Rüfüs Du Sol (stylized in all caps) is an Australian alternative dance group from Sydney, that consists of Tyrone Lindqvist, Jon George and James Hunt.[1]
Rüfüs Du Sol | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Rüfüs Du Sol performing at the 2018 Electric Forest Festival | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | RÜFÜS |
| Origin | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Labels |
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| Members |
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| Past members |
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| Website | www |
The band was known simply as Rüfüs (stylised in all caps) from their inception until January 2014, before changing their name to Rüfüs Du Sol – exclusively in the United States – to avoid confusion with existing funk band Rufus.[2] In May 2018, the band adopted the name change worldwide for the sake of consistency.[3]
Their debut album Atlas peaked at number one in Australia in 2013, and their three subsequent albums have all reached either number one or number two in their home country. while their second album Bloom debuted atop the Australian albums chart in early 2016. Their single "You Were Right" won the ARIA Award for Best Dance Release in 2015.
As part of their 2021–2023 Surrender world tour, Rüfüs Du Sol played three sold out stadium shows at Banc of California Stadium. In 2022, they won the Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Recording for their song "Alive". In 2023, they headlined Oshega Festival in Montreal, and headlined Field Day in Sydney on New Year's Day in 2024.
Career
2010–2012: Formation
The band formed consisting of Jon George, Tyrone Lindqvist and James Hunt in November 2010. On 1 January 2011, they released their debut EP Rüfüs.[4] "We Left", their debut single was released on 25 July 2011.[5] Two tracks from the EP, "Paris Collides" and "We Left" reached numbers 8 and 13 on the Hype Machine charts simultaneously, while the video for "We Left" was nominated as one of 12 finalists internationally in the 2012 Vimeo Awards for Best Music Video.[6]
In April 2012, Rüfüs released their second EP, Blue.[7] The double A-sided single "This Summer"/"Selena" was released on 16 July 2012.[8]
2013–2014: Atlas
The band's debut studio album, Atlas, was released on 9 August 2013.[9] It debuted at number one on the Australian Albums Chart on 25 August 2013.[10] It was preceded by "Take Me" as the lead single on 8 March 2013,[11] and "Desert Night" as the second single on 2 August 2013.[12] "Tonight" was released as the third single 22 November 2013,[13] followed by "Sundream" as the fourth single on 21 March 2014.[14]
2015–2017: Bloom
In June 2015, Rüfüs released "You Were Right", the lead single from their forthcoming second album. It peaked at number 22 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart and was certified double platinum. The album Bloom was released in January 2016 and become the band's second number-one album. In 2016, they performed at both Coachella and Electric Forest.[15][16]
2018–2020: Solace and Solace Remixed
In May 2018, the band changed its name worldwide to Rüfüs Du Sol, having already made the change in the United States four years prior. Lead singer Tyrone Lindqvist explained the name change: "I guess we don't really know any other bands that have two names throughout the entire world so it just seemed fitting."[3] Soon after, Rüfüs Du Sol released their single "No Place" on 25 May 2018. They later released the singles "Underwater" and "Lost in My Mind", along with announcing their third album Solace.[17] In 2018, they again played at Electric Forest,[18] while in 2019 the band's performances included Field Day, Coachella and a sold out show at Lollapalooza, Chicago.[19][20][21] A Solace remix album was released in September 2019. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2019, Solace was nominated for three ARIA Music Awards.[22] In 2020, the band headlined CRSSD Fest in San Diego.[23]
2020: Live from Joshua Tree
In 2020, the band recorded a live album from Joshua Tree, California entitled Rüfüs Du Sol: Live from Joshua Tree. The 45-minute album and accompanying feature film, shot in Joshua Tree National Park, included music from the band's three albums to date: Bloom, Atlas and Solace. The film was directed by Alexander George, and was presented by Mixmag and the band's label Rose Avenue Records. It premiered at the Vista Theatre in Los Angeles in February 2020, before being digitally released in March 2020.[24][25]
2021-2023: Surrender
