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Dillon Francis

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Dillon Francis
Francis in 2018
Francis in 2018
Background information
Birth nameDillon Hart Francis
Also known asDJ Hanzel
Born(1987-10-05)October 5, 1987(age 36)
Los Angeles,California,U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • DJ
  • record producer
Years active2010–present
Labels
Websitedillonfrancis.com

Dillon Hart Francis(born October 5, 1987), also known by hisalter egoDJ Hanzel,is an Americanelectronic musicproducer and DJ.[1][2]By deejaying and collaborating, Francis helped to popularize the newmoombahtongenre, and in 2012 he adapted it further intomoombahcoreandEDM trap,giving the music a harder sound, as heard on his EPSomething, Something, Awesome.He expanded into EDM genres withMoney Sucks, Friends Rule(2014), which hit number 2 on theBillboarddance chart, then shifted gears intoLatin musicwith 2018'sWut Wut,a Spanish-language album honored with aLatin Grammyand aLatin American Music Award.[3]The song "Sexo", withResidentefeaturing iLe, rose to number 43 on theBillboardLatin Airplay chart in June 2018.[4]

Early life[edit]

Francis was born inLos Angeles,California,[5]to an American father and a Serbian-Croatian mother.[6]Francis has stated that his father, Robert Drew Francis, is an "alternative medicines doctor". He has made a recurring Internet joke about being unable to find his father. Francis has stated that he had a sheltered upbringing, claiming that he did not know any swear words until he was 15. He also claims that he could not watch TV unless he watched at least two hours ofSesame Streeta day.[5]

Career[edit]

2010–2013[edit]

Francis first rose to fame after gaining the attention of American producerDiploand eventually collaborating on the song "Que Que", with featured Latin-pop artistMaluca.His song "Masta Blasta", originally a 130BPMhouse track, was edited after inspiration fromDutchmusicianMunchiand eventually ended up as themoombahtontrack.[7]In 2010, Francis released hisSwashbucklerEP on Play Me Records.[8]In 2012, he also released two singles "I.D.G.A.F.O.S." and "Bootleg Fireworks (Burning Up)". He has released works on multiple labels includingDim Mak Records,Mad Decent[9]andOwsla.[10]

In February 2012, Francis became the firstmoombahtonartist to achieve the number-one spot atop theBeatportreleases chart with the release of hisextended playSomething, Something, Awesome.[11]In late 2012, he embarked on hisWet & Recklesstour across North America, as well as supporting the English electronic-music trioNeroon theirWelcome Realitytour and English musicianFlux Pavilionon his Standing on a Hill tour.[12]

In 2013, he announced a headliningWurld Turr[13]across the US and Canada, as well as confirmed that his debut album would be released in 2013, but later experienced various delays. He was announced as one of MTV Clubland's Artists to watch in 2013,[14]alongside acts such asKill the NoiseandOtto Knows.Francis was labeled byMTVas an "artist to watch" as of September 9, 2013.[15]Francis performed at music festivals includingCamp Bisco,Electric Daisy Carnival,Coachella,TomorrowWorld,UltraandElectric Zoo.[16]Francis also created the comedy production duo Meowski666 alongsideKill the Noise.[17]In October 2013, he was announced as number 73 in theDJ Mag Top 100poll.[18]

2014[edit]

Francis performing in 2014

In 2014, his major label debut album,Money Sucks, Friends Rule,landed on Rolling Stone's "Top Electronic Albums of 2014" list and featured collaborators such as Twista, Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco, Major Lazer, and more. His single "Get Low"withDJ Snakewas released on February 11, 2014.[19]On March 22, 2014, Francis announced via his officialTwitteraccount that his debut album, titledMoney Sucks, Friends Rule,[20]would be released on October 28, 2014, onMad DecentandColumbia Records.[21]In August, Dillon released his second single off of the album, which was a collaboration withSultan + Ned ShepardfeaturingThe Chain Gang of 1974.[22]Beginning in February 2014, Francis embarked on the Friends Rule Tour supporting his debut album. Dates for the tour were booked through January 16, 2015, in 18 different cities across the United States.

2015–2017[edit]

On January 1, 2015, Francis revealed to Australian radio stationTriple Jthat he was working on a sketch show pilot forMTV.Francis stated that the show was set to go into production in January 2015.[23]On June 28, 2015, Francis announced his EPThis Mixtape Is Fire,which would mark a return to hismoombahtonroots. The EP features collaborations fromSkrillex,Calvin Harris,Chromeo,Bro Safari,andKygowith James Hersey, along with a remix of "I Can't Take It" from his albumMoney Sucks, Friends Ruleby Party Favor. He released the first track from the EP, "Bruk Bruk (I Need Your Lovin')" the same day.This Mixtape Is Firepeaked at number one onBillboard'sTop Dance/Electronic Albumschart.

