Major Lazer

Launched in Los Angeles in 2008 by Diplo and Switch, Major Lazer originally formed as a duo before evolving into a collective now centered on Diplo, Walshy Fire and Ape Drums. Major Lazer develops a sound that mixes electronic music, dancehall, reggae, moombahton, hip‑hop, soca and reggaeton, with an approach rooted in Caribbean rhythms, club formats and vocal collaborations. The first album, Guns Don’t Kill People... Lazers Do, was released in 2009, followed by Free the Universe in 2013 after Switch’s departure and the arrival of Walshy Fire and Jillionaire. The project then moved toward a more pop‑oriented, transnational writing style on Peace Is the Mission (2015) and Music Is the Weapon (2020), while retaining its Jamaican references and sound system influences. Notable milestones include the production of Snoop Lion’s Reincarnated (2013) and hits such as Lean On with DJ Snake and MØ and Cold Water with MØ and Justin Bieber. On stage, Major Lazer plays both major international festivals and club contexts, with a performance format designed for the dancefloor and the crossover between electronic and Caribbean scenes.