While Chance The Rapper’s name tops the bill for the 2015 Revelry Music and Arts Festival, that energy and excitement will peak with the next name in line, New York DJ/producer/songwriter duo The Chainsmokers. They have seen their place in the electronic music industry skyrocket over the last few years in the wake of several busy festival seasons, a slew of remixes and infectious singles like their notorious “#SELFIE.”
In January 2014, Andrew Taggart and Alex Pall signed the group to 604 Records, owned by Nickleback singer Chad Kroeger, just a month after revolutionizing cell phone culture as we know it with “#SELFIE.” But before that, they gained serious traction in the festival scene with their energized, melodic electro-house remixes of songs like Smallpools’ “Dreaming” and Tove Lo’s “Habits (Stay High).” The Chainsmokers are sure to bring all of that energy to the table when May 2comes along.
Last year’s festival saw an EDM headliner and hip-hop support with G-Eazy and Waka Flocka Flame opening for Dillon Francis on the main stage. Those roles have been reversed this year, which will take both performances to the next level. This year’s stage setup will allow for a more festival-like atmosphere and larger crowd. With headliner Chance The Rapper bringing his soulful style of live-band hip-hop to the stage at the end of night, an act like The Chainsmokers seems necessary in order to give EDM fans and hip-hop heads alike a much-needed dancing fix.
Like 2014 headliner Dillon Francis, The Chainsmokers have a tendency to work a crowd with whacky stage antics, eclectic sets and busy light shows. This year, Revelers will enjoy this electric atmosphere as the sun sets over Library Mall and will then get to relax and watch one of the best hip-hop artists in the world get groovy with his band.
Whether they’re in the studio, headlining music festivals, or hanging out with their buddy Steve Aoki, The Chainsmokers have their heads in the right place. Much like the Wisconsin Badgers Mens Basketball team, who spent their March Madness press conferences playing with the stenographer and arguing about each others’ video game skills, The Chainsmokers have accomplished great things on their own terms, but never seem to take themselves too seriously
In “Kanye,” a recent collaboration with The Chainsmokers, sirenXX sings, “I want to be like Kanye.” Whether or not the duo has any personal connection to the line, their ego doesn’t reflect a Yeezus complex. Taggart and Pall tour the world with their feet on the ground. To The Chainsmokers, the only things to be taken seriously are good music and good times. Show after show they accomplish both, with the help of their driving beats, bouncing synth melodies, and, of course, an unparalleled affinity for tequila.
