Editorial
Daft Punk’s Grammy Sweep and Dance Music Impact
Daft Punk’s Grammy Sweep and Dance Music Impact more than a decade after Random Access Memories became a landmark moment for electronic music artists
Daft Punk’s Grammy sweep and dance music impact is still worth revisiting more than a decade later because their wins came at a time when electronic music was becoming impossible to ignore, but was still not always given the same weight as pop, rap, rock, or alternative albums at major award shows. At the 56th Annual Grammy Awards, Daft Punk won all five awards they were nominated for, with Random Access Memories winning Album of the Year and Get Lucky winning Record of the Year. The timing made the moment even more important, as the early 2010s were filled with festival main stages, crossover dance singles, and a growing global audience for electronic music, while Thomas Bangalter and Guy Manuel de Homem Christo came through with an album that used disco, funk, live musicians, and electronic production without sounding disconnected from dance music history. More than just a clean sweep, the night showed how far electronic music artists could go when the work was judged as a full album, with songwriting, production, collaborators, and cultural reach all playing a part, especially as Pharrell Williams, Nile Rodgers, and Stevie Wonder joined them for Get Lucky on the Grammy stage.
Daft Punk’s Grammy Awards Night And The Wins That Made History
At the 56th Annual Grammy Awards, Daft Punk won all five awards they were nominated for, giving Random Access Memories one of the strongest Grammy results ever for an electronic music album. The album won Best Dance/Electronica Album before taking Album of the Year, where Thomas Bangalter and Guy Manuel de Homem Christo were nominated against Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d city, Taylor Swift’s Red, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ The Heist, and Sara Bareilles’ The Blessed Unrest. That category placed Random Access Memories next to some of the most talked about rap, pop, hip hop, and singer songwriter albums of the year, which made the win go far beyond the dance field. The album also carried a different kind of presence within the early 2010s electronic music landscape, using disco, funk, live musicians, and precise studio production in a way that still felt unmistakably connected to Daft Punk.
With Get Lucky, Daft Punk added two of the night’s biggest song categories, winning Record of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance alongside Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers. Random Access Memories also won Best Engineered Album, Non Classical, giving the sweep more depth because the Grammy Awards recognized the album’s recording, mixing, and production work alongside its commercial reach. Across those five categories, Daft Punk were recognized for the full album, its biggest single, its place in dance music, its crossover into pop, and the technical detail behind the record itself. The ceremony also kept the duo’s public image intact, as Daft Punk remained silent throughout the night while collaborators accepted the awards on their behalf. Later in the ceremony, Thomas Bangalter and Guy Manuel de Homem Christo joined Pharrell Williams, Nile Rodgers, and Stevie Wonder for Get Lucky, bringing the album’s disco influence, live guitar work, pop vocal hook, and electronic production directly onto the Grammy stage after Random Access Memories had already swept every category it entered.
Daft Punk’s Impact On Electronic Music Beyond The Grammy Awards
Long before the Grammy Awards, Daft Punk had already changed how far an electronic music act could go without moving away from dance music. Homework placed Thomas Bangalter and Guy Manuel de Homem Christo inside the French house movement, with Da Funk and Around The World giving them a club base that still felt unusual enough to stand apart. Then Discovery took that language further through One More Time, Digital Love, Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger, and Something About Us, bringing together dance music structure, hooks, humour, emotion, vocoder vocals, and the animated film Interstella 5555. Years later, that reach could still be heard outside the electronic music scene, from Kanye West using Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger for Stronger to The Weeknd working with Daft Punk on Starboy and I Feel It Coming.

Their live shows became another major part of that influence, especially after Coachella in 2006 and the Alive 2007 tour. The pyramid became one of the most recognizable stage designs in the electronic music scene, but the show worked because of how Daft Punk used their own catalogue. Instead of playing songs in a simple greatest hits order, they reworked material from Homework, Discovery, and Human After All so different eras of their music moved into one another. Television Rules The Nation connected with Around The World, One More Time crossed with Aerodynamic, and familiar records came back with new edits, tension, and timing. For artists who came after them, including Skrillex, Deadmau5, and Porter Robinson, the live version of an electronic music project could be more than a setlist.
The move into film with TRON: Legacy gave Daft Punk another way to show how electronic music could work outside albums, clubs, and festival stages. For the Disney film, they wrote a full score that mixed electronic production with orchestral recording, with tracks like Derezzed and The Grid matching the film’s sci fi visuals while still sounding connected to Daft Punk. It was not just a soundtrack placement or a few songs attached to a movie. The score gave Thomas Bangalter and Guy Manuel de Homem Christo space to work with tension, atmosphere, rhythm, and cinematic scale without turning the project into something disconnected from their own style. That matters in the wider electronic music scene because it showed how electronic artists could move into film scoring with the same care usually expected from composers.

