According to the legend, Major Lazer was a Jamaican commando who, unfortunately, lost his arm in the secret Zombie War of 1984. But in a twist of fate, the US military rescued him and proceeded to use experimental lasers in place of prosthetic limbs.
Now a retired war veteran, Major Lazer is employed by a rogue government operating in the upmost secrecy under watch of M5 and the CIA. The Major, disguised as a dancehall club owner from Trinidad, enlisted friends Diplo and Switch to help him make his first LP.
Though that’s a more entertaining version of actual events, what actually happened is totally different.
The original lineup of Major Lazer consisted of its brainchild producing DJ Diplo and Switch. Meeting after working with popular artist M.I.A., the two came together to highlight lesser-known subgenres that was buzzing through Jamaica’s dancehall scene. Diplo describes the Lazer concept in an early interview, “I was fascinated by how crazy dancehall was, like Red Rat or Beenie Man. I felt like it was the punk rock sound to me, just heavy stuff. When I was 14 I was into that. I always felt like, as far as MCs, dancehall guys were way cooler to work with than rappers. They changed the record around in a different way. Dancehall is like the end of the line of mashing things up in a melting pot. It’s like the end of the world, all the little influencesâ€â€house, soca, oldies, R&B, jazzâ€â€it all ends up in Jamaica. They make something out of that nasty funky crap.”
The duo’s first album Guns Don’t Kill People… Lazers was released in the summer of 2009. The eclectic long player made its way to Billboard’s US 200, Top Electronic Albums, and Top Heatseekers charts, ranging in styles from dancehall, reggae electro house, and moombahton.
Now operating as a solo act, Diplo employs artists like Jillionaire and Walshy Fire with live performances and shows. We’re not sure who will join the stage at Clayton’s Beach Resort for Isla Del Sol Fest on August 31st and September 1st, but we do know it’s going to a killer good time. Tickets are available online, buy yours today!
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