BIOGRAPHY
Having previously worked as a renowned video director, David Douglas shifted his focus to music in 2012 and has since earned a reputation as one of the most expressive and all-encompassing electronica producers in the industry. Releasing music on esteemed labels such as Atomnation, Kompakt, !K7, Kitsuné, and Deutsche Grammaphon, he continues to write and produce new music and projects.
Inspired by the tales of his namesake, David Douglas (1799), a Scottish plant hunter who explored North America collecting seeds of undiscovered plants and trees, David (1983) began searching for his own musical roots. Drawing inspiration from the grandeur of nature — the majestic mountain landscapes, Icelandic lupine fields, Arctic coastlines, and Californian fir forests — he infuses his music with waves of celestial melodies, blending them seamlessly with crisp, driving beats that traverse the cosmos, leaving behind a trail of arpeggiated synths and hypnotic vocals.
David’s debut EP, “Royal Horticultural Society” (2012), and his first album, “Moon Observations” (2014), received acclaim from Pitchfork, i-D Mag, Electronic Beats, THUMP, XLR8R, and was nominated for the 3voor12 awards 2014. His sophomore album, “Spectators of the Universe” (2017), was hailed as a funk-filled, technicolor journey to the stars. He has graced the stages of festivals such as Pitch, Best Kept Secret, Amsterdam Dance Event, Eurosonic, and Lovebox, and has supported artists like Chet Faker and Jessie Ware. His music has been featured on BBC1, BBC6, NTS, and numerous other radio stations. Moreover, “Spectators of the Universe” has secured significant sync placements, including collaborations with Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Fiat 500, Ikea, Nissan, and a Netflix Dreamworks production. Additionally, his compositions were showcased in Givenchy’s 2018 catwalk show.
‘If Moon Observations was an organic, earth-bound collection of songs, Spectators Of The Universe is the funk-filled, technicolour voyage to the stars.’
Douglas has crafted various remixes and contributed to compilations, such as reworking composer ‘Camille Saint-Saëns’ work on the Deutsche Grammophon label. Following his EP “Mountain Pink” (2018), David released his third album, “Escapism,” in 2021. Besides his solo albums David collaborates in 2016 in his side-project ‘Haty Haty’ with Dutch songwriter Blaudzun. Their debut album ‘High as the sun’, with guest vocals from Anne Brun, was released March 2016 by V2 records.
Douglas is currently working on a new album, and in 2024, Douglas will collaborate with Applescal to release an album titled “Tour de France.” This project started as a casual conversation about creating a cycling soundtrack evolved into a fully-fledged album project. Capturing the essence of the sport’s euphoria, struggle, and sensation of freedom, their album intricately weaves together ambient soundscapes and sampled melodies to create an immersive listening experience.
ALBUMS
- Moon Observations (2014, Atomnation)
- High as the sun, as Haty Haty (2016, V2 records)
- Spectators of the Universe (2017, Atomnation)
- Escapism (2021, Atomnation/!K7)
- Tour de France (2024, Atomnation)
SINGLES AND EPS
- Royal Horticultural Society (2013, Atomnation)
- Higher Remixes (2014, Atomnation)
- Moon Observations Remixes (2014, Atomnation)
- Spectators of the Universe Remixes (2017, Atomnation)
- Mountain Pink (2018, Atomnation)
- Lose Control, TOTAL20 compilation (2020, Kompakt)