Major Lazer
Biography
Major Lazer is an American electronic dance music trio, which includes record producer Diplo, and DJs Walshy Fire and Ape Drums. The group was founded in 2008 by Diplo and Switch, though Switch departed in 2011. He was subsequently replaced by Jillionaire and Walshy Fire. In June 2019, Jillionaire also left the group and was replaced by Ape Drums. Their music is a fusion of various genres, including reggae, dancehall, reggaeton, soca, house, and moombahton.
History
The concept of Major Lazer was initially a collaboration between producers Diplo (Thomas Wesley Pentz) and Switch (Dave Taylor). They met while producing for M.I.A. Their first album, "Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do," was released in 2009 and recorded in Jamaica at Tuff Gong Studios. It featured a number of vocalists, including Santigold, Vybz Kartel, and Busy Signal. The album's lead single, "Hold the Line," gained significant attention. Following creative differences, Switch left the project in 2011.
After Switch's departure, Diplo continued the project, bringing in Jillionaire (Christopher Leacock) and Walshy Fire (Leighton Walsh) to form the new lineup. This iteration of the group released the album "Free the Universe" in 2013, which featured a wide array of guest artists like Bruno Mars, Wyclef Jean, and Shaggy. The 2014 EP "Apocalypse Soon" continued this collaborative spirit with appearances from Pharrell Williams and Sean Paul. The group achieved massive mainstream success in 2015 with the album "Peace Is the Mission," which included the global hit single "Lean On" featuring MØ and DJ Snake. The song became one of the most-streamed tracks of all time.
In 2016, Major Lazer released another chart-topping single, "Cold Water," featuring Justin Bieber and MØ. The EP "Know No Better" followed in 2017 with a host of international collaborators. In 2019, Jillionaire announced his departure to pursue a solo career and was replaced by Ape Drums (Eric Alberto-Lopez). The group's fourth studio album, "Music Is the Weapon," was released in 2020.
Musical Style
Major Lazer is known for its genre-bending sound that blends global electronic music with a strong Caribbean influence. Their mission is often described as "making the party bigger" by recontextualizing genres like dancehall, reggaeton, and trap for a global audience. Their live performances are known for their high energy and carnival-like atmosphere.
Studio Albums
- Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do (2009)
- Free the Universe (2013)
- Peace Is the Mission (2015)
- Music Is the Weapon (2020)
Notable Singles
- Pon de Floor (2009)
- Lean On (with DJ Snake featuring MØ) (2015)
- Cold Water (featuring Justin Bieber and MØ) (2016)
- Light It Up (featuring Nyla & Fuse ODG)