Two Friends (DJs)

Two Friends is an American DJ/producer duo made up of Eli Sones and Matthew Halper. The Los Angeles-based duo gained popularity for their remixes, original discography, and hour-long ‘Big Bootie’ mixes. They have most notably remixed such classics as Blink 182’s ‘I Miss You’ and The Killers' ‘Mr. Brightside,’ with official remixes for Lana Del Rey, Tove Lo, The Chainsmokers, Tori Kelly, Vicetone and Echosmith as well.

Two Friends
Birth name
  • Eli Sones
  • Matthew Halper
BornJune 25, 1993 (1993-06-25) (age 27)
Genres
Years active2011–present
Labels
Associated acts
Websitewww.twofriendsmusic.com

Early life

Eli grew up in Los Angeles, while Matt moved around before settling into LA at the age of ten. They met each other in seventh grade while attending Brentwood School throughout their middle and high school years.[1] At the very end of high school, the duo formed Two Friends, coming up with the name together during a Senior Seminar class they had both enrolled in. They began working on hip-hop beats in the software Pro Tools, producing for several up-and-coming rappers before pivoting towards the electronic realm.[2] After visiting the Sahara Tent at Coachella and being slowly introduced to electronic music by some friends and family, they became even more fascinated with the emerging genre and soon dove in head-first.[3]

Growing up, Matt had a strong background in music, starting guitar lessons at the age of eight, training in music theory, and singing in his high school choir. Traditionally his listening interests were dominated by alternative rock and rock classics such as Blink-182, Led Zeppelin, and Bon Jovi.[4]

Eli's focus was more centralized around DJing and mashups.[5] During high school, Sones went by the moniker "The Friendly Giant" before linking up with Halper and forming Two Friends. His early musical interests were predominantly hip-hop and indie rock.

Soon after starting to create music together, Eli moved to Nashville, Tennessee to attend Vanderbilt University and Matt to Palo Alto to attend Stanford University. Matt majored in Product Design and Eli in Human & Organizational Development, but much of their time was dedicated to the Two Friends project. For the most part, the first four years of Two Friends was long-distance; however since graduating and returning home to LA in 2015, Matt & Eli have been working the Two Friends project full-time.[6]

Musical style

Two Friends recently described their music as "songs that are fun and get you dancing and moving, but also hopefully resonate with you on a more emotional level at the same time... [They are] kind of a melting pot of a lot of different elements and influences- whether from dance music, from pop, even from alternative rock or hip-hop."[7]

Music career

One of their first big opportunities came in 2014, when their remix of Lana Del Rey's “Born To Die” was added to regular rotation on SiriusXM’s EDM Station BPM.[8] Later in 2014, they released two singles with the band ‘Breach the Summit’ (now known as Armors) titled “Our Names in Lights” and “Long Way Home”.[9]

Their next originals came in 2016 with “Forever” and “Overdose” on Armada Music, both amassing millions of plays throughout Spotify, Soundcloud and other streaming services. In 2016 the musical group toured more vigorously than ever before, playing frequently across North America.[10][11]

Their second and most popular EP “Out Of Love” was released in early 2017 through Spinnin' Records, featuring what would become two of their most popular songs, “Out Of Love” and “Pacific Coast Highway”.[12] They subsequently embarked on the “Out Of Love Tour” in the beginning of 2017. The remainder of 2017 saw the releases “Emily”, “While We’re Dreaming” and “Just A Kid”, with the accompanying tours including shows at major venues and festivals such as Electric Forest Festival[13], Terminal 5, and more. The “Just A Kid Tour” is scheduled for early 2018 with an extensive, US-dominated calendar of dates.

The duo has amassed over twenty-seven #1 tracks on Hype Machine, as well as garnered praise from The Chainsmokers, who named them “Most Underrated Artist” in a 2017 Reddit Thread.[14] They have recently undertaken official remixes for artists such as Steve Aoki, Louis Tomlinson, Audien, 3LAU, Vicetone and many more.

