After 28 years of chart-topping albums and countless awards, electronic music sensation Daft Punk has broken up.
The duo’s official YouTube channel uploaded a cryptic video Monday morning entitled “Epilogue.” It was later confirmed by the group’s publicist that the two French musicians — Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter — would no longer be working together. The reason remains unclear.
Emily Volker, a junior environmental studies major, says that the news brought her to the edge of tears.
“I think it was more sad to see them release something that they were retiring because it solidified the fact that none of us are going to see them live and hear any new music,” Volker said.
Made famous from songs like “One More Time,” “Da Funk” and the Pharrell Williams-assisted “Get Lucky,” Daft Punk has worked their way into the conversation as one of the most popular music groups of all time. Successful since the 90s, Daft Punk maintained their popularity into the modern day, breaking the record for most first-day Spotify streams of all time with 27 million on “Get Lucky” in 2013.
Despite only releasing four studio albums and one movie soundtrack over the course of their career, every single project the duo has embarked upon has been met with acclaim. Well-known for rarely collaborating with other artists, Daft Punk has managed to be featured on some of the most iconic songs of the past decade, including production credits for Kanye West’s “Black Skinhead” and a feature on The Weeknd’s chart topping hit, “Starboy.”
Other collaborations included those with industry pioneer Giorgio Moroder and sought-after stars like Julian Casablancas, who worked with the pair on their final project, “Random Access Memories.”
Marc Salerno, a junior communications major, says he has listened to Daft Punk his whole life.
“Their dedication to perfection, the thought, intent, and purpose in every song that they’ve made is clear as day,” Salerno said. “Their evolution from pure house DJs with Homework to what I’d call a full on masterpiece with Random Access Memories shows how dedicated they were to their craft.”
Their reach went beyond music, as the duo released two films (including one anime flick) in the 2000s and even designed Coca-Cola bottles for a short period.
Time will only tell where the disassembled duo will go next. Regardless of where they end up, few can deny their influence. Expanding the confines of each creative medium they touched, it is safe to say that de Homem-Christo was correct in saying, “I think the influence we would like to have on people is beyond a musical influence.”
The arts desk can be reached at arts@ubspectrum.com
Jack Porcari is a senior news/features editor at The Spectrum. He is a political science major with a minor in journalism. Aside from writing and editing, he enjoys playing piano, flow arts, reptiles and activism.
Alex Falter is a senior arts editor at The Spectrum.