On 13 July 2021, the band released "Alive"; their first song in three years. In a press statement, Lindqvist said, "It's a heavier song in some ways, but at its core it's hopeful."[26] The follow-up single "Next to Me" was released on 11 August 2021. Jon George said it "is a song of devotion, caring compassion and pure love."[27] On 24 September 2021, they released the single "On My Knees".[28] On the same day, they also announced their fourth studio album, Surrender, which was released on 21 October 2021.[29] They embarked on a two-year global tour of Surrender in 2021, completing it in 2023.[30] In 2021, they played three sold out stadium shows at Banc of California Stadium,[31] as well as performing at the Hollywood Bowl, Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado,[32] The Gorge Amphitheatre,[33] and Gunnersbury Park in London. In 2022, after two prior nominations, the band won their first Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Recording, for their song "Alive".[34]
In October 2022, the band launched Mate Maker Co., a line of hard kombucha drinks, with the help of Justin Medcraft, ex-global senior brand manager at Diageo and brand director at Pabst Brewing Company, their artist manager Danny Robson, and drinks trade expert Tom Appleton.[35]
In 2023, they headlined Oshega Festival in Montreal, and Beyond the Valley in Melbourne.[36][37]
Band members
- Tyrone Lindqvist – vocals, guitar, keyboards
- Jon George – keyboards
- James Hunt – drums
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS [38] | NZ [39] | ||||||||||||
| Atlas |
| 1 | — | ||||||||||
| Bloom |
| 1 | 14 |
| |||||||||
| Solace |
| 2 | 32 |
| |||||||||
| Surrender | 1 | 27 | |||||||||||
| "—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart. | |||||||||||||
Live albums
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS [38] | ||
| Live from Joshua Tree | 14 [45] |
Remix albums
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS [38] | ||
| Solace Remixed |
| 69 |
| Surrender (Remixes) |
| - |
Extended plays
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Rüfüs |
|
| Blue |
|
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS [38] | AUS Indie [48] | NZ Hot [49] | US Dance/ Elec. [50] | ||||
| "We Left"[5] | 2011 | — | — | — | — | Rüfüs | |
| "This Summer" / "Selena"[8] | 2012 | — | — | — | — | Blue | |
| "Take Me" | 2013 | 61 | 2 | — | — |
| Atlas |
| "Desert Night" | 67 | 4 | — | — |
| ||
| "Tonight" | 87 | 9 | — | — |
| ||
| "Sundream" | 2014 | 47 | 5 | — | — |
| |
| "You Were Right" | 2015 | 22 | 1 | — | — |
| Bloom |
| "Like an Animal" | 44 | 4 | — | — |
| ||
| "Innerbloom" (solo or What So Not remix) | 65 | 5 | — | — |
| ||
| "Say a Prayer for Me" | 2016 | 58 | 4 | — | — |
| |
| "Be with You"[52] | — | — | — | — | |||
| "No Place" | 2018 | 41 | —[A] | — | 31 |
| Solace |
| "Underwater" | 77 | — | 42 |
| |||
| "Lost in My Mind" | 103 | — | 49 |
| |||
| "Treat You Better" | 158 | — | 28 | ||||
| "Alive" | 2021 | 62 | 8 | 16 | 18 | Surrender | |
| "Next to Me" | 60 | 8 | 22 | 19 | |||
| "On My Knees"[28] | 22 [55] | 6 | 17 | 14 | |||
| "I Don't Wanna Leave"[56] | 70 | — | 10 | 20 | |||
| "Something in the Way" (Like A Version)[57] | 2023 | — | — | — | — | non album single | |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||
Other charted songs
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NZ Hot [49] | US Dance/ Elec. [50] | |||
| "Make It Happen" | 2021 | 38 | 24 | Surrender |
| "See You Again" | — | 34 | ||
| "Wildfire" | — | 47 | ||
| "Surrender" (featuring Curtis Harding) | — | 37 | ||
| "Devotion" | — | 42 | ||
| "Always" | — | 39 | ||
Music videos
| Title | Year | Director(s) |
|---|---|---|
| "We Left" | 2011 | Katzki[58] |
| "This Summer" | 2012 | |
| "Take Me" | 2013 | |
| "Desert Night" | ||
| "Tonight" | ||
| "Sundream" | 2014 | Katzki and Jackson Mullane[59] |
| "You Were Right" | 2015 | Katzki[60] |
| "Like an Animal" | ||
| "Say a Prayer for Me" | 2016 | Toby + Pete[61] |
| "Be with You" | Daperis Brothers[62] | |
| "Innerbloom" | Katzki[63] | |
| "No Place" | 2018 | Katzki[64] |
| "Lost in My Mind" | Drew Kirsch[65] | |
| "Treat You Better" | 2019 | Leah Barylsky & Katzki[66] |
| "Next to Me" | 2021 | Osk[67] |
| "Alive" | James Frost[68] | |
| "On My Knees" | Katzki & Ruff Mercy [69] | |
| "I Don't Wanna Leave" | Katzki[70] |
Awards and nominations
Rüfüs Du Sol have won an AIR Award: Best Independent Dance, Electronica Album, for Atlas (2014), two Electronic Music Awards: Record of the Year, for Innerbloom (Sasha remix, 2017), and Live Act of the Year (2017), and four ARIA Awards: Best Dance Release, for You Were Right (2015), Best Dance Release, for Solace (2019), Best Group (2021), Best Dance Release, for Alive (2021), with a fifth ARIA won by their mix engineer Cassian, Best Mixed Album, for Surrender (2022).
The band has also won a Grammy Award: Best Dance Recording, for Alive (2022), an APRA Award: Most Performed Dance/ Electronic Work of the Year, for On My Knees (2023), and a National Live Music Award: Best DJ/ Electronic Act (2023).