They are signed with LA-based management company Deckstar and represented by Creative Artists Agency.[15][16]

Radio show

In 2012, Two Friends debuted their mix series Friendly Sessions, which feature thirty minutes of their favorite songs across the dance realm alongside a thirty-minute guest mix from producers and DJs. Friendly Sessions has featured acts such as Lost Kings, Louis the Child, Mako and more.[17]

Awards

In November 2015, Two Friends received the “Award of Independent Excellence” from Hollywood Music in Media Awards.[18]

In December 2017, they received “Top DJ Set” honors from Soundcloud in the 2017 Soundcloud playback for “Big Bootie Mix Volume 11”.[19]

Discography

Extended plays
Title Details
You (Me)[20]
  • Released: February 5, 2013
  • Label: Lovenest Records
  • Format: Digital download
Out Of Love[21]
  • Released: February 24, 2017
  • Label: SOURCE, Spinnin' Records
  • Format: Digital download

Singles
Title Year Album
"Feel Me"
(featuring Priyanka Atreya)		 2013 You (Me) EP
"Your Song"
(featuring I Am Lightyear)
"Sedated"
(featuring Jeff Sontag)		 Non-album singles
"Brighter"
(featuring Jeff Sontag & I Am Lightyear)		 2014
"Our Names In Lights"
(featuring Breach The Summit)
"Long Way Home"
(featuring Breach The Summit)
"Forever"
(featuring Ktpearl)		 2016
"Overdose"
(with Exit Friendzone featuring Natalola)
"Emily"
(featuring James Delaney)		 2017
"Pacific Coast Highway"
(featuring MAX)		 Out Of Love EP
"Out of Love"
(featuring Cosmos & Creature)
"Mona Lisa Eyes"
"While We're Dreaming"
(featuring Kevin Writer)		 Non-album singles
"Just A Kid"
(featuring Kevin Writer)
"Bandaid"[22] 2018
"With My Homies"[23]
(featuring Juscova and James Delaney)
"Take It Off"[24] 2019
"Dollar Menu"[25]
(featuring Dani Poppitt)
"Good For You"[26]
(featuring Juscova)
"No Drama"[27]
(featuring Kid Quill and New Beat Fund)		 2020
"Looking At You"[28]
(featuring Sam Vesso)

Remixes

2012

  • John de Sohn ft. Andreas Moe - Long Time (Two Friends Remix)
  • I Am Lightyear - Lose Myself (Two Friends Remix)
  • Chase & Status ft. Delilah - Time (Two Friends Remix)

2013

  • James Egbert - Back To New (Two Friends Remix)
  • Alesso ft. Roy English - Come Alive (Two Friends Remix)
  • Slap The Bag & Mapp ft. Katie Pearlman - Take The Sky (Two Friends Remix)
  • Blondfire - Where The Kids Are (Two Friends Remix)
  • Quintino & Alvaro - World in Our Hands (Two Friends Remix)

2014

  • Lana Del Rey - Born To Die (Two Friends Remix)
  • RAC ft. Matthew Koma - Cheap Sunglasses (Two Friends Remix)
  • Urban Cone - Sadness Disease (Two Friends Remix)

2015

  • Vicetone - Angels (Two Friends Remix)
  • Echosmith - Cool Kids (Gazzo & Two Friends Remix)
  • Tori Kelly - Expensive (Two Friends Remix)
  • Milky Chance - Flashed Junk Mind (Two Friends Remix)
  • Blink 182 - I Miss You (Two Friends Remix)
  • The Chainsmokers ft. ROZES - Roses (Two Friends Remix)
  • Dropout - Slowly (Two Friends Remix)
  • Fetty Wap ft. Adriana Gomez - Trap Queen (Two Friends & Instrum 'Trap King Cover')

2016

  • Vicetone ft. Cosmos & Creature - Bright Side (Two Friends Remix)
  • The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey - Closer (Two Friends x Class & Clowns Remix)
  • Tove Lo - Cool Girl (Two Friends Remix)
  • Shaun Frank & KSHMR ft. Delaney Jane - Heaven (Two Friends Remix)
  • Blink-182 - I Miss You (Two Friends & Schoolz VIP Remix)
  • Pegboard Nerds ft. Johnny Graves - Just Like That (Two Friends Remix)
  • MAX - Lights Down Low (Two Friends Remix)
  • The Killers - Mr. Brightside (Two Friends Remix)
  • Galantis - No Money (Two Friends Remix)
  • Audien ft. Lady Antebellum - Something Better (Two Friends Remix)
  • Mako - Way Back Home (Two Friends Remix)

