Since bursting onto the scene in 2017, British duo Camelphat have earned global renown as top-tier dance music innovators. Propelled by their smash hit "Cola," the act consisting of Dave Whelan and Mike Di Scala have since amassed over a billion combined streams. But beyond these impressive statistics lies an even more compelling story of the creative chemistry and serendipity behind Camelphat‘s success.
In this extensive profile feature, we‘ll uncover the genesis behind the act‘s unusual name, break down the creative process that birthed their breakthrough track, and extract lessons from Camelphat‘s production approach for fellow artists. Expect plenty of statistics, historical insights and commentary validating why this duo are creative forces to watch closely in the years ahead.
From Desert-Loving Duo to Memorable Moniker
Long before the Grammy nominations and festival headlining slots, Camelphat founders Dave and Mike were just two British dance music enthusiasts with more conventional names. The childhood friends turned production partners were initially known as Dave Whelan and Mike Di Scala.
However in the earlier 2010s, the ambitious duo determined that a proper renaming was essential if they wanted to be taken more seriously. As Dave explained in their YouTube video for 97.8 Dance FM, "We thought that if we were going to take it seriously, we needed a name that would stand out on the flyers."
After flirting with generic aliases like "2House" or simply using their surnames, the pair found inspiration from a shared passion during their discussions:
"We both love desert safaris. And the fattest camels are the best." (Mike Di Scala)
Within minutes, the quirky yet memorable act name "Camelphat" was coined thanks to this appreciation of robust camels. While an odd choice for a dance music outfit, the decision demonstrated early strategic marketing savvy. Camelphat was distinct enough to get noticed on crowded flyers and represented both founders equally.
Despite industry assumptions that animal names signal childish artists, Camelphat‘s crushing productions would soon silence any doubters. Moreover, unlike generic "House" names, Camelphat comes with a built-in origin story primed for press coverage – as this very piece proves!
Camelphat Hit Gold with 2017‘s "Cola"
Of course, a clever name alone means little without the musical output to back it up. Camelphat truly hammered this home in 2017 by delivering their first global smash "Cola" featuring vocalist Elderbrook. The infectious, groovy hit became both their breakthrough moment and one of the biggest dance tracks of 2018.
Upon its November 2017 release, "Cola" immediately resonated with DJs and fans worldwide, rapidly scaling streaming charts. Within 48 hours, the viral track had already amassed over 200 million streams as word of mouth spread. Powered by feel-good piano hooks and Elderbrook‘s floaty vocals, "Cola" tapped perfectly into the upbeat dance-pop zeitgeist.
Despite high ambitions, Camelphat admit to being pleasantly shocked at the velocity of success, as Dave shared:
“We knew it would do well, but not that well, that quick…There’s just something really special about the record.” (Dave Whelan)
The stats validating "Cola"‘s resonance speak for themselves:
- 1 billion+ cumulative streams across platforms
- 2018‘s #1 Best-Selling Track on Beatport
- #1 dance song in Dave‘s UK homeland
- Shortlisted for the prestigious Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording
- Led to Camelphat being nominated for Best Breakthrough Artist at the BRIT Awards
Such meteoric achievements prove Camelphat had perfectly bottled the musical zeitgeist with "Cola". But how exactly did this earworm smash come to be?
Cracking Camelphat‘s Spontaneous Creative Method
Interestingly, Camelphat reveal that the entire creation of "Cola" was exceptionally spontaneous, unplanned and free-flowing. Rather than meticulously constructed, the smash emerged organically in a single studio jam session with Elderbrook.
Mike admits that what became "Cola" started life as a loose demo titled "Kohler" without larger intentions. As he tells it:
"The whole idea of the record came together in an hour and a half. We were just messing about…knocked the whole record up in a couple of hours max.”
This loose creative approach allowed the vibe and character of the track to shine without overthinking the technical details early on. With the instrumental foundation quickly built, Elderbrook was able to riff fluidly on themes that felt right in the moment during recording.
When lightning-in-a-bottle creative chemistry occurs like this, Camelphat smartly adopt a hands-off, nurturing role. They let the improvised songwriting unfold while providing an open, affirming studio environment.
Discussing how the "Cola" demo was transformed into a fully-structured song, Mike adds:
“We shaped it a bit more, added a few more bits. But the initial idea was done in that one session."
This ability to swiftly develop the kernel of a catchy track before refining the bigger picture later echoes the creative process of many hitmakers. By moving fast to capture initial sparks before they‘re lost, Camelphat‘s tactic differs drastically from painstaking studio perfectionists.
