Claptone

Claptone, an enigmatic German DJ and producer, emerged onto the electronic music scene around 2012. He gained initial recognition with the release of the track ‘No Eyes’ featuring JAW in 2013, which was followed by other notable originals such as ‘Cream’, ‘Wrong’, and ‘Heartbeat’. Claptone’s musical style merges house, deep house, and tech house, often incorporating soulful melodies and indie-pop elements. He released his debut album, ‘Charmer’, in 2015 on Different Recordings, featuring collaborations with artists like Peter Bjorn and John and Nathan Nicholson. This period also saw his remix of Gregory Porter’s ‘Liquid Spirit’ become a Beatport bestseller and contribute to the original album’s success. He further expanded his discography with ‘The Masquerade Mixes’ in 2017 and ‘Fantast’ in 2018. His third studio album, ‘Closer’, was released in 2021, showcasing further collaborations with artists including Seal and Barry Manilow.

Claptone is visually distinctive for performing in a plague doctor-style golden mask and white gloves, maintaining anonymity while cultivating a unique persona. This conceptual approach extends to his ‘The Masquerade’ events, which are known for their immersive atmosphere, theatrical experiences, and elaborate decorations hosted in locations worldwide including Los Angeles, London, Amsterdam, and Mexico City. These events have included residencies at iconic venues such as Pacha and Amnesia in Ibiza, featuring guest DJs like Diplo, John Summit, and Fatboy Slim. Claptone’s career progression has included extensive touring, performing over 275 shows annually at major festivals such as Tomorrowland, Coachella, Rock in Rio, Creamfields, and Ultra Music Festival.

His remix work has also been a significant aspect of his career, with notable remixes for artists like Mark Ronson (‘Don’t Leave Me Lonely’), Mylo (‘Drop The Pressure’), Elton John and Dua Lipa (‘Cold Heart’), and Michael Kiwanuka (‘You Ain’t The Problem’). The ‘Cold Heart’ remix was notably included on Barack Obama’s 2021 Summer Playlist. Claptone has received awards, including being voted the Highest House DJ in DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs poll for five consecutive years (2016-2020), and winning the DJ Award for Best House DJ in 2016 and 2017. More recently, he established his own label, Golden Recordings, which has released singles like ‘The Big Easy’ and ‘Euphoria’, alongside music from other house artists. This platform aims to celebrate house music and continues to expand his global influence within the electronic music industry.