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Bag Raiders
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Bag Raiders are an Australian electronic music duo founded in 2006 by Jack Glass and Chris Stracey. They play keyboards, drums, and act as vocalists, producers, and remixers, with Stracey additionally playing guitar, violin and piano. They also write and produce other artists' work. In 2009, they were rated at number 11 on the Inthemix poll of Australia's top 50 DJs.[1]
Key Information
In October 2010, they released their self-titled debut album, which peaked at number 7 on the ARIA Albums Chart and received a J Award album of the year nomination. The album's song "Shooting Stars" renewed the band's popularity seven years after its release, when it began being used as part of a popular Internet meme.
History
[edit]Both classically trained musicians, Jack Glass and Chris Stracey met in the Cranbrook School, Sydney orchestra practice room with Glass a year ahead playing piano and cello, and Stracey playing violin, guitar and clarinet.[2] In 2005, the pair reconnected and started mixing hip-hop and 1970s rock music CDs,[3] their musical inspirations include Earth, Wind & Fire, The Brothers Johnson, 808 State and Orbital.[4][5][6] Bag Raiders as an alternative dance band was then founded in 2006.
The duo first gained traction in with the release of their October 2008 EP Turbo Love!.[7] The EP's title track became one of the year's most played songs on Triple J, Australia's foremost national radio station.[5] During this time Bag Raiders were making a slew of remixes some of which gained a lot of popularity on the internet. Their remix of "B.T.T.T.T.R.Y." by the artist K.I.M. ended up being included in the Grand Theft Auto IV soundtrack[8]
In June 2009, Bag Raiders were signed to Modular.[9] In August 2009, the released "Shooting Stars".[9] It was listed at No. 18 in the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2009.[10] This was followed by "Way Back Home" in August 2010.
In October 2010, Bag Raiders released their self-titled debut studio album, Bag Raiders. It peaked at number 7 on the ARIA Albums Chart. "Sunlight", was released to Australian radio in November 2010 and it peaked at No. 84 on the ARIA Top 100.[11]
In 2011, "Way Back Home" peaked at number 17 on the official German Singles Chart on 6 June 2011 after being used in the German Vodafone TV advertisement[4][12]
In August 2013, "Shooting Stars" re-entered the ARIA Singles Chart, reaching the top 50 at #38.[13]
In 2017, "Shooting Stars" became popular again after being placed in an internet meme featuring people as well as animals falling with surreal, spacey backgrounds.[14] The song's renewed popularity has since been acknowledged by the band itself.[15]
In September 2019, Bag Raiders released their second studio album, Horizons.
Discography
[edit]Studio albums
[edit]| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS [16][17] |
GER [18] | ||
| Bag Raiders |
|
7 | 36 |
| Horizons |
|
—[A] | - |
Extended plays
[edit]| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Bag Raiders |
|
| Bag Raiders Remixed |
|
| Turbo Love! |
|
| Big Fun |
|
| Nairobi/Savannah |
|
| Waterfalls |
|
| Friend Inside |
|
| Checkmate |
|
Singles
[edit]| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS [16] |
AUT [25] |
CAN [26] |
FRA [27] |
GER [18] |
NZ [28] |
UK [29] |
US Bub. [30] |
US Dance [31] | ||||
| "Fun Punch"[32] | 2007 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Bag Raiders | |
| "Turbo Love"[33] | 2008 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Turbo Love! | |
| "Shooting Stars" | 2009 | 38 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Way Back Home" | 2010 | 68 | 31 | — | — | 17 | — | — | — | — | Bag Raiders | |
| "Sunlight"[36] | 84 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ||
| "Not Over"[38] | 2011 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Nairobi"[21][39] | 2014 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Nairobi/Savannah | |
| "Waterfalls"[22] | 2015 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Waterfalls | |
| "Checkmate" (featuring Benjamin Joseph)[24] |
2016 | 100 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Checkmate | |
| "Beat Me to the Punch" (featuring Mayer Hawthorne)[40] |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles | ||
| "Shooting Stars" (re-release)[41] | 2017 | — | 56 | 88 | 94 | 55 | — | 83 | 9 | 11 | ||
| "Lightning" (featuring The Kite String Tangle)[43] |
2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Horizons | |
| "Wild at Heart" (featuring Mickey Kojak)[44] |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "How Long" (featuring Panama)[45] |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "UR Heart"[46][47] | 2022 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles | |
