DJs Steve Aoki and 3LAU Form CryptoPunks Supergroup
NFT
A pair of common digital musicians who’re additionally distinguished NFT backers are teaming up—and drawing inspiration from their respective CryptoPunks profile photos (PFPs).
Steve Aoki and Justin “3LAU” Blau introduced right this moment that they’ve fashioned a supergroup through their Ethereum NFTs and can launch new music underneath the identify Punx. Although each are seasoned producers with their very own respective sonic signatures, 3LAU tweeted that they plan to ship a brand new fashion of digital music via their Punx collaboration.
Though Punx will leverage the artists’ CryptoPunks NFTs, they gained’t be launching NFTs of their very own for this mission—at the least not at first. The pair beforehand launched their first tune collectively, “Jenny,” as an NFT in 2021.
We deliver to you: PUNX
10 years of friendship has led to this second. We’re excited to introduce a conceptual music/artwork mission partly impressed by our personal @cryptopunksnfts.
the sound of @itsthepunx might be totally different from both of our present sounds, the truth is… pic.twitter.com/mNlogCLmCz
— 3LAU (@3LAU) December 6, 2022
“This isn’t an NFT,” 3LAU mentioned of Punx. “However that does not imply there will not be future moments the place our music and blockchain tech [will] be intertwined.”
In an announcement, Aoki—who mentioned earlier this yr that he’s made extra money from NFTs than a decade of file label advances—defined {that a} shared ardour for Web3 impressed the creation of Punx together with his longtime buddy.
“Punx is a forward-thinking, conceptual musical artwork mission with a nod to the music we love and the music that formed who we’re right this moment,” Aoki mentioned. “Utilizing our personal CryptoPunks within the visible imagery is simply the beginning of how we plan on bringing the unimaginable Web3 group into this mission.”
Steve Aoki’s Punk (left) and 3LAU’s Punk. Picture: Yuga Labs
Because the announcement went dwell Tuesday morning, Aoki modified his Twitter profile image to CryptoPunk #6748—so it might be the PFP that Aoki will use as his avatar and alter ego within the duo. The avid NFT collector bought Punk #6748—which sports activities a purple cap and a burglar-esque eye masks—for 89.95 ETH or $147,000 in September.
3LAU’s CryptoPunk is Punk #6708, which has white hair and black sun shades. 3LAU bought the NFT again in March 2021 for 29.99 ETH, which was about $51,000 on the time.
“Over the previous few years we’ve navigated the insane world of Web3 collectively,” 3LAU, additionally the co-founder of NFT music market Royal, mentioned in an announcement of his friendship with Aoki. “We will’t wait to share with the world a brand new sound and the entire loopy concepts we’ve been cooking up within the studio.”
Aoki and 3LAU didn’t instantly reply to Decrypt’s requests for feedback.
As CryptoPunks NFT House owners Get Business Rights, Yuga Hopes to Safe Their ‘Legacy as Paintings’
3LAU and Aoki aren’t the primary digital artists to kind a duo round their NFTs. EscapePlan is a DJ duo composed of two Bored Ape Yacht Membership NFT holders. Earlier this yr, they introduced a partnership with artist Dillon Francis to provide music collectively—and impressed Francis to get a Bored Ape of his personal as part of cost for a residency deal.
In the meantime, Common Music Group’s 10:22PM label has put collectively a digital Bored Ape band known as Kingship, with music from Grammy-winning producers Hit-Boy and James Fauntleroy, whereas legendary producer Timbaland launched his personal manufacturing firm in 2021 to launch music from Ape-based artists.
CryptoPunks holders are in a position to make use of the paintings from their owned NFTs to create by-product paintings and merchandise, per an IP commercialization rights grant from mission proprietor Yuga Labs. The agency first popularized the idea in 2021 with the discharge of the Bored Ape Yacht Membership.
Punx additionally joins the rising development of established digital dance music (EDM) artists teaming up underneath a joint moniker. Most notably, deadmau5—who’s additionally into NFTs—started releasing tracks with Kaskade this yr underneath the identify Kx5.
