Diplo (real name Thomas Wesley Pentz) has taken aim at the world of EDM, saying that most DJs are “really lame”, and warning that EDM culture is “a sinking ship”.
Speaking to Billboard about the state of EDM in 2016, the 37-year-old DJ/producer doesn’t hold back.
“The DJ world is the corniest fucking group of people,” Diplo says. “We’re not celebrities, we’re not famous for any good reason. We’re just… really lame.
“Besides people like Dillon Francis, who makes fun of the whole thing, or Calvin Harris, it’s a sinking ship. It’s a really lame culture. I’m sad that I’m part of it, but I play the game.”
Diplo’s comments come after his good mate Francis debuted his new online reality series DJ World in May, essentially gifting the internet with an A+ parody of the DJ lifestyle.
In his Billboard interview, Diplo also reveals the next Major Lazer album is due to drop in January 2017, and will feature the lead single Cold Water, featuring Justin Bieber and Lean On vocalist MØ.
Diplo also takes the time to explain why he’s producing less for other artists these days and making more of his own music instead.
“Beyoncé is the only artist I’ve produced for the last year, because it’s more lucrative for us to make our own music now,” he says.
“When we put out a song with Beyoncé, cool, we’ll get a fee, we’ll get some [publishing] splits, but Beyoncé is going to make a billion dollars touring it. If I make a song and it’s my song, like Lean On, we’re going to make money off the synchs, the Spotify and we get to headline festivals on it. That’s the model I want to explore.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Diplo discusses the millions of dollars he’s made and his support for Democratic Party candidate Bernie Sanders. Catch the full thing over at Billboard.
Watch: Skrillex & Diplo – Mind feat. Kai
