After the Road to Ultra Music Festival, The Chainsmokers take out some time forTeam Viva and share how their journey has been so far
Topping all charts and breaking records, teaming up with Chris Martin, dropping your debut album to getting new mansions in lA… How have you been taking to all this successIJ
We don’t really think about it so much. We are having the best time and enjoying every second of the ride. But there is still so much more we want to accomplish and we push ourselves to try and do new things. So our we are always thinking about what’s next.
How did you develop the Chainsmokers sound which isn’t pop, nor EDM nor hip yet all of that and moreIJ
Well, we don't really have a great answer for it. Creativity is fleeting and we listen to tons of music and pull a lot of inspiration from the things happening around us. We just try to make music that feels fresh to us and different from what we were doing before. But ultimately the song and the lyrics are what dictate the direction of it.
What did the collaboration with Chris Martin mean to youIJ Did it in any way add to The Chainsmokers recognition factorIJ
It meant everything to us.Coldplay as a band is one of our biggest inspirations as artists. And to have the opportunity to work with them was just surreal. It was never about recognition for us, rather it was about learning from one of the greatest bands in the history of music.
Memories...Do Not Open. Is the album a personal oneIJ
Yes, it’s really personal as the album deals with a lot of nostalgia and things from our past.
How much has going from DJing to singing your songs changed you as artists and what is going to be your next big leapIJ
It changed everything dramatically for us. Our shows became more dynamic and there was the element of a real performance and since Drew started singing, now we play as a band whenever we have the opportunity.
However, we never want to lose the energy of a DJ set, but playing as a band also has an angle you can’t get with a DJ set. So for us it’s about continuing to push our live show while maintaining the connection with our fans and delivering a great show.
Which artists are you hooked to right nowIJ
There are many. But to name a few, Sza, Twenty One Pilots, Travis Scott and linkin Park.
Is there anything that you’re particularly you were looking forward to doing or seeing on your trip to MumbaiIJ
Yes we can’t wait to have some butter chicken and naan, but we also just love India. The people are so welcoming and warm and they really do they know how to party.
What are your impressions of Indian music and BollywoodIJ Any Indian musician you’d like to work or intend to work withIJ
We think it’s fascinating. There are a few countries in this world that have this self contained music business, Brazil is another one. It says a lot about the countries pride in their heritage and music and we respect that a lot.
As for working with some, we are super open minded and would love to collaborate with them. But we need someone to teach us!
Your India visit is for how many daysIJ What will be the itinerary likeIJ Do you plan to go sightseeing or have any other interesting plansIJ
It’s unfortunately not a very long trip but we are going to make the most out of it. We are coming with our team who are our best friends and we are going to soak it in and enjoy every second of it!
What do you like the most about Indian fansIJ
They are both engaging and supportive. So many fans elsewhere are so critical and can be quite nasty but Indian fans are all about the love and that is amazing for us!