Claptone
Claptone is a German DJ and producer who specializes in house and tech house genres. He is recognizable by the plague doctor-style golden masks, which serve to intrigue the public as well as keeping his identity hidden. It was widely believed that Claptone is a single person, but after the public realized that Claptone often performed at three venues at once, the rumor started to spread that Claptone was three individuals. Claptone has performed at iconic venues including Hï Ibiza (formally Space), Pacha and Tomorrowland.
Claptone | |
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Background information | |
Born | Germany |
Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
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Years active | 2012–present |
Labels | Different Recordings |
Website | Official website |
Life and career
Claptone gained recognition in 2013 with the song "No Eyes" featuring JAW, from the electronic act dOP. He has released albums Charmer in 2015 on Different Recordings and The Masquerade Mixes in 2017.[1]
In 2015, Mixmag described Claptone as “one of the most visible characters in the global deep house scene” and his music as “crisply produced and effortlessly infectious”. He has collaborated with a number of indie bands and singer-songwriters. Charmer included vocals from Peter Bjorn and John, JAW, Jay-Jay Johanson, and Boxer Rebellion's Nathan Nicholson, among others. Mixmag notes that Claptone's remix of Gregory Porter's Liquid Spirit from the eponymous album “has become a Beatport bestseller and one of the biggest tunes of the year” (2015).[2]
In April 2016 Claptone performed as Claptone IMMORTAL, the 2 DJ performance. Claptone has since played a Europe version and American version of the performance; the tomorrow land persona being drastically different than the exchange LA Version.
According to the online jazz magazine The Jazz Line, the Claptone remix was in part responsible for the Porter's album success. The album achieved Gold status in the UK after the Claptone remix debuted on the Essential Mix of BBC Radio 1 and then topped the Beatport chart, prompting dance music lovers to seek out Porter's original recording.[3]
Claptone's usual attire includes a golden beaked mask, similar to the Plague Doctor, and white gloves, so his identity remains a mystery. Little is known about Claptone's background apart from the fact that the act is based in Berlin. According to the web site Warp.la, the act is in fact two people, who sometimes perform together.[4]
Discography
Albums
- Charmer (2015)
- The Masquerade (2016)
- Fantast (2018)
- Closer (2021)[5]
References
- Cynthia Camacho: House master, El Diario / The Journal, 9 June 2017
- Paul Sullivan CLAPTONE: THROUGH A MASK DARKLY, Mixmag, 29 October 2015
- Stephen Doble: Gregory Porter Performs “Liquid Spirit” Remix In Ibiza, The Jazz Line, 7 August 2015
- Fher Palomino: Who is Claptone?, Warp.la, 9 June 2017
- Narozniak, Rachel (15 November 2021). "Claptone celebrates emotion on third studio album, Closer". Dancing Astronaut. Archived from the original on 15 November 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2021.