Pop dynamo Calvin Harris is still the king of all DJs. Last year, he topped FORBES‘ list of the highest-paid spinners in the world, and yesterday, the magazine announced that he’s the most powerful one, too. He grossed $66 million since last June, and coupled with the strength of his “fame and impact”—we’re not sure how FORBES measured such a metric, but whatever—he copped the 21st spot on the Celebrity 100 list, right behind Kanye. He also beat out pop icons including Justin Timberlake, Jay Z, 1 Direction, and Diddy, the latter of whom recently reached for his cut of the EDM pie when he enlisted Israeli producer Guy Gerber to collaborate on his next album.
Avicii was the only other DJ on the list—apparently Tiësto, Skrillex, Guetta, Afrojack, and Deadmau5 didn’t make enough bank or exert enough influence to compete with the likes of Oprah, Dr. Dre, or Celebrity 100 chart-topper Beyoncé. Looking back over the past year, it’s easy to see how Harris made the cut: he toured relentlessly, started a residency at Las Vegas megaclub Hakkasan, headlined major festivals including Coachella and several EDCs, put out hit records, and produced tunes for international pop stars. We put together a list chronicling the biggest moments of Harris’s year as a toast for those to come. Eat your heart out, Avicii.
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Alesso debuted his collaboration with Harris, “Under Control,” last August at Ushuaia in Ibiza, which was then broadcasted on BBC Radio 1. The duo teased the track for a few months, then released in October, yet it’s still slated to be unleashed once again, this time as part of Alesso’s forthcoming album.
Pitbull “All The Things”If the sunny chord stabs and ebullient vibes on Pitbull’s track “All The Things You Do” sound familiar, that’s because—you guessed it—Harris produced the track. The hallmarks of the Scot’s style are pretty conspicuous here: The huge keyboards, the huger buildup, the power synths during the drop. Who could miss it?
Calvin Harris “Cuba”
And hey, here’s his new single “Cuba,” a big room tune primed for festie season
Calvin Harris @ EDC New York
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