Superstar producer and EDM DJ Diplo, otherwise known as Thomas Wesley Pentz, says he worked with Justin Bieber in order to shake things up and get noticed. He also says his days of being obnoxious on Twitter are over as he spends his time and energy DJing and coming up with novel ways to promote his projects virally online.
EDM DJ, artist and producer Diplo has raised his public profile considerably in the past couple of years. Once a behind-the-scenes hitmaker for artists such as Madonna, Beyoncé, Britney Spears and Usher, Diplo has made a name for himself as part of not one, but two successful collaborative music projects.
Diplo's reggae-influenced Major Lazer project, in which he shares billing with Jillionaire and Walshy Fire, racked up the illustrious honor of having the most-streamed song ever on Spotify, the smash hit "Lean On," a collaboration with DJ Snake from 2015 (Drake's "One Dance" recently nabbed Spotify's most-streamed ever honor, pushing "Lean On" down one spot to second).
Collaboration With Justin Bieber
It was Diplo's Jack U partnership with fellow DJ and producer Skrillex last year that really put him on the pop culture map, when the team collaborated with Justin Bieber on the electronic R&B smash "Where Are U Now."
In a new interview, Diplo claims he decided to work with Bieber, who at the time was at a low point in his career, in order to get noticed.
"I thought working with Bieber would be the most noticeable thing we could do. It would be a great record, and it would make everyone really f---ed up. It would make them really disappointed in themselves, and really confused, like, 'How do I like this record?'"
Diplo's plan worked, as the more adult sound of the track helped resurrect Bieber's stalled career and set the stage for two Grammy wins for Jack U, including Best Dance album and Best Dance Track for "Where Are U Now." Bieber just appeared again with Major Lazer on the recent worldwide smash hit "Cold Water," extending the winning streak for all involved.
Twitter Wars
Diplo also spoke out on his propensity to get involved in Twitter beefs with other artists, notably his recent accusation that fellow DJ and EDM producer David Guetta "ripped off" Major Lazer's "Lean On" for his single "This One's For You."
"I don't use Twitter to be obnoxious as much as I used to," said Diplo. "Now I'm trying to put all of my energy toward music positively, through doing the right videos and doing the right shows and doing the right artwork and viral things we can do."
New Major Lazer Album
Even though he's now made his name as an artist and producer, Diplo says he still DJs just as much, both because he loves it and also in order to promote his music and musical collaborations. Those partnerships are going full steam ahead with an upcoming 2017 release set for the new Major Lazer album, Music Is the Weapon, which, in addition to "Cold Water" with Bieber, will also feature vocals from other A-list artists like Sia and The Weeknd.
