Martin Garrix and U2 have lastly unveiled “Fireflies,” a long-gestating collaboration that brings the Dutch EDM famous person along with all 4 members of the Irish rock icons for the primary time.
Out now by way of Darkroom Data, the monitor blends Bono’s hovering vocals and U2’s arena-sized sensibilities with Garrix’s polished digital manufacturing. It made its reside debut final weekend throughout Garrix’s Tomorrowland headlining set in Belgium, the place U2 guitarist the Edge shocked festival-goers by becoming a member of him onstage.
Though Garrix has labored with Bono and the Edge earlier than — notably on the 2021 UEFA anthem “We Are the Individuals” and extra lately as producer of “Scars” from U2’s Easter Lily EP — “Fireflies” marks his first collaboration with the entire band.
“‘Fireflies’ has a really distinctive temper and it’s a particular music we began engaged on six summers in the past,” Garrix mentioned. “It felt electrifying and really surreal to lastly debut it at Tomorrowland with the Edge. I’ve labored with Bono and Edge earlier than, however working with the entire band I bought to get a glimpse of their chemistry and why U2 are who they’re. They’re unbelievable mates and collaborators, and it has been an absolute honor to work with them once more.”
“We return a great distance with Martin, and there’s all the time a way of journey at any time when we get collectively,” seconded the Edge. “Enjoying ‘Fireflies’ for the primary time at Tomorrowland, in entrance of one of the crucial passionate competition crowds wherever, was such a rush. In reality, I might need loved it a bit an excessive amount of. It jogged my memory of why I really like taking part in open air. I prefer it higher when there’s no ceiling.”
For Garrix, “Fireflies” continues a prolific run of blockbuster collaborations. He lately joined Madonna on “Weird” from her new album, Confessions 11, after premiering the music throughout his three-night Barclays Middle stand, and earlier this yr teamed with Ed Sheeran for the long-awaited single “Repeat It.” The producer lately wrapped the primary leg of his largest-ever American headlining tour and can spend the rest of the summer time on the European competition circuit.
The collaboration arrives as U2 ramps up its subsequent album marketing campaign. Lead single “Road of Goals” was launched early this month alongside a music video filmed in Mexico Metropolis. The as-yet-untitled album will likely be U2’s first assortment of latest materials since 2017’s Songs of Expertise. It follows this yr’s pair of shock companion EPs, Days of Ash and Easter Lily, which previewed the band’s newest inventive chapter and marked drummer Larry Mullen Jr.’s return to the studio lineup after health-related struggles.
