With The Chainsmokers being an ever-evolving EDM DJ duo that has seamlessly morphed into an impeccable pop hit machine, it is clear that members Alex Pall and Drew Taggart have no problem creating hit music and spawning awesome audio inside any recording studio that they transform into their personal creative incubator. But what makes musical artists like Alex and Drew particularly special is when they are able to open up their production process to other creators and emerge with exceptional songs that go beyond what listeners would expect from any of the parties involved. Being that the tantalizing ingredients in music by The Chainsmokers can consist of any amount of indie rock, alternative, pop, EDM, grunge, dance, hip-hop, house, and new wave. It is exciting to look at these five of the coolest recording collaborations of The Chainsmokers, and listen in as the band mixes, matches, and merges—proving they know exactly how to mix well with others.
“Closer” (featuring Halsey)
The futuristic bass-meets-pop song “Closer” has become one of The Chainsmokers’ biggest hits, and one of their coolest collaborations. We are talking about seven times Platinum in the United States, three Billboard Music Awards for: Top Hot 100 Song, Top Dance/Electronic Song, and Top Collaboration, as well as Grammy Awards and American Music Awards nominations no less. If you still have to ask who is Halsey, you surely know her for those Platinum singles of hers: “New Americana,” Colors,” “Castle,” “Now or Never,” Bad at Love,” “Gasoline,” and “Him & I.” In concert mode, Halsey has been an opening act for The Weeknd and Imagine Dragons. But she has also had the pleasure to headline tours for each of her albums—Badlands and Hopeless Fountain Kingdom.
“Setting Fires” (featuring XYLØ)
Hot off of the Platinum-selling EP Collage that The Chainsmokers exploded with on November 4, 2016, Alex Pall and Drew Taggart melted minds with the raging hot flames emitting from “Setting Fires,” featuring XYLØ, which has the distinction of being the promotional single that was released on the same day as the entire Collage project itself. The featured Los Angeles-based electronic band XYLØ consists of lead vocalist Paige Duddy and songwriter and musician Chase Duddy. This pair of siblings are actually signed to the same record label as The Chainsmokers—Disruptor Records, with distribution through the muscle of Columbia Records.
XYLØ are known for their EP called America. The two Duddys have musical strands of DNA connected to their family tree via their grandfather Joe Porcaro, a jazz drummer who has recorded with Frank Sinatra, Madonna, Pink Floyd, Natalie Cole, Sarah Vaughan, and The Monkees. Let’s not forget to mention that Joe’s sons Jeff Porcaro, Mike Porcaro, and Steve Porcaro are members of the famous rock band Toto—who had the huge hits “Africa,” “Rosanna,” and “Hold the Line.”
“Wake Up Alone” (featuring Jhené Aiko)
The most famous female collaboration that The Chainsmokers have engaged in is with Jhené Aiko on “Wake Up Alone” off of their debut album, Memories…Do Not Open. In terms of tour support, Jhené has hit the road with basically the biggest names in the entertainment business: Drake on Would You Like a Tour?, The Weeknd on King of the Fall Tour, Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa on The High Road Summer Tour, J. Cole on Forest Hills Drive Tour, and she is scheduled to continue globe-trotting with none other than Beyoncé & Jay-Z on their 2018 On the Run II Tour. Along with her own tracks, Jhené Aiko has recorded with Big Sean, Childish Gambino, Common, Logic, and Drake.
“Something Just Like This” (with Coldplay)
Hitting it outside of the ballpark with its four times Platinum certification in the United States alone, “Something Just Like This” was what The Chainsmokers would refer to as a bucket list goal checked off, and a dream come true. What makes this collaboration especially cool, aside from the fact that it is with Coldplay—one of the biggest bands in the world—it is a not just The Chainsmokers featuring Coldplay. This track is a true collaboration. Alex Pall and Drew Taggart were actually in the studio in the flesh with Chris Martin to make it happen. They all brought their “superhuman gifts” and “fairytale bliss” to create this enchanting ode to being yourself in a relationship and having that be strong enough to make it last.
Consisting of lead singer Chris Martin, lead guitarist and multiple instrumentalist Jonny Buckland, musician and producer Guy Berryman, and string arranger, composer, and conductor Davide Rossi, Coldplay is a British band that you almost certainly have heard hits from, like “Clocks,” “Viva La Vida,” “Paradise,” “Fix You,” and “A Sky Full of Stars.” When it comes to collaborations that Coldplay has captured, along with The Chainsmokers, they have worked with Rihanna, Jay Z, Kanye West, Avicii, Kylie Minogue, and Cat Power.
“Somebody” (featuring Drew Love)
2018 proves that The Chainsmokers are not slowing down when it comes to kicking it with the coolest collaborations that they can possibly offer. With the April 20th release of their song “Somebody,” Alex Pall and Drew Taggart have pulled singer Drew Love in the mix to administer some of his Trap and R&B flavors. The Texas songwriter and vocalist is no stranger to collaborations as well, having put some of his pizazz to the G-Eazy banger “Love is Gone,” and lending the auditory assist to Zhu and Skrillex on “Working for It.” What is also worth noting is that the Drew Love collab is further proof that Alex Pall, known as the studio matchmaker for the group, consistently keeps his ears open to the future while raking in interesting artists that are on the edge of greatest before they are too big to return people’s phone calls.
Want more on TCS? Read our last article here, or check them out on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!