Daft Punk Sign to Columbia, Have New Album in Works

With the exception of their contributions to the Tron: Legacy soundtrack a few years ago, Daft Punk has gone under the radar as electronic dance music exploded in the U.S. At the end of last week, The Hollywood Reporter mentioned the DJ duo known for their robotic getup have signed to Columbia Records and have a studio album – their first in seven years – in the works.

Daft Punk’s signing with Columbia is assumed to be one of Sony’s steps in building a larger roster of electronic artists. In addition to Daft Punk, electronic veterans Depeche Mode signed to Columbia after being on EMI/Mute for years. Sony, as well, is partnering with Ultra Records, an independent label leading the genre’s releases and currently home to many chart-topping EDM acts. Daft Punk, up until recently and with the exception of the Tron soundtrack, had their releases out through EMI/Virgin.

As far as the album is concerned, the follow-up to 2005’s Human After All is expected to have multiple collaborations. Although the French DJs have not divulged information themselves, publication Le Parisien mentioned the release would be out by spring 2013. Tracks have not been confirmed, but collaborations with other artists over the past two years have included Chic’s Nile Rodgers, Paul Williams, Nathan East, Feist collaborator Chilly Gonzales, and Giorgio Moroder.

With the current presence of EDM, do you think Daft Punk will follow the trends, or will they do something different?