Bag Raiders

Bag Raiders was founded in 2006 by Jack Glass and Chris Stracey in Sydney, Australia. Both classically trained musicians, Glass played piano and cello, while Stracey played violin, guitar, and clarinet. After reconnecting in 2005, they started mixing various music styles, drawing inspiration from artists like Earth, Wind & Fire. The duo officially formed Bag Raiders in 2006, focusing on alternative dance music. They gained initial recognition with their October 2008 EP, ‘Turbo Love!’, whose title track became one of the most played songs on Triple J, Australia’s national radio station. Their remix of K.I.M.’s “B.T.T.T.T.R.Y.” was included in the Grand Theft Auto IV soundtrack.

In June 2009, Bag Raiders signed with Modular Records. Their single “Shooting Stars” was released in August 2009 and reached number 18 on Triple J Hottest 100 of 2009. This was followed by “Way Back Home” in August 2010. Their self-titled debut album, released in October 2010, peaked at number 7 on the ARIA Albums Chart and received a J Award nomination for Album of the Year. In 2011, “Way Back Home” reached number 17 on the German Singles Chart after being featured in a Vodafone TV advertisement. The track “Sunlight” also received Gold certification from ARIA. In 2017, “Shooting Stars” experienced a resurgence in popularity, becoming a widely recognized internet meme seven years after its initial release, a phenomenon acknowledged by the band themselves.

Bag Raiders continued to evolve their sound through a series of EPs, including ‘Nairobi/Savannah’ (2014), ‘Waterfalls’ (2015), ‘Friend Inside’ (2015), and ‘Checkmate’ (2016). They released their second studio album, ‘Horizons’, in September 2019, which peaked at number 43 on the ARIA Digital Album Chart. Over the years, they have maintained a consistent touring schedule, performing across North America, Australia, and at major festivals like Splendour in the Grass and Beyond The Valley. The duo has also provided remixes for artists such as Riton, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, and Crooked Colours. Their work has received support from tastemakers such as BBC Radio 1, Billboard, and Mixmag, underscoring their continued relevance in the electronic music scene.