2017

  • The Chainsmokers - Break Up Every Night (Two Friends Remix)
  • Audien & 3LAU - Hot Water (Two Friends Remix)
  • KYLE ft. Lil Yachty - iSpy (Two Friends Remix)
  • Steve Aoki & Louis Tomlinson - Just Hold On (Two Friends Remix)
  • MGMT - Kids (Two Friends Remix)
  • Passion Pit - Sleepyhead (Two Friends Remix)

2018

  • Charlie Puth - How Long (Two Friends Remix)
  • Dua Lipa - IDGAF (Two Friends Remix)
  • Kanye West - Touch The Sky (Two Friends Remix)
  • Red Hot Chili Peppers - Otherside (Two Friends Remix)

2019

  • Panic! At The Disco - High Hopes (Two Friends Remix)
  • Blink-182 - All The Small Things (Two Friends Remix)

References
  1. "ALT 105.3 -Two Friends Interview". ALT 105.3 Radio. February 25, 2016.
  2. Mcdermott, Tess (2016). "NP Exclusive Interview: Two Friends". Noiseporn.
  3. "The Nocturnal Times Exclusive Interview: Two Friends". The Nocturnal Times. November 24, 2016.
  4. "Two Friends: A Match Made in Middle School". AUXORO. January 25, 2017.
  5. "The Lowdown || Two Friends". EDM Identity. November 27, 2016.
  6. "Interview: Two Friends". Louis T 91. June 14, 2017.
  7. "Two Friends Talk Collab". Raver Rafting.
  8. "Two Friends: How to Successfully Engage a Passionate Fan Base". Performer Mag. February 3, 2016.
  9. "Two Friends Ft. Breach The Summit – Our Names In Lights". YourEDM. September 10, 2014.
  10. "Two Friends & Exit Friendzone Premiere 'Overdose' ft. Natalola: Exclusive". Billboard. September 1, 2016.
  11. "Two Friends feat. Ktpearl - Forever". EDMSauce. February 15, 2016.
  12. "Two Friends Release Long-Awaited 'Out of Love' EP". Broadway World. February 24, 2017.
  13. "Electric Forest Festival Past Lineups". Electric Forest Festival. 2017.
  14. "Most Underrated Artists?". Reddit, /r/EDM.
  15. "Deckstar Full Roster". Deckstar. 2017.
  16. "Two Friends". APA. 2017.
  17. "Two Friends Friendly Sessions". Soundcloud. 2017.
  18. "Two Friends @ The Roxy". The Roxy. May 27, 2017.
  19. "Soundcloud 2017 Playback". Soundcloud. December 7, 2017.
  20. "You (Me) - EP by Two Friends on Apple Music". iTunes Store. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
  21. "Out of Love - Single by Two Friends on Apple Music". iTunes Store. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
  22. Callwood, Brett (June 22, 2018). "Premiere: Two Friends Drop "Bandaid" Single". LA Weekly. Archived from the original on June 23, 2018. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
  23. "With My Homies (feat. JUSCOVA & James Delaney) - Single by Two Friends on Apple Music". iTunes Store. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
  24. Risthy, David (January 24, 2019). "Two Friends Release Dance-Pop Bop 'Take It Off': Exclusive". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 25, 2019. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  25. "Dollar Menu (feat. Dani Poppitt) - Single by Two Friends on Apple Music". iTunes Store. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
  26. "Good For You (feat. JUSCOVA) - Single by Two Friends on Apple Music". iTunes Store. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
  27. "No Drama - Single by Two Friends, Kid Quill & New Beat Fund on Apple Music". iTunes Store. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  28. Kupfer, Rachel (May 22, 2020). "Two Friends get tropical in latest Dim Mak release, 'Looking At You'". EDM.com. Archived from the original on May 30, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
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