Steve Aoki and 3LAU Make History as First DJs Associated with CryptoPunks in PUNX Supergroup

Steve Aoki and 3LAU announce their new collaboration, PUNX, making them the world’s first DJs to employ the CryptoPunks IP.

Non-fungible tokens aka NFTs have been the subject of contention among artists ever since they became marketable — some think it’s an outright scam, whereas others believe it’s the most punk concept of the digital age. We now know where two of America’s biggest DJs stand on the matter. Grammy-nominated producer and executive Steve Aoki has joined forces with sonic engineer 3LAU to become the world’s first DJs utilizing CryptoPunks NFT characters.

This collaboration will take shape in the form of their new project, PUNX. Believed by many to be at the forefront of the web3 renaissance, Aoki and 3LAU have set out to create an audio-visual IRL-meets-metaverse supergroup. The two recently discovered their spark while working together on the audio/visual NFT collaboration “Jenny,” so the upcoming project isn’t just some shot in the dark.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl1eBpBJU4b/

“I am so excited to announce my new project with 3LAU, PUNX,” Steve Aoki said about the new supergroup. “PUNX is a forward-thinking, conceptual musical art project with a nod to the music we love and the music that shaped who we are today. Though we’ve been friends for 10 years, it was our shared passion for web3 that inspired this collab. Using our own Cryptopunks in the visual imagery is just the start of how we plan on bringing the incredible web3 community into this project. I can’t wait to share what we have created with the world.”

“So excited to announce the beginning of a new musical journey with one of my best friends, Steve Aoki,” 3LAU added. “Over the last few years we’ve navigated the insane world of web3 together and have been wanting to combine our passion for music with that space in an even bigger way, and we’re doing that as PUNX. We can’t wait to share with the world a new sound and all of the crazy ideas we’ve been cooking up in the studio.”

but that doesn't mean there won't be future moments where our music and blockchain tech won't be intertwined. We're excited to explore what this will mean for all of us. Whether you're a hodlr or not, this is something you won't want to miss.

Follow @itsthepunx for updates!

— ▽ (@3LAU) December 6, 2022

Last year, 3LAU released the NFT series, Ultraviolet, breaking every standing NFT sales record. Soon after, he launched Royal, a web3 company that allows fans to co-own music with artists. Meanwhile, Aoki dropped his own record-breaking Dream Catcher NFT collection and Dominion X, the first episodic series on the blockchain. It only makes sense, then, that both these giants in the NFT space would come together, considering their interests already overlap as musicians. The duo plan on putting out new music next year and embarking on a tour as well.

Aoki and 3LAU have become the first DJs to be associated with the CryptoPunks IP following the updated CryptoPunks licensing agreement. PUNX seeks to usher in a new era of innovation for the legacy IP, setting up a platform for other brands, artists, and creators to follow. As with everything crypto-related, you either understand (or claim to understand) what that means or have no clue whatsoever.

Karan Singh

I am an Indian American music journalist based in Los Angeles. My interests include (but aren’t limited to) downtempo, industrial, drum & bass and trip hop. After working in the publishing industry as a copy editor for nearly three years, I decided to switch professions and become a writer. I have a bachelor’s degree in English from UC Santa Cruz and a master’s degree in Specialized Journalism from the University of Southern California. My aim as a writer is to explore the forces that energize creativity. I’ve always felt a natural pull toward the arts and entertainment space, and my stories seek to magnify the facets of its adjoining cultures.

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