The Chainsmokers are a pop act consisting of two DJs named Drew Taggart (born December 31, 1989) and Alex Pall (born May 16, 1985). They first hit the charts with the novelty song "#Selfie." Two years later, in 2016, they soared to the top of the charts with "Closer," one of the biggest pop hit singles of all time.

Early Years

Drew Taggart grew up in Freeport, Maine. His mother is a teacher, and his father is a prosthetics salesperson. He discovered electronic dance music while in Argentina at the age of 15. He attended Syracuse University and became an intern at the record label, Interscope Records.

Alex Pall grew up in Westchester County, New York. His mother is a housewife, and his father is an art dealer. He attended New York University as an art major.

The Chainsmokers first came together in 2012 as a dance music DJ duo of Alex Pall and Rhett Bixler. In New York City, Alex Pall was introduced to Drew Taggart by the Chainsmokers' manager Adam Alpert. When Rhett Bixler left the duo, Drew Taggart moved from Maine to New York City to work with Alex Pall. They worked with Indian actress and singer Priyanka Chopra on their first single "Erase" in late 2012. It was released via the online dance community Beatport in November, and in December it was made available for sale via iTunes.