The helmets, videos, artwork, rare interviews, and selective public appearances all helped Daft Punk keep attention on the project without turning Thomas Bangalter and Guy Manuel de Homem Christo into typical celebrity figures. That approach also moved into moments outside music, including the Lotus F1 Team collaboration at the 2013 Monaco Grand Prix, where the team’s car carried Daft Punk imagery during the Random Access Memories era and the duo appeared with Lotus in their helmets. You can see the same influence in how later electronic music artists treated visuals, stage design, album eras, and collaborations as part of the release itself, especially with Porter Robinson, who has spoken about Daft Punk as a major electronic influence. Daft Punk’s impact beyond the Grammy Awards comes from that wider standard they left behind: electronic music artists could make club records, full albums, film scores, live shows, videos, pop collaborations, and cultural crossovers without having to separate one side from the other.

In 2025, Daft Punk’s music and visuals entered Fortnite through the Daft Punk Experience, adding another present day example of how the duo’s work continues to move beyond traditional music formats. The interactive event gave players different ways to engage with the catalogue, from Dream Chamber Studios and Robot Rock Arena to Daft Club and a LEGO style video activity inspired by Around The World. What made it work was that Fortnite did not only use the songs as background music. The experience also brought in the robot image, visual references, and live show history that have always been central to Daft Punk as a project, introducing that legacy to a younger gaming audience without separating it from the identity Thomas Bangalter and Guy Manuel de Homem Christo created.
Daft Punk’s Impact And Influence Can Still Be Seen And Felt In 2026
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Editorial
Seven Stars 2026: 7 Most Anticipated Sets at GRiZ’s Cosmic Campout
As the second annual Valley of the Seven Stars approaches, bass music fans across the country are prepping their gear and locking in their set times. Taking over the Oak Ridge Estate in Arrington, Virginia from October 8–11, this gathering marks the long-awaited payoff of GRiZ’s two-year hiatus. The event has quickly earned a reputation as one of the bass community’s premier “homie” festivals, trading commercial refinement for deep curation and authentic energy. Whether you are hunting for ground-shaking low end or sunset grooves, here are the 7 most anticipated performances to highlight on your schedule:
7. Richard Finger
Set Time: Saturday, 4:50 PM – 5:50 PM
Operating entirely behind anonymous masks, Richard Finger has become one of bass music’s most intriguing underground phenomena. The mysterious duo popped onto the radar with relentless sound design and uncompromisingly heavy drops, rapidly earning a rotation in festival sets worldwide. While internet investigators continue trying to uncover their true identities, the project lets the sheer sound of low end rhythm do the talking. Catching them in the afternoon heat on Saturday is guaranteed to wake up the crowd.
6. Hedex
Set Time: Sunday, 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Hedex has been at the forefront of the modern drum and bass explosion. He has been taking jump-up rhythms out of underground UK clubs and pushing them onto major American festival stages. This performance serves as the official launch for his North American “Nu Era” tour. Known for quick double drops and explosive crowd control, his Sunday slot will deliver a shot of pure adrenaline just as festivalgoers enter the final night.
5. GRiZ (Chasing The Golden Hour)
Set Time: Saturday, 6:05 PM – 7:20 PM
GRiZ has always known how to curate a vibe, but his Chasing The Golden Hour (CTGH) concept holds a legendary place in the scene. It was originally conceived as a mixtape series built around vintage samples, mellow hip-hop beats, and live sax riffs. CTGH offers a soulful counterweight to his heavy dubstep headline sets. Following packed-out demand at past events, this sunset window is made for collective unwinding. It is the defining emotional anchor of the weekend, best experienced surrounded by friends on an open hill.

