Claptone

Claptone is somewhat of an enigma. The DJ and producer, based in Germany, relies on their signature mask—which is reminiscent of the beak of a bird, though stylized in golden chrome—to obscure their identity. And contrary to some other masked artists—and despite much speculation—Claptone has remained devoted to and largely successful at keeping their identity secret. Shroud of mystery aside, though, it’s become clear Claptone’s true identity is second to their music: the artist’s sound surely speaks for itself.

And the world is taking notice. Over the course of their career, Claptone has garnered a slew of accolades that any artist would dream of. After emerging onto the scene in 2013 with the runaway hit song “No Eyes,” featuring JAW, the DJ/producer has built a following of devoted fans, and has continued to build up the hype, playing clubs like Ibiza’s Hï and Pacha, in addition to festivals like Belgium’s Tomorrowland and Insomniac Events’ flagship EDC Las Vegas. Claptone has also been repeatedly acknowledged by Mixmag for their contributions to the deep house scene, as well as for many of their highly successful tracks.

Thus far in their career, Claptone has released four full-length albums, 2015’s “Charmer,” 2018’s “Fantast,” 2021’s “Closer,” and a mixed album “The Masquerade” in 2018. They have also released a slew of remixes and singles, most notably a 2021 remix of Elton John and Dua Lipa’s “Cold Heart,” and a remix of Ava Max’s “My Head and My Heart,” also released in 2021.

Always thinking outside the box, in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 lockdowns, Claptone launched a digital residency “Claptone in the Circus,” that aired virtually each Wednesday from late April to early August of that year. Hence the name, the sets debuted from a circus grounds, and—with the artist’s typical flair—even featured additional acts like jugglers and knife throwers.