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WhoMadeWho
Bio
In the years since their inception WhoMadeWho have established themselves as one of the definitive underground bands of their generation, renowned for their exceptional grasp of emotional depth, heartrending melody and inspired songwriting. The Danish group, composed of Tomas Høffding, Tomas Barfod and Jeppe Kjellberg, injects its boundless energy into standout performances all over the globe, from Coachella to Sonar to Burning Man. They have produced eight albums and a plethora of EPs, singles and remixes on labels like Kompakt, Innervisions, Life & Death, and now their own imprint named The Moment. With Barfod’s penchant for electronic music poetically juxtaposed with Høffding and Kjellberg’s respective backgrounds in rock and jazz, their music is an electrifying combination of sounds, merging a variety of influences to produce a unique sonic fingerprint that is emotive, irresistible and immensely satisfying. Their captivating hybrid DJ/live performances have become a key aspect of the group’s huge global appeal, alongside their powerful live shows. In 2024 WhoMadeWho received the DJ Award in the ‘Organic House’ category. In the same year they were awarded “Best Live Performer” at Beatport’s 2024 Awards ceremony and it’s easy to see why when you experience one of their scintillating performances. In 2023 they embarked on an ambitious live world tour, with innovative stage design crafted in collaboration with the world-renowned architecture group BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group), accompanied by cutting-edge visuals brought to life by flora&faunavisions, EyeMix Studio, and Christopher Mulligan. Stunning shows took place in New York, Paris, Madrid, Los Angeles, Santiago de Chile, Istanbul, London, Copenhagen, Barcelona, Zurich, and many more, including a huge homecoming show at the legendary Forum arena in Copenhagen. The next “mega concert” is set to take place at Berlin’s Tempodrom in November 2024. From the heartfelt music they play, to the awe-inspiring visuals and their intimate interactions with the fans on the dance floor, WhoMadeWho provide a thrilling show with every performance. Their deep passion evident in the positive energy that emanates from all three members. In September 2024, WhoMadeWho dropped their eighth LP, Kiss & Forget. The release was preceded by five key singles, including ‘Miracle’, the ubiquitous hit recorded with their long-time friends Adriatique. The viral track embodies everything that makes WhoMadeWho’s music so special; emotive, catchy, uplifting, unforgettable and representative of the human experience. It is universally resonant. The track was released on RÜFÜS DU SOL's label Rose Avenue, including a rare remix from the Australian trio. This is followed by 'Children', a beautiful composition infused with the angelic timbres of the famed Danish children's choir Vesterbros Ungdomsgård, with remixes by Mind Against & Dyzen. 'Love Will Save Me', a collaboration with RY X, plus remixes by Camelphat and Marten Lou. 'Kiss Me Hard', where the band team up with duo Blue Hawaii, featuring a remix by Innellea. And the final album single - a collab with Kölsch called ‘Heartless’, which landed in August. Kiss & Forget will be released on WhoMadeWho’s own imprint The Moment, which is also the name of their boutique festival series. As the name suggests, The Moment is all about being present, connected and appreciating music, and each other, in a pure sense. The collective power of conscious communal presence has been cultivated at the festival, which the band host in their hometown, Copenhagen and will soon branch out to other countries. Previous editions have featured a range of electronic music luminaries, including Rampa, Black Coffee, Damian Lazarus, DJ Tennis, ANOTR, Desiree, Frank Wiedeman, TSHA, and many more. The 2024 edition will play host to WhoMadeWho, of course, along with Blond:ish, Mind Against, Patrick Mason, Marcel Dettmann, Amémé, LP Giobbi, Lovefoxy, Wolfram, and many more. The band have a long history with electronic music, signing releases to labels including Life And Death, Kompakt and Innervisions and performing at Ushuaïa Ibiza, Space Miami, Papaya Playa Tulum, Brooklyn Mirage NYC and many more of the world’s most prestigious dance music clubs and festivals. Barfod has a long-standing DJ career outside of his activity with WhoMadeWho, playing iconic venues such as fabric London and Panorama Bar in Berlin and releasing his own solo productions. As a DJ and producer, he has achieved widespread notoriety and respect for his technical ability and deep knowledge. In recent years WhoMadeWho’s