In 2016, he released three new singles: "Need You" in collaboration withNghtmre,"Candy" in collaboration with GTA and Snappy Jit, and "Anywhere" with vocals byWill Heard.

The music video of his single "Not Butter" won theBerlin Music Video Awardsin 2016, while its director, Brandon Dermer, took the 2nd place for the "Best Director" category.

On April 5, 2017, Francis released another single "Say Less"in a collaboration with rapperG-Eazy.A few days after the release, Francis made it official through a live stream[24]that he had parted ways withColumbia Recordsmutually and was looking forward to release music as an independent artist. He has also revealed to his fans that he will be releasing an album as an independent artist, and also stated that he would return to hismoombahtonroots.

Francis has created different personalities or alter egos, including "Emo Preston". Francis performed as "Emo Preston" at Emo Nite in Los Angeles in 2017.[25]

2018[edit]

In 2018, Dillon returned to his moombahton roots with the release of the Spanish-language studio album,Wut Wut.The album went on to earn Francis a Latin American Music Award nomination and a Latin Grammy nomination respectively for the song, "Sexo" with Residente and iLe. On February 21, he released the single "We The Funk" in collaboration withFuego.On April 13, he released the single "Sexo" in collaboration withResidenteandiLe."Sexo" was nominated for Best Short Form Music Video at theLatin Grammysand theLatin American Music Awardsfor Favorite Video.

On May 9, he released the single "BaBaBa (Vete Pa'Ya)" in a collaboration with Young Ash. On July 12, he released the single "Never Let You Go" featuringDe La Ghetto.In August, he remixedMartin Solveig's single "My Love". He also was one of the headliners forHardSummer Music Festival in August 2018. On September 12, he released the single "White Boi" featuring Lao Ra.Wut Wutis Francis' second studio album, released through IDGAFOS on September 28, 2018.

He also appeared in the first season ofTaskmaster USalongsideLisa Lampanelli,Freddie Highmore,Ron FunchesandKate Berlant.

Dillon Francis released a seven-episode comedy series titledLike and Subscribein 2018, available exclusively on Funny or Die and Amazon Video. The show follows Skyy Goldwynne (Dillon Francis), Hollywood's biggest manager who locks 4 of his influencer clients in a house with a camera crew.

On December 7, 2018, Francis released "LFGD" featuring Chris Melberger as part ofAstralwerks' compilation album with livestreamerNinja,Ninjawerks Volume 1.[26]

2019[edit]

On January 25, 2019, he released the single "Lost My Mind" in collaboration withAlison Wonderland,and embarked on the Lost My Mind Tour in the beginning of the year throughout the United States.[27]

In March 2019, Francis released "Change Your Mind", featuringLovelytheband.[28]

Francis also contributed to the soundtrack ofThe Lego Movie 2: The Second Partwith "Catchy Song",featuring rappersT-PainandThat Girl Lay Lay.Following the first film's "Everything Is Awesome",the song principally features the repeated phrase" This song's gonna get stuck inside your head! "According to songwriterJon Lajoie,he found "Everything Is Awesome" "extremely catchy" and wanted to outdo the song by "dialing the songup to 11".

2020–2023[edit]

On May 8, 2020, he performed at theFortniteParty Royalepremiere withSteve AokiandDeadmau5.[29]In 2023, Francis released a collaboration song titled "Free" with Swedish DJ and producerAlessoand American singer-songwriterClementine Douglas.[30]Francis stated that the purpose of the song was to promotehappiness,dedicating it to listeners who "[want] to feel like agolden retrieverliving the best day of its life. "[31]

Discography[edit]

Main article:Dillon Francis discography

Filmography[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
2015 We Are Your Friends Devin Andrews
2015 Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse DJ
2016 Succeeding at Life Background Actors Television film
2017 What Would Diplo Do? Jasper 4 episodes
2018 Taskmaster (US) Himself / Contestant
Public Disturbance Himself
2020 The Sauce Himself / Judge Episode: "Miami Heat"
2022 Saints Row Himself
2023 Trolls Band Together Kid Ritz First animated film role

References[edit]

