Thomas Bangalter sat down with The Times for one of his most revealing interviews since Daft Punk disbanded, addressing the duo's February 2021 split, his evolving solo career, and the possibility of a reunion.
Life Without the Helmet
The conversation arrived alongside the release of Mirage, Bangalter's second full-length album since stepping away from the robot persona he inhabited for two decades. Reflecting on the transition, he was measured in his assessment.
"I was one of the robots, but now I'm just a human without any superpowers," he said.
A Natural Endpoint After 28 Years
When pressed on the breakup, Bangalter framed it as an inevitable conclusion rather than a rupture. "The history of music is made of fruitful partnerships and they usually last way shorter than the 28-year run that we had," he explained. "It was great but staying in character and not spoiling it became very difficult."
Recent Appearances and DJ Sets
The interview comes during an active period for the producer. Last year he appeared unannounced at the Centre Pompidou in Paris alongside Fred again.., Busy P, and Erol Alkan for his first DJ set without the helmet in 24 years. He reunited with Fred again.. in February at London's Alexandra Palace for the closing night of the producer's 'USB002' tour.
On the prospect of a Daft Punk reunion, Bangalter was unequivocal. "No," he said. "I'm really happy that throughout our long run we were able to not screw it up. There are other things to explore."
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