connection to the club world has been galvanised by their increasing work with friends such as Rampa, Frank Wiedemann, or Artbat. Their current trajectory in the electronic music world includes pivotal releases such as their 2019 Watergate compilation mix and their LP Synchronicity, released on Kompakt. The album featured an all-star cast of kindred spirits in the electronic music community; Kompakt’s Michael Mayer, Mano Le Tough, Perel, Rebolledo, Axel Boman and Frank Wiedemann among their co-conspirators on the critically-acclaimed LP. The album and a series of three EPs, also on Kompakt, define WhoMadeWho as they are right now, bringing their own distinct indie take on club music. The secret of WhoMadeWho's success lies in their constant desire to shake things up. In recent years the trio have been taking a deep dive into the world of electronic music. This was no more apparent than in their incredible Cercle appearance, which was broadcast from the stunning Abu Simbel temple in Egypt, picking up over 8 million views and counting. Høffding, Barfod and Kjellberg performed at the entrance to the temple, beneath the ancient statues of Ramesses II and his family, delivering a visually and musically breathtaking show. One which is already the stuff of legend. This was followed by their single ‘Abu Simbel’, named after the spectacular site of their legendary Cercle performance, which was released on the broadcaster’s label wing, and served as the emotionally-charged opener for their performance in March 2021. A second single called ‘Nefertari’ followed shortly after, this time a collaboration with Patrice Bäumel. WhoMadeWho had been hinting at a new studio album ever since they dropped ‘Mermaids’ in May 2021. After previewing some of the tracks on their contribution to BBC1’s legendary Essential Mix series in August 2021, they dropped UUUU in May 2022 - the band’s seventh full-length studio album. A beautifully crafted record featuring thirteen original productions. This followed the success of several album singles - Summer, Silence & Secrets, UUUU – and a slew of remixes from the likes of Grammy-Award winner Black Coffee, Adriatique, DJ Tennis, &ME, and Frank Wiedemann. The band’s constant shifts and evolutionary steps highlight their versatility and passion for creating new challenges for themselves - all three band members relishing the chance to explore different terrain in great depth. Part of WhoMadeWho’s charm lies in their divergent musical backgrounds, meaning that they approach various styles with a touch of innocence; Høffding and Kjellberg perhaps referencing Pink Floyd during a studio session, while Barford may allude to Carl Craig and vice versa, for instance. It’s what makes them such a fascinating group, capable of producing varied musical styles with a refreshing combination of vulnerability and confidence. As a group they are a unified force with three very different egos burning at their core working as the catalyst for their creative energy, with a little extra sparkle added by inviting other artists to join them in the studio. Modifying the songwriting and production process to cater for the dance floor has been particularly enlightening for the group, as it requires a hypnotic use of rhythm, melody and vocals that can be difficult to achieve. It’s about tapping into that feeling of being on the dance floor when a simple, yet contagious hook infects your mainframe and refuses to let go. On stage too the trio have evolved from the traditional band blueprint to fresh configurations designed for the club. Their 'Hybrid DJ Set' places Barford in the booth playing a DJ set while one of his bandmates complements the music with improvised singing, keys and effects. While their new 'Live Set' deconstructs the band format and reassembles it as their current live show: One member handles programming and mixing while the other two band members are singing and playing a range of live instruments including bass, guitar, synths, effects, theremin, glockenspiel and more. It’s daring, playful and exciting, for both the band and their audiences. The scintillating Hybrid DJ setup was showcased at Burning Man aboard the Mayan Warrior art car, where the three men played a mesmerising sunset show, and it has since wowed dance floors in many locations all over the world. If their recent releases are anything to go by, fans and critics alike are eagerly awaiting another masterful blend of their iconic indie touch to club music with Kiss & Forget. With an ever-evolving sound, a dedication to innovation, and a genuine passion for their craft, WhoMadeWho continues to cement their place as trailblazers in the music industry
