The secret of WhoMadeWho's success lies in their constant desire to shake things up. In recent years the trio have been taking a deep dive into the world of electronic music. This was displayed in their incredible Cercle appearance, which was broadcast from the stunning Abu Simbel temple in Egypt. Høffding, Barfod and Kjellberg showcased their ability to perform live with panache during the stream, which has amassed millions of views across YouTube and Facebook.
The three men have a long history with electronic music, performing at Ushaia Ibiza, Space Miami, Papaya Playa Tulum, Brooklyn Mirage NYC and many more of the world’s most prestigious dance music clubs and festivals. Barfod has a long-standing DJ career outside of his activity withWhoMadeWho, playing iconic venues such as fabric London and Panorama Bar in Berlin and releasing his own solo productions. As a DJ and producer, he has achieved widespread notoriety and respect for his technical ability and deep knowledge. In recent years WhoMadeWho’s connection to the club world has been galvanised by their increasing work with friends such as Rampa and Frank Wiedemann.
Part of WhoMadeWho’s charm lies in their divergent musical backgrounds, meaning that they approach various styles with a touch of innocence; Høffding and Kjellberg perhaps referencing Pink Floyd during a studio session, while Barford may allude to Carl Craig and vice versa, for instance. It’s what makes them such a fascinating group, capable of producing varied musical styles with a refreshing combination of vulnerability and confidence. As a group they are a unified force with three very different egos burning at their core working as the catalyst for their creative energy, with a little extra sparkle added by inviting other artists to join them in the studio.
Modifying the songwriting and production process to cater for the dance floor has been particularly enlightening for the group, as it requires a hypnotic use of rhythm, melody and vocals that can be difficult to achieve. It’s about tapping into that feeling of being on the dance floor when a simple, yet contagious hook infects your mainframe and refuses to let go. Coming from a songwriting background means the group has adopted a more reductive method for creating parts of their songs; producing trippy, narcotic melodies and vocal hooks that are alluring and enchanting. The process has stimulated their appetite for making music, stretching them artistically while they’ve added a whole new dimension to their production process by including other musicians in their studio operations.
On stage too the trio have evolved from the traditional band blueprint to fresh configurations designed for the club. Their 'Hybrid DJ Set' places Barford in the booth playing a DJ set while one of his bandmates complements the music with improvised singing, keys and effects. While their new 'Live Set' deconstructs the band format and reassembles it as their current live show: One member handles programming and mixing while the other two band members are singing and playing a range of live instruments including bass, guitar, synths, effects, theremin, glockenspiel and more. It’s daring, playful and exciting, for both the band and their audiences. The scintillating Hybrid DJ setup was showcased at Burning Man aboard the Mayan Warrior art car, where the trio played a mesmerizing sunset show.
The next shows and tours after the involuntary hiatus of the past year and a bit are already penciled in and WhoMadeWho can’t wait to present the results of their extensive studio work on stage.Always pushing forward, WhoMadeWho are pouring enigmatic energy and positive dance floor vibrations into their current exploration of electronic music. It transports them back to their beginnings, when playing improvised jam sessions that merged their influences was all they wanted to do.