Speculation and rumors of a collaboration between musicians and longtime friends Porter Robinson and Madeon (Hugo Leclercq) have long been internet fan fodder.
The duo put the rumors to rest dropping a surprise joint single “Shelter” (ft. Madeon on lead vocals) and announce a joint North American that will see the two share the stage for a collaborative live performance ft. music from both artist’s catalogs reworked and re-imagined for the stage.
Each made a name for themselves as solo artists who redefined electronic music from the inside out, expanding the genre from the festival stage to the pop charts and bringing electronic music into the global mainstream with their critically acclaimed debut solo albums, Porter’s Worlds (2014, Astralwerks) and Madeon’s Adventure (2015, Columbia).
“Shelter”- a brilliant shimmering, humanity-infused electronic pop – comes at a serendipitous time for the two young artists and sees the duo taking a hands-on approach to the songwriting process. To write, the two decamped to Madeon’s studio in Nantes, France and the two wrote together in real-time, face-to-face, taking a decidedly old-school approach to the collaboration, inspiring and challenging one-another along the way. The result, “Shelter” is an ode to family ties as much as it’s a pop song that epitomizes their friendship.
“Both Porter and I started working with people in-person when we started making our respective albums and appreciated how much more collaborative you can get,” Madeon explains of their decision to work together. “Our intent was to make music that would reflect our friendship.”
“I see enthusiasm and inspiration as the most important currency you can have when you’re making music,” Porter adds. “It’s this weird sensation of being drunk on your own confidence and excitement that leads to so many creative breakthroughs. That effect was really exaggerated when we were working together.”
While this collaboration is a first for the two artists, they have played a pivotal role in each other’s work over the past decade of their young careers, providing feedback—sometimes brutally honest—about each other’s solo work. This laid the groundwork for a successful partnership. Having first met on an internet message board a decade ago as young Daft Punk fans who wanted to produce music, Porter and Madeon have pursued distinct but coincidentally parallel careers to become electronic music creators of their own, each has emerged out of the electronic music scene to become crossover electronic pop powerhouses.
Porter first caught the ears of tastemakers in 2010 with his track “Say My Name.” An EP on Skrillex’s OWSLA label followed and he signed to the venerated Astralwerks in 2013 when he was all of 21. The next year he released his debut artist album, Worlds, an expansive LP that included the songs “Divinity” (as heard in Google’s “Year in Search” commercial) and the landmark “Sea of Voices.” Worlds debuted in Billboard’s Top 20 and prompted the launch of the Worlds Tour, an interactive live show as ambitious at the album it was named for.
Madeon first came to global attention with his game-changing video and track “Pop Culture” in 2011. Early last year, he released his highly-anticipated debut album, Adventure, which spawned the singles “You’re On,” co-written with Jimmy Napes (Sam Smith, Disclosure), and “Home.” Having sharpened his live skills as an opener for Lady Gaga and with sets at Coachella and Lollapalooza, Madeon launched two tours in support of Adventure: Adventure Live and the Pixel Empire Tour.
To support the release of “Shelter” Porter and Madeon kick off a joint tour this Fall (dates below / more TBA) that will see the two share the stage for a collaborative live performance that combines the best of their individual catalogs into one interactive performance fusing emotion, live instrumentation, visual artistry and cutting edge technology. Fans will get to hear old favorites, newly re-worked cuts from Worlds and Adventure, a few surprises, and of course an emotional and affirming live delivery of “Shelter.”
The single and the forthcoming joint North American tour captures both artists as they enter a new phase of their respective careers.
PORTER ROBINSON & MADEON “SHELTER” TOUR
Tickets HERE + More Dates TBA
9/29: Atlanta, GA @ The Tabernacle
10/1: Oklahoma City, OK @ The Critereon
10/2: Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits
10/4: Royal Oak, MI @ Royal Oak Music Theatre
10/5: Chicago, IL @ Aragon Ballroom
10/6: Kansas City, MO @ Midland Theatre
10/7: Dallas, TX @ South Side Ballroom
10/8: Houston, TX @ Revention Music Center
10/9: Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits
11/13: Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall
11/14: Montreal, QC @ Metropolis
11/16: Washington, DC @ Echostage
11/25: San Francisco, CA @ Bill Graham Auditorium
11/26: Los Angeles, CA @ Microsoft Theater
11/29: San Diego, CA @ The Observatory North Park
12/1: Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium
12/2: Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex
Musically Amusing 