Assisted by their fun and apolitical stance, they brought a certain je ne sais quoi to the advertising table. Happy to lend their music to campaigns if the synergy was right and, with a Gallic ‘bof’ and shrug of the shoulders, brand partnerships were forged—because, at its core, the Daft Punk brand is fundamentally fun and sexy.
The strength of their brand meant they were able to change artists’ relationships with the ad industry. Being both energetic yet laid back, Daft Punk pioneered new sonic elements such as heavily compressed and filtered bass, the influence of which can still be heard today.
'There’s nothing wrong with just a little, little fun'
Unafraid to stamp their marker down in advertising, Daft Punk expanded the boundaries of what brands can sound like, as they re-popularized styles and sounds from the ’80s in their music and modernized them for new audiences.
Collaborations with household names, including Nokia, Coca-Cola and Gap, are prime examples of the group's flexibility and willingness to work with commercial brands, knowing that it was the perfect platform to further their message and ultimately increase their brand value. These ads in particular showcase Daft Punk’s music alongside dynamic visuals, in keeping with themes in their music videos that were radically creative.
'Do anybody make real sh*t anymore? Bow in the presence of greatness'
Vital learnings should be taken from how they re-envisioned music in a way that made others want to re-envision on top of it. Combining advertising taglines for lyrics and reimagined funk and soul samples with Roland drum machines led them to whole-is-greater-than-the-sum-of-its-parts music. Their cultural influence went beyond the discotheque. Kanye West’s 2007 record "Stronger," on which he sampled "Harder, Better, Faster," is a perfect example—and also displays how Daft Punk influenced the so-called mainstream elite. Their iconic set at Coachella in 2006 arguably gave birth to the mainstream electronic dance music scene in the US.
In keeping with their genius, Daft Punk’s dedication to zigging while the rest zagged resulted in their return to the use of real-life recorded instruments, which can be heard on their 2013 record "Get Lucky" featuring Pharrell Williams and guitarist Nile Rodgers. They had in essence recorded and created what they themselves had sampled in the beginning of their career.
Daft Punk combined their robotic personas with otherworldly aesthetics; you knew if you were going to a Daft Punk show you were guaranteed an epic time. Their art direction was seamlessly transferred into advertising aesthetics and working with the likes of Spike Jonze on ad campaigns typifies the strength of their brand image.
'Human after all'
Consistent with the standard of videography across their entire career, Daft Punk’s sign-off, posted to YouTube earlier this week, was worthy of the big screen. What better way to bid farewell to a global audience of adoring fans, than an emotional sendoff that, as ever, stayed on brand with their futuristic, out-of-the-box and downright cool imagery. It was simple, beautifully shot and to the point.
As one robot activates the self-destruct button of his partner, followed by a solitary explosion, the duo leaves behind an unrivaled legacy, having created a lingua franca uniting both the mainstream music and advertising industries, where their sonic influence will have an everlasting impact.
Mourning of the pair’s abrupt departure from the music scene has left fans worldwide crying out for one last taste of their genius. One More Time! No? OK, see you at Coachella 2025.