4. Mersiv
Set Time: Saturday, 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM
DJ & producer Anderson Gallegos, known professionally as Mersiv, has carved out a dedicated subculture with his trademark “Pretty Dark Loud” sound design. Mersiv crafts sets that feel simultaneously meditative and heavy by combining hypnotic downtempo atmospheres with distortion-heavy basslines. Dropping into Saturday prime time, his set will steer the valley into its deepest, most psychedelic sonic territory.
3. Seth David (R&Bass)
Set Time: Friday, 1:00 AM – 2:00 AM (After Hours)
Returning to the Seven Stars lineup for a second run, Seth David brings his signature R&Bass sound to the Satellite Stage. The project fuses classic 90s and 2000s R&B vocals with sub-bass frequencies. This set gives night owls a refreshing alternative to the standard festival sound anding directly in the after-hours slot,
2. Distinct Motive
Set Time: Sunday, 6:50 PM – 7:50 PM
Hailing from Ontario, Distinct Motive has spearheaded the revival of pure 140 BPM sound system culture in North America. His productions emphasize sub-bass, surgical mixing, and deep roots in old-school UK dubstep. Since his anthem “Wait A Minute” dominated stages everywhere, his profile has skyrocketed. Sunday evening marks his debut on the mainstage, bringing chest-rattling low frequencies to the festival’s largest sound system.
1. Kaleena Zanders
Set Time: Thursday, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Revered as one of modern dance music’s most captivating vocal powerhouses, Kaleena Zanders channels gospel roots through classic house grooves. With major collaborative releases alongside fellow headliners, her live sets go far beyond ordinary DJ performances. Slotted into Thursday evening, she will set an uplifting, soulful tone for the entire cosmic campout before the heavier bass takes over.
With four days of music spread across The Valley, pacing is going to be everything. Set conflicts are inevitable when a lineup has this much variety. Be sure to leave room in your schedule to wander between stages and stumble onto artists outside your radar.
Grab the official festival app to stay updated on any last-minute schedule shifts and look out for your crew.
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Editorial
MiNT XL: Leeds’ Newest Nightclub Opens With A Bang
MiNT XL opens its doors in Leeds with a sold-out party for 2,500 ravers, as Craig Richards, Enzo Siragusa and Sonja Moonear launch the new nightclub
MiNT XL officially opened its doors on Friday, 25 September, with a sold-out opening party featuring names like Craig Richards, Enzo Siragusa and Sonja Moonear. 2,500 ravers gathered in the heart of Leeds city centre to experience the latest addition to the city’s rich rave culture, marking a memorable beginning for MiNT XL.
Taking over the former nightclub, PRYZM Leeds, MiNT set themselves the challenge of giving the venue a new identity through their own production and iconic signature. In an interview with EDM House Network earlier this year, MiNT marketing manager, Mikey McMahon said they wanted people to walk into MiNT XL and feel like they were part of something forward-thinking. There is no doubt they have achieved this, with the opening night already setting MiNT XL apart from other venues in Leeds.

Credit: David Dumitru
Exploring The Venue’s Layout
Arriving at the venue, you could feel the excitement in the air as people made their way into the club. Music was bumping through the walls and the night was just getting started. Walking inside, the dark environment immediately made it feel like a rave and not a regular nightclub.
Heading up the stairs from the entrance, we reached the main hall of the venue, which houses two of the three rooms at MiNT XL, as well as an open-air terrace. The ‘Clubroom’ was the first room people encountered on the floor, while the main room, also known as the ‘Ballroom’, sits to the left of the hall.
The second floor is a great extension of what the main floor has to offer, hosting the venue’s third room, ‘Cage’, as well as an additional bar with sofas and seating for those wanting a quick break from the dancefloor. The VIP area is also located on this floor, providing a comfortable chill-out space with its own bar and seating area.

Credit: David Dumitru
The Rooms at MiNT XL
1. Ballroom
The largest of the three rooms, the ‘Ballroom’ is a warehouse type of space hosting the headlining names on MiNT XL’s line-ups. Some of the lighting features that stood out as soon as we walked into the room included the large ring structure above the dancefloor, as well as the linear rigs placed horizontally across the ceiling, which rotate to create a wave-like effect through light.
Another standout piece of the room is the newly installed Funktion-One Vero sound system, delivering bass that pumps through your body and an overall premium sound quality. The same system can also be found in the other two rooms, where its impact is even greater due to their smaller capacities.

Credit: @elliotyoungphoto
2. Cage
Probably the most interesting room of the three, and our personal favourite, ‘Cage’ delivers an experience like no other. Its design feels unique and fresh out of the box, while still maintaining a lush feel. Throughout the opening night, the room was lit up with orange lighting, creating a somewhat comfortable atmosphere amid all the chaos going on.

Credit: David Dumitru
‘Cage’ also has a few sofas placed around the room, helping complete its luxurious feel. The cherry on top, however, is the fact that the space will often welcome DJs playing on vinyl. We had the chance to witness this live, and let me tell you, seeing the artists flip and swap records behind the decks totally elevates the experience.

Credit: David Dumitru
3. Clubroom
With a large light panel on the ceiling covering the centre of the dancefloor, ‘Clubroom’ is an ode to MiNT Warehouse, the brand’s second ever venue. Sharing similar characteristics, the room brings the MiNT Warehouse spirit to MiNT XL, carrying over the energetic vibes that have become a trademark of the brand.
While the room has a great design from a production perspective, the air conditioning isn’t felt as well in some corners, often making it a very hot space.