  1. ^Bowman, Nick (August 15, 2013)."Dillon Francis' Alter Ego" DJ Hanzel "Is The Greatest Thing Ever".Dance Music Northwest.RetrievedJanuary 8,2023.
  2. ^"Money Sucks, Friends Rule – Dillon Francis".AllMusic.RetrievedJanuary 8,2023.
  3. ^"Biography: Dillon Francis".AllMusic.RetrievedJanuary 8,2023.
  4. ^"iLe Chart History".Billboard.RetrievedJanuary 8,2023.
  5. ^abAhmed, Insanul (March 13, 2012)Who Is Dillon Francis?Complex. Retrieved on March 31, 2013.
  6. ^Francis, Dillon (March 27, 2012)."@dirtysouth did you know im Serbian and Croatian! My mom was born there before it split up! My name in yugoslavian is drago".Archived fromthe originalon February 6, 2017.RetrievedJanuary 29,2017.
  7. ^Video (August 21, 2012)."Dillon Francis and Diplo Talk Moombahton".The Creators Project (viaYouTube).RetrievedJanuary 25,2013.
  8. ^"Dillon Francis Bio, Music, News & Shows".DJZ.com. Archived fromthe originalon March 30, 2013.RetrievedMarch 7,2013.
  9. ^Staff (n.d.)."Dillon Francis".Mad Decent.Archived fromthe originalon April 12, 2013.RetrievedJanuary 25,2013.
  10. ^Staff (n.d.)."Dillon Francis".Owsla.RetrievedJanuary 25,2013.
  11. ^Database (undated)."Something, Something, Awesome. – Dillon Francis, Kill The Noise".Beatport.Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  12. ^Staff (July 26, 2012)."Dillon Francis – Wet & Reckless Tour Presale!!".Mad Decent.Archived fromthe originalon November 6, 2012.RetrievedJanuary 25,2013.
  13. ^Marie, Shannon. (January 25, 2013)Dillon Francis – Wurld Turr.ElectroJams. Retrieved on March 31, 2013.
  14. ^MTV Clubland's Artists To Watch In 2013 – Music, Celebrity, Artist News.MTV.com (January 10, 2013). Retrieved on March 31, 2013.
  15. ^Brodsky, Rachel."MTV Artist to Watch: Dillon Francis".Viacom International Inc. Archived fromthe originalon September 13, 2013.RetrievedOctober 4,2013.
  16. ^"Dillon Francis – Live @ Electric Zoo (New York City) 8.31.2012".Soundcloud.com.
  17. ^"Dillon Francis and Kill The Noise join forces to create Meowski666".Dubstep.NET. August 2, 2013. Archived fromthe originalon January 3, 2014.RetrievedJanuary 3,2014.
  18. ^DJ Mag [@DJmag] (October 19, 2013)."It has been a massive year for @DILLONFRANCIS, who debuts at no.73 #Top100DJs"(Tweet) – viaTwitter.
  19. ^Spotify [@Spotify] (February 4, 2014)."#Exclusive! Love @DILLONFRANCIS? He's back with hot new singleGet Low"(Tweet) – viaTwitter.
  20. ^"Dillon Francis — Miami Music Week 2014 — Interview".YouTube.March 30, 2014.
  21. ^"Twitter / DILLONFRANCIS".Twitter.March 22, 2014. Archived fromthe originalon April 11, 2014.RetrievedMarch 31,2014.
  22. ^"Preview Dillon Francis' Debut Album 'Money Sucks, Friends Rule'".Spin.March 22, 2014.
  23. ^"Dillon Francis to Shoot Pilot for MTV".Mixmag.January 5, 2015. Archived fromthe originalon January 9, 2015.
  24. ^"SAY LESS, BUT MORE LIVESTREAM".YouTube.April 6, 2017.RetrievedMay 5,2017.
  25. ^"Preston (Dillon Francis) Makes Debut at Emo Nite LA with Surprise Guest".Relentless Beats.
  26. ^The Nocturnal Times (December 12, 2018),Experience the World of Ninjawerks Vol. 1,retrievedDecember 14,2018
  27. ^Savory, Bill (November 20, 2018)."Dillon Francis and Alison Wonderland Announce Lost My Mind Tour".Edmidentity.com.
  28. ^"Dillon Francis & Lovelytheband Unite For Summery 'Change Your Mind': Listen".Billboard.RetrievedOctober 3,2020.
  29. ^"Dillon Francis, Steve Aoki, and deadmau5 Invite You to the Party Royale Premiere".epicgames.com.May 8, 2020.
  30. ^Will Schube (August 31, 2023)."Dillon Francis Teams Up With Alesso And Clementine Douglas For 'Free'".U Discover Music.
  31. ^"Dillon Francis and Alesso Join Forces For Fiery New Collaboration," Free "".September 3, 2023.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dillon_Francis&oldid=1233892372"