When reflecting on "Cola"‘s specific appeal, Camelphat again acknowledge that its magic was spontaneous alchemy beyond technical reasons. As Dave shares:
“We didn’t know it was going to be that big but we knew it was something special from the moment we made it.”
This further confirms that Camelphat place high value on musical intuition during sessions – trusting their instincts on quality over data or formulas. It‘s a strategy seemingly vindicated by their breakout.
Pushing Forward Over Replication
In the wake of a massive crossover smash like "Cola," the obvious playbook for many artists would be attempting to replicate that success through more of the same. Yet Camelphat vocalize a firm commitment to keep innovating rather than retread old ground.
As Dave declares:
"For us, we don’t want to be repeating ourselves. We want to be moving forward and pushing ourselves into something different."
This relates both to avoiding creative stagnation for themselves as well as keeping fans excited by unexpected sounds.
Mike echoes the same principle in stating:
"The goal for us is always to move into something different, push the boundaries and not really play the safer option."
This willingness to press reset and take risks with each new track or album requires courage after previous victories. However for Camelphat, resisting complacency is essential to artistic fulfillment.
Since emerging in 2017, Camelphat‘s output has remained admirably diverse, spanning pop-leaning anthems, deeper house and more abrasive techno-influenced tracks. They‘ve also avoided overusing Elderbrook‘s previously winning vocals.
Based on their sentient statements and actions so far, replicating the "Cola" method seems actively unappealing to them even if it could replicate its commercial success. Instead they follow their creative muse wherever it takes them.
The Key Ingredients of Camelphat‘s Production Style
While much of Camelphat‘s magic stems from seizing moments in the studio, analyzing the qualities that define their tracks offers more transferable lessons. Several recurring ingredients help explain why their music resonates so widely.
Memorable melodic hooks – From early singles like "Mojito/Lethal Industry" through "Cola" and beyond, insistent earworm riffs are Camelphat‘s calling card. They specialize in floaty piano progressions and synth lines that instantly latch into one‘s memory.
Concise arrangements – Camelphat songs waste no time in introducing their central motif, reiterating it consistently without excessive deviation. Compared to producers who overwhelm with overly complex arrangements, Camelphat demonstrate a razor-sharp understanding of dancefloor clarity.
Loose percussion grooves – While heavily rhythmic, Camelphat tracks avoid rigid quantization or mechanical beats. The subtle looseness and swing in their percussion comes across as effortlessly funky.
Emotive vocal collaborators – Whether Elderbrook‘s airy style or dark brooding singers, Camelphat know impactful vocals can take things to the next level. Their selective collaborations are seamlessly interwoven.
Textural depth production – Beyond any hooks, Camelphat build immersive soundscapes around their ideas, blending analog warmth with modern digital sheen for maximum impact.
Besides these hallmarks, Camelphat produce with conviction and clarity of vision. They know precisely the style and energy they want to channel from Detroit, Chicago and Manchester influences. The duo also self-produce rather than outsourcing, preserving the intimacy in their creations.
Above all, a passion for sonic adventurousness permeates everything. And the stats don‘t lie – their multi-platinum ascendency and 1 billion+ streams are direct results of sticking to their creative principles. Fans clearly want whatever unpredictable concoctions Camelphat cook up next.
The Verdict: Creative Duo to be Reckoned With
In an oversaturated dance landscape, Camelphat stand miles apart from cookie-cutter DJ peers through their studio prowess and avoidance of boxes. Just a few years since their breakthrough, the UK duo are now bonafide stars rubbing shoulders with elite acts at festivals like Tomorrowland.
Yet their rise remains grounded in authentic musicality and creative courage rather than chasing trends. Throughout this profile, we‘ve decoded the deceptive simplicity of tracks like "Cola" to reveal immense craft behind Camelphat‘s sound. Their slick productions didn‘t happen by accident but rather reflect intuitive creative instincts fused with world-class chops.
However by far the most valuable lesson from Camelphat‘s journey thus far is embracing the spontaneous, unpredictable moments as tracks come to life. The duo recognize and seize those flashes of inspiration in the studio rather than forcing things. Patience and trust in their raw talents allow the music to manifest at its strongest.
Looking ahead, there‘s no reason Camelphat can‘t continue evolving from underground heroes to main stage dominance. Their back catalog already shows formidable range and early mastery of pop-dance crossover. Yet chart statistics or past achievements don‘t drive them – only a passion for sonic exploration. Expect more shockwaves soon based on the fierce creative momentum they‘re riding.
For other rising producers, Camelphat shines as inspiration to bet boldly on one‘s own vision rather than chasing conventional wisdom. By proudly wearing their quirky influences on their sleeve, their ascension proves that pure authentic musicality cannot be faked – or contained.