Credit: David Dumitru
4. Terrace
An open-air space with a nice view of some of Leeds city centre’s tallest buildings, the terrace is a well-arranged spot for those who want to unwind a little and take a breath of fresh air. Located close to the ‘Ballroom’, the path to the terrace can, however, become very busy at times.

Credit: David Dumitru
The Music at MiNT XL
The venue opened with the brand’s own event series, ‘system.’, taking over the decks. Across the three rooms, a well-curated line-up delivered the soundtrack to MiNT’s new beginning.
From the perspective of EDM House Network, our highlights were Foehn & Jerome at the ‘Cage’, Craig Richards B2B Francesco Del Garda at the ‘Ballroom’, and then back to the ‘Cage’ for a vinyl session with Fumiya Tanaka.

Credit: @elliotyoungphoto
Beyond the opening night, a wide range of renowned DJs are set to follow at MiNT XL, with the likes of Ewan McVicar, Riordan, Morgan Seatree and a Worried About Henry (WAH) takeover among those already announced. While so far only electronic music events make up the calendar, organisers have said they are excited to expand into new genres and live music.
Atmosphere Inside The Venue
MiNT XL operates a no-phones policy at all events, meaning attendees can fully immerse themselves into the music. Having experienced an event with such policy for the first time, it was impressive to see how big of a change it makes.
Seeing people living in the moment and having fun truly gave everyone a taste of what some mean when they say ‘raving was better in the 90s’. The no-phones policy genuinely made the night feel like a time machine that teleported us back to a time when people used to socialise and not chase Instagram clout at raves.

Credit: @elliotyoungphoto
With three state-of-the-art rooms, a 2,500-capacity venue, a sound system that blows the roof off and a no-phones policy, MiNT XL has real potential to become one of the best nightclubs in the entire UK. The opening party was not just the green light for a new venue in Leeds, but felt more like a statement that MiNT XL is here, and for good.
The club season is only just getting started, with a packed list of upcoming events already lined up at MiNT XL.
Friday 9 October – Marsolo Invites: Marsolo + more TBA
Saturday 10 October – Airspace: Notion, Kyle Starkey, Camille Doe + more
Saturday 17 October – Mint XL Presents: Cam Stockman b2b Tommy Phillips
Friday 30 October – Airspace: Riordan, Stef Davidse + more
Saturday 31 October – Ewan McVicar Presents: Halloween – Ewan McVicar, Special Request, Olive F
Saturday 7 November – Mint XL Presents: ALISHA, Robbie Doherty + more
Saturday 14 November – Mint XL Presents: Morgan Seatree + more TBA
Friday 20 November – Framework Presents: Ben UFO, Papa Nugs + more
Saturday 21 November – Jampacked Would Tour Leeds Edition: Jamback, Anil Aras, A For Alpha
Saturday 19 December – Framework x Mugpie Presents: Christian AB, Unai Trotti + more
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Amsterdam Music Festival News
EDM Festivals October 2026: Festivals We Can’t Miss
EDM Festivals October 2026: Festivals We Can’t Miss worldwide as major events fill the month across North America, Asia, Europe, and South America
October 2026 brings another busy month for the EDM festival calendar, with events taking place across North America, Asia, Europe, Africa, and South America. In the US, 808 Festival, Breakaway Utah, We Belong Here Central Park, Experts Only at the Gorge, Niteharts, Head Trip, III Points Miami, Escape Psycho Circus, BOO! Seattle, BOO! Arizona, and Hocus Pocus Miami fill the month. Meanwhile, EDC Korea and Chill O’posite Festival add major dates in Asia and Africa. No Art Lisbon and AMF represent Europe, while EDC Colombia and Ritvales bring two large weekends to South America. Here’s a full look at the EDM festivals taking place throughout October 2026.
808 Festival
Dates: October 2–3, 2026
Location: BITEC, Bangkok, Thailand
808 Festival returns to BITEC in Bangkok from October 2–3, 2026 for two days across two stages. The Phase Two lineup includes ILLENIUM, SLANDER B2B NGHTMRE, W&W, Argy, Ben Nicky, 999999999, Mesto, and KAAZE. Meanwhile, JUSTUS, RIVO, Dorian, Ian Asher, and Mary Droppinz are also confirmed. Several special performances are scheduled, including Adam Beyer B2B Chris Avantgarde and Nifra B2B Will Atkinson. Giorgia Angiuli will also perform live. More artists are still due to be announced before the festival returns to Bangkok in October.

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