplo stripped naked on a dock overlooking a pond and snapped a photo before deciding to crystallize it on Instagram for all to bare witness (see what I did there?). Along with the post came a caption reading, “Don’t forget to register to vote.” Whether you call the move genius or crude, there’s no denying that EDM’s ult...
This Virtual Festival Will Feature a Snoop Dogg DJ Set and a Live Palm Reading by T-Pain
In the dawn of virtual music festivals, it seems as if a new livestream sprouts from the rotted roots of the pandemic-stricken live music industry every day. From small-scale DJ sets to massive, full-fledged digital music festivals, livestreamed concerts have proven their place in the contemporary music landscape, and they’re not going anywhere anytime soon. Another virtual music fest called Abracadabra Festival has now risen from the ashes of the COVID-19 wreckage. The new four-day streaming event, which doubles as an environmental fundraiser, shared its lineup today ahead of its kickoff at 6:30PM ET (3:30PM PT). Joining Diplo and Tycho at the top of the flier is none other than Snoop Dogg, who is DJing as “DJ Snoopadelic.” Snoop made his DJ debut back in 2018 ...
Diplo Announces Stream to Raise Funds for Firefighters Battling Catastrophic California Wildfires
After debuting his one-of-a-kind stargazing concert series to a limited number of fans, Diplo is broadcasting the experience for all to see in the name of philanthropy. The Grammy Award-winning music producer, who recently released a full-length ambient album, has announced a charity livestream to raise funds in support of firefighters battling the catastrophic California wildfires, which have left 24 people dead and over 4,200 structures destroyed. Diplo recently kicked off a run of ambient concerts with a mystical show in Pioneertown, California, in which Flume made a surprise appearance. The series is being produced in collaboration with the Smithsonian’s AirSpace podcast as well as longtime collaborators Secular Sabbath, who are spearheading not only the stage...
Watch Flume Perform with Diplo at Ambient Stargazing Concert in California
Following the release of his first-ever ambient album MMXX, Diplo partnered with The Smithsonian‘s AirSpace podcast for a series of one-of-a-kind, limited capacity stargazing concerts. Debuting the series on September 8th and 9th, he played out the record at the “Under Ancient Skies: A Night of Ambient Music and Stargazing” show in Pioneertown for his fans, who were able to melt away under the glittering California night sky. When he announced the initiative on August 31st, Diplo mentioned “one more surprise up our sleeve.” It seems that surprise was an appearance from Flume, who shared video from the unique show via Instagram. Flume can be seen playing the keyboard alongside Diplo and Secular Sabbath on a stage retrofitted with an abundance of plants and a cl...
Diplo, The Chainsmokers, and Marshmello Win Big at iHeartRadio Music Awards
2020 has seen most major social events cancelled or postponed due to the pandemic, and the iHeartRadio Music Awards were no exception. The festivities were originally slated for March 29th, then postponed to August 24th before being cancelled entirely. Still, the numbers were tallied, and iHeartRadio’s most played artists received their accolades over Labor Day weekend sans ceremonial proceedings. Among the big winners: Billie Eilish, who won Female Artist of the Year and swept the alternative rock categories for Best Artist, Album, and Song of the Year (are we absolutely sure “Bad Guy” is alt-rock, iHeartRadio?). Lizzo earned Song of the Year with “Truth Hurts” and the legendary Elton John took home the Tour of the Year awa...
Listen to Diplo’s First Full-Length Ambient Album “MMXX”
Add a full ambient album release to Diplo‘s year of many “firsts.” Despite a turbulent year by all accounts, seemingly nothing has slowed Diplo’s stride to bring listeners what’s amounted to a trove of new music. That includes the memorable country and electronic crossover album Diplo Presents Thomas Wesley Chapter 1: Snake Oil. This week, Diplo revealed his first full ambient album titled MMXX (2020 in roman numerals). Much like his foray into country music, Diplo dives deep into unexpected territory while still striking gold. MMXX is music to meditate to, a free-flowing album characterized by omnipresent, soothing soundscapes and distinctly interjecting textures that chime in before being swept away as suddenly as they arrived. For an album with ve...
Happy Birthday, Beyoncé: 10 Dance Remixes Fit for a Queen
It takes the same amount of dauntless confidence Beyoncé displays on stage to remix one of her songs. Considering an artist of her magnitude—a national treasure who transcends the very industry that spawned her—there is perhaps no one more terrifying to remix due to the risk of butchering their work at the mercy of a rabid fanbase. To pay homage to Queen Bey on her 39th birthday, we gathered 10 of the best dance remixes of her iconic discography and thrust them into the limelight with the hopes of celebrating her intrepid spirit. Take a trip down memory lane and commemorate one of the greatest with these scintillating reworks of some of her most iconic tracks. “Party (Kaytranada Remix)” Leave it to the prolific Kaytranada to take on Beyoncé’s monster André 3000&...
Diplo Teams Up with The Smithsonian for Ambient Stargazing Concert
Last week, Diplo teamed up with the mediation app Calm to announce his new ambient album, titled MMXX. Fans with the app are able to preview the album before its official launch this week. The Grammy Award-winning producer stated that sales from the new album will be directed to Beam Collective and The Loveland Foundation‘s efforts to augment mental health awareness. This afternoon, Diplo announced that he’s partnering with The Smithsonian‘s AirSpace podcast for a series of limited capacity stargazing shows. Dubbed “Under Ancient Skies: A Night of Ambient Music and Stargazing,” fans in two cities across four nights can listen to an ambient set and learn about astronomy from the experts. Diplo and The Smithsonian’s “Under Ancient Skie...
Diplo to Release Ambient Album to Raise Awareness for Mental Health
Grammy-winning producer and EDM renaissance man Diplo has announced a surprise ambient album, teaming up with meditation app Calm to preview the record ahead of its release. MMXX will be out in full next week, but fans can listen to five tracks now. Diplo also shared the news that he will be directing proceeds from sales of the album to Beam Collective and The Loveland Foundation in the name of mental health awareness. Diplo took to Facebook to share a heartfelt message about the inspiration behind the album, which was born out his goal to reinitiate the conversation surrounding mental health amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and racial tension in the US. “First all the flights got canceled then schools, restaurants and shops closed.. slowly people or th...
Diplo Partied with Madonna for the Pop Icon’s 62nd Birthday in Jamaica
After Madonna‘s 62nd birthday, the myth of EDM Renaissance man Diplo continues. The Grammy Award-winning music producer and DJ recently celebrated the Queen of Pop’s 62nd birthday, joining her for a night of debauchery in Jamaica. The pop icon’s six children, Lourdes Leon (23), Rocco Ritchie (20), David Banda (14), Mercy James (14), and Estere and Stella (both 7) were also along for the ride in addition to her 26-year-old beau, Ahlamalik Williams. Madonna shared a number of photos from the party on social media, including one in which she smokes a joint while holding a plate full of cannabis, celebrating the milestone in style. Diplo produced 5 tracks off Madonna’s 2015 album Rebel Heart, including the international hits “Living for Love” and “...
