Breaking Artist: Digitalism

Who: Jens Moelle and Ismail Tuefekci, a German electro duo who met as bored coworkers in a Hamburg record shop, began remixing indie-rock records and DJing, then hit the studio to craft their own DIY sound.

Sounds Like: Dancey, glitchy synth-punk in the style of Soulwax, the Klaxons, LCD Soundsystem and Cut/Copy -- clubby tracks that rockers and ravers can embrace.

Three Things You Should Know:
1. Their Hamburg studio is actually a former World War II bunker.
2. Moelle's grandfather was a professional opera singer.
3. Though they're most often compared to Daft Punk and French DJ duo Justice, Digitalism started out as hip-hop DJs.

Get It: Digitalism's debut full-length, Idealism, came out May 21 on Astralwerks. The pair will hit eight clubs across the U.S. for a brief tour in October.

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Song Stories

“My President”

Young Jeezy | 2008

Young Jeezy teams up with Nas on this track, in which he compare his own success with the idea of an African-American winning the Democratic Party's nomination in the 2008 presidential election. "When I pulled up in my car, that s--- was unbelievable to people in my neighborhood because they were like, 'We grew up with him. How the hell did he accomplish this?'" he told Rolling Stone. "I feel like it was the same way with Obama. I grew up all this time, but I've never seen a black man this close to running this country."

More Song Stories entries »

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