The Chainsmokers reflect back on their early days and evolution as a duo

The Chainsmokers are certainly one of the most beloved and respected acts in the electronic music landscape. Now they sit down with Raj Shamani to discuss their entire career and major hits.

Having earned global success with their massive catalog of hit songs, The Chainsmokers are now celebrating their latest EP, the incredible No Hard Feelings, and are preparing to do their first live shows of the year across America. Ahead of hitting the road, they sat down with Raj Shamani to discuss a wide variety of topics. Early in the interview, Shamani asks about the name and the decision for artists not to use their actual names. The discussion quickly dives into the concept of branding and how Drew wasn’t the original second member, so having a name like The Chainsmokers made it easier to evolve.

As the conversation continued, the duo talked about their experience with Indian weddings and beyond. One of the most interesting moments of the interview comes when Shamani asks the group about their early viral success with Selfie. Although the group has moved on from that early sound and style, Drew and Alex label it a ‘necessary evil’ for helping launch their future success. From there, The Chainsmokers discuss working with Chris Martin, their travel itinerary, and even how they operate as venture capitalists outside of music.

Listen to the incredible interview between the Chainsmokers and Raj Shamani below.