Daft Punk
Early Life and Formation
Daft Punk was formed by Bangalter and Homem-Christo in Paris, France in 1993. The duo met while attending the Carnot secondary school in the late 1980s. They initially formed a rock band named Darlin' with Laurent Brancowitz, who would later become a member of the band Phoenix. Darlin' disbanded after a short period, and Bangalter and Homem-Christo decided to explore the electronic music genre, leading to the formation of Daft Punk.
Musical Style and Influences
Daft Punk's music is primarily electronic, and they have been credited with producing several songs that shaped the French House genre. Their music incorporates elements of house, funk, techno, disco, rock and synthpop. The duo is known for their use of visual components associated with their musical productions. They are also known for their use of autotune and talk box in their music, which has influenced many artists in the electronic music genre.
Career
Homework (1993–1999)
After forming Daft Punk, Bangalter and Homem-Christo started working on their debut album, Homework. The album was released in 1997 and was a commercial success. It included the hit singles "Da Funk" and "Around the World". The album is noted for bringing attention to the French house genre and is considered a landmark in dance music.
Discovery (1999–2004)
Daft Punk's second album, Discovery, was released in 2001. The album marked a shift in the duo's sound, moving away from the Chicago house style of their first album to a more disco and synthpop style. The album included the hit singles "One More Time", "Digital Love", and "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger".
Human After All and Tron: Legacy (2005–2011)
In 2005, Daft Punk released their third album, Human After All. The album received mixed reviews from critics, but included the hit singles "Robot Rock" and "Technologic". In 2010, Daft Punk composed the score for the film Tron: Legacy, which was a critical and commercial success.
Random Access Memories (2011–2016)
Daft Punk's fourth and final studio album, Random Access Memories, was released in 2013. The album marked another shift in the duo's sound, incorporating live instrumentation and guest vocalists. The album included the hit single "Get Lucky", which won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year.
Legacy
Daft Punk has been credited with bringing the French house genre to the mainstream. They have influenced numerous artists in the electronic music genre and have been sampled by various artists. Despite their disbandment in 2021, their music continues to be popular and influential.