AIR Awards
The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | RÜFÜS | Carlton Dry Global Music Grant | Nominated[71] |
| "Take Me" | Best Independent Dance/Electronica or Club Single | Nominated[71] | |
| 2014 | Atlas | Best Independent Album | Nominated[72] |
| Best Independent Dance, Electronica Album | Won[72][73] | ||
| "Sundream" | Best Independent Dance, Electronica or Club Single | Nominated[72] | |
| 2015 | "You Were Right" | Best Independent Dance, Electronica or Club Single | Nominated[74] |
APRA Awards
The APRA Awards are held in Australia and New Zealand by the Australasian Performing Right Association to recognise songwriting skills, sales and airplay performance by its members annually. Rüfüs Du Sol has been nominated for one award.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | "Treat You Better" | Most Performed Dance Work of the Year | Nominated | [75][76] |
| 2023 | "On My Knees" | Most Performed Australian Work of the Year | Nominated | [77] [78] |
| Most Performed Dance / Electronic Work of the Year | Won |
ARIA Music Awards
The annual ARIA Music Awards have been presented since 1987 by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). RÜFÜS/Rüfüs Du Sol have won four awards from twenty nominations.[79]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Atlas | Breakthrough Artist – Release | Nominated |
| Best Dance Release | Nominated | ||
| 2014 | "Sundream" | Best Group | Nominated |
| Best Dance Release | Nominated | ||
| Words Within Worlds Tour | Best Australian Live Act | Nominated | |
| 2015 | "You Were Right" | Best Dance Release | Won |
| 2016 | Bloom | Album of the Year | Nominated |
| Best Group | Nominated | ||
| Best Dance Release | Nominated | ||
| Bloom Tour | Best Australian Live Act | Nominated | |
| Jack Vanzet for RÜFÜS' Bloom' | Best Cover Art | Nominated | |
| 2018 | "No Place" | Best Group | Nominated |
| Best Dance Release | Nominated | ||
| 2019[22] | Solace | Album of the Year | Nominated |
| Best Group | Nominated | ||
| Best Dance Release | Won | ||
| 2020 | 2019 Summer Festival Tour | Best Australian Live Act | Nominated |
| 2021[80] | "Alive" | Best Group | Won |
| Best Dance Release | Won | ||
| 2022[81] | Surrender | Album of the Year | Nominated |
| Best Group | Nominated | ||
| Best Dance/Electronic Release | Nominated | ||
| "On My Knees" | Best Pop Release | Nominated | |
| Song of the Year | Nominated | ||
| "I Don't Wanna Leave" – Rüfüs Du Sol, Katzki | Best Video | Nominated | |
| Cassian for Rüfüs Du Sol Surrender | Mix Engineer – Best Mixed Album | Won | |
| 2023[82] | Rüfüs Du Sol Australian 2022 Tour | Best Australian Live Act | Nominated |
Electronic Music Awards
The Electronic Music Awards is an annual award show with an emphasis on the electronic music genre. It commenced in 2017. Rüfüs Du Sol have won two awards from three nominations.
| Year | Category | Nominated Artist / Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Record of the Year | "Innerbloom" (Sasha remix) | Won |
| Remix of the Year | "Innerbloom" (Sasha remix) | Nominated | |
| Live Act of the Year | Rüfüs Du Sol | Won |
Grammy Awards
The Grammy Awards are an annual award ceremony presented by The Recording Academy, recognising achievements in the music industry.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Solace | Best Dance/Electronic Album | Nominated | [83] |
| "Underwater" | Best Dance Recording | Nominated | ||
| 2022 | "Alive" | Won | [84] | |
| 2023 | "On My Knees" | Nominated | [85] | |
| Surrender | Best Dance/Electronic Album | Nominated |
J Awards
The J Awards are an annual series of Australian music awards that were established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's youth-focused radio station Triple J. They commenced in 2005.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Atlas | Australian Album of the Year | Nominated | [86] |
| 2018 | Solace | Australian Album of the Year | Nominated | [87] |
| 2021 | Surrender | Australian Album of the Year | Nominated | [88][89] |
National Live Music Awards
The National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) commenced in 2016 to recognise contributions to the live music industry in Australia.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Themselves | Live Electronic Act (or DJ) of the Year | Nominated | [90] |
| International Live Achievement (Group) | Nominated | |||
| 2019 | Themselves | Live Electronic Act (or DJ) of the Year | Nominated | [91][92] |
| International Live Achievement (Group) | Nominated | |||
| 2023 | Matthew Smith and Alex ‘Katzki’ George (Rüfüs Du Sol) | Best Stage & Light Design | Nominated | [93][94] |
| Rüfüs Du Sol | Best DJ/Electronic Act | Won |
Rolling Stone Australia Awards
The Rolling Stone Australia Awards are awarded annually in January or February by the Australian edition of Rolling Stone magazine for outstanding contributions to popular culture in the previous year.[95]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Rüfüs Du Sol | Rolling Stone Readers' Choice Award | Nominated | [96] |
| Rüfüs Du Sol | Rolling Stone Global Award | Nominated | ||
| "Alive" | Best Single | Nominated | ||
| 2023 | Rüfüs Du Sol | Rolling Stone Global Award | Nominated | [97] |