Image via Complex Original
The dance music collaboration is not a new phenomenon. In fact, we've seen artists working with dance music producers for remixes for over 20 years. With EDM acts like Avicii, Steve Aoki, and others calling on artists from the rock world over the last few years, we realized that the unions between dance music and rock are pretty interesting. And while some of these collaborations make sense, others just seem way out of leftfield. Be it the artist chosen or the end result, here are the 10 most out of the ordinary collabs between rock artists and EDM producers.
Avicii and Mike Einziger
Avicii's plan is to really push the envelope, and by working with Incubus guitarist Mike Einziger, it looks like he's definitely living up to that desire. Not only are they writing a lot of material for Avicii's debut album, but Avicii asked Einziger to get a band together to play some of the album tracks during his 9PM slot on the Ultra Music Festival main stage.
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Skrillex and The Doors
Taken from his Bangarang EP, Skrillex's track with The Doors, "Break'n A Sweat," was filmed as part of the RE:Generation documentary, and the footage of Skrillex and the Doors working on the track in the studio was awesome. Especially when you realize that The Doors didn't know what a Skrillex was.
Deadmau5 and Foo Fighters
While many took Dave Grohl to task over his comments about the human element in making music versus "what goes on in a computer," you couldn't deny the moment that Deadmau5 had performing with Grohl and the Foo Fighters live during the 2012 Grammy ceremony. It hadn't solidified EDM's place in the mainstream, but definitely let the world know that it was coming.
DJ Chuckie and Slash
How did this even come about? Does Slash mess with EDM like that? And, with all due respect, we're kind of surprised that Slash made an EDM splash with DJ Chuckie. You'd think that someone who was in the limelight of Guns 'N' Roses would've wanted to take it "there" with someone who had a bigger name. Then again, the fact that Slash didn't cash all the way in might mean that this collaboration felt a lot more genuine than what could have been.
Steve Aoki and Rivers Cuomo
We don't know if Weezer's Rivers Cuomo is into EDM, but all we've known from him is his work in rock, including Weezer's maturation into a harder-rocking outfit. We also can't help but noticing how awkward Cuomo looks throughout the video for "Earthquakey People."
Burial, Four Tet and Thom Yorke
Thom Yorke's utilized electronic elements on a number of Radiohead albums, this is well-known and true. But its one thing to work influences into your band's album and a completely different thing to create new music with acclaimed artists like Burial and Four Tet. It's one of those music snob wet dreams, and its just as awesome as you thought it'd be.
Noisia and Korn
On The Path of Totality, Korn hooked up with Skrillex, 12th Planet, and Kill the Noise to bring an electronic edge to their music. While those combinations make "sense" (in the sense that those three are already making some aggro bass music already), we're not sure how Noisia got involved. Their acclaim proceeds them, and hell, they signed a publishing deal with Roc Nation, but this was a truly leftfield combination.
The Prodigy and Matt Cameron
To this day, all we know is that Matt Cameron, then drummer for Soundgarden, is credited as playing on The Prodigy's The Fat of the Land (well, the liner notes credit "Mark" Cameron). The Prodigy and Soundgarden had been touring together at the time and struck up a friendship. Liam Howlett was a notorious sampler, manipulating all kinds of sounds, so who knows if the drums that Matt did contributed weren't cut up and thrown on a number of the album's tracks.
Goldie and David Bowie
The weird part about this isn't necessarily Goldie working with David Bowie, as his second album (Saturnzreturn) also featured tracks with Noel Gallagher and KRS-One. It's that with Goldie coming from the drum & bass world, and Bowie from the rock world, who decided that they should make an ambient track?
Chemical Brothers and Noel Gallagher
In 1994, the Chemical Brothers (when they were known as the Dust Brothers) were approached by Oasis' Noel Gallagher to remix a track he was working on (stories have it that the tune was "Wonderwall"). Apparently, Noel changed his mind and the remix never came to be, but they ended up collaborating on Dig Your Own Hole single "Setting Sun." Fun fact: Liam Gallagher is said to have been on the original recording of "Setting Sun." This was after a 1995 Oasis gig that the Chemical Brothers were DJing that featured Liam kicking the Chemicals off the decks because he didn't like their selection.