Digitalism

What do we need more than ever in these times? That’s right—optimism. “Optimism” isn’t just the place we long for and the solution we need—it’s also the name of Digitalism’s new album, released on May 29, which marks the Hamburg duo’s first major release since 2019. The album’s announcement is followed by news of a tour that will bring the German pioneers of the electro genre to Europe this fall. In addition to shows in England, Italy, the Czech Republic, Poland, Spain, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, Digitalism will also be coming to Austria (Vienna) and Germany (Berlin and Hamburg).

A DIY spirit, raw energy, and a low tolerance for boredom have been central to Digitalism’s work for years. More than 20 years ago, the duo began recording their first tracks in an old World War II bunker in Hamburg. Since then, the project by Jens Moelle and Ismail Tüfekçi—aka Jense & Isi—has drawn attention with several albums showcasing their sound, which blends electronic music, house, and alternative dance music with influences from punk, rock, and synthwave. Following the release of their debut album *Idealism* in 2007, their song “Pogo” was featured in the video games *Need for Speed: ProStreet* and *FIFA 08*, which quickly brought Digitalism international recognition. This was followed by “I Love You, Dude” (2011), which established fan favorites such as “Miami Showdown, ” “Circles, ” “2 Hearts,” and “Blitz.” “Mirage” was released in 2016, followed in 2019 by their most recent album to date, “JPEG.” Remixes and collaborations with acts such as SPARKLING, David Bay, Depeche Mode, Daft Punk, The Cure, and The White Stripes, as well as performances at festivals like Rock am Ring, Melt, Hurricane, Coachella, Lollapalooza, SXSW, and SonneMondSterne, have earned Digitalism a broad global fan base. Even as the opening act for Queens of the Stone Age, DJ Shadow, and Moderat, the duo thrilled audiences across genres with their energetic live shows and accompanying impressive light spectacles on a global scale. It’s only natural that this story and the duo’s constant evolution radiate optimism. As Jence and Isi themselves say about the album: “In search of a better place, on an expedition guided by our studio, we found that place in a fireworks display of colors, chords, and melodies. Most of the work on the album was done in the winter. The grayer the surroundings, the more colorful the music we began to create became.‘Optimism’ is meant to be a landscape where you can lose yourself.”