| "Never Forget"[47] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Letting Go"[48] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Love Me Back"[49] | 2023 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Right Here"/"Saliba"[50] | — | — | — | — | — | 25 | — | — | — | |||
| "Save Me" (with Boston Bun)[51] |
2024 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Flowers" (with Panama)[52] |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Hold Me"[53] | 2025 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
Awards and nominations
[edit]ARIA Awards
[edit]The ARIA Music Awards are annual awards, which recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Bag Raiders | Best Dance Release | Nominated | [54] |
APRA Awards
[edit]The APRA Awards are held in Australia and New Zealand by the Australasian Performing Right Association to recognise songwriting skills, sales and airplay performance by its members annually.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | "Sunlight" (Jack Glass, Christopher Stracey) | Dance Work of the Year | Nominated | [55] |
| 2025 | "Got Me Started" by Troye Sivan (Troye Sivan, Styalz Fuego, Jack Glass, Christopher Stracey, Ian Kirkpatrick, Brett McLaughlin, Tayla Parx) | Most Performed Australian Work | Nominated | [56] |
| Most Performed Pop Work | Nominated |
J Award
[edit]The J Awards are an annual series of Australian music awards that were established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's youth-focused radio station Triple J. They commenced in 2005.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Bag Raiders | Australian Album of the Year | Nominated | [57] |
Notes
[edit]- ^ Horizons did not enter the ARIA Albums Chart, but peaked at number 43 on the ARIA Digital Album Chart.[20]
References
[edit]- ^ "Sony inthemix50: 2009". Archived from the original on 9 June 2011.
- ^ Murfett, Andrew (11 November 2010). "Pop Can Be a DJ's Best Friend". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
- ^ "Featured Artists | Bag Raiders". Oratory of Sound. 20 February 2012. Archived from the original on 17 March 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
- ^ a b Hofmann, Robin (14 January 2012). "Bag Raiders (Jack Glass and Chris Stacey): The Latest Newcomer Duo on the Electro Scene". Liga Studios (Liga Nova). Archived from the original on 8 June 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
- ^ a b "Bag Raiders". J Play. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
- ^ Bag Raiders discography at MusicBrainz. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
- ^ a b "Bag Raiders Turbo Love EP Release & Tour". Pedestrian. 9 October 2008. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "GTA IV Soundtrack". Complex Networks. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
- ^ a b c "Bag Raiders sign to Modular, tour". RA. 30 June 2009. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "Triple J's 2009 Hottest 100 dissected". NewsComAu. 27 January 2010. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
- ^ "The Aria Report : Ariafacts" (PDF). webarchive.nla.gov.au. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 May 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
- ^ "Vodafone Fernsehwerbung Ich will schnell sein: Song Way back home". Archived from the original on 30 April 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
- ^ "australian-charts.com – Bag Raiders – Shooting Stars". Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
- ^ Earp, Joseph (9 February 2017). "'Shooting Stars' meme blends epic fails with one electro track and it's taking over". Mashable. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
- ^ "Bag Raiders Are Chuffed 'Shooting Stars' Is A Meme, But Have No Clue Why". Pedestrian.TV. 13 February 2017. Archived from the original on 16 February 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
- ^ a b "Discography Bag Raiders (Australia)". Hung Medien. australian-charts.com. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
- ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 23.
- ^ a b "Discography Bag Raiders (Germany)". german-charts.com. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
- ^ "Bag Raiders Horizons – CD". Music Glue. Archived from the original on 27 July 2019. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
- ^ "ARIA Australian Top 50 Digital Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. 16 September 2019. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
- ^ a b "Bag Raiders: "Nairobi"". Lagasta. 12 June 2014. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ a b "Bag Raiders Go Chasing 'Waterfalls' on New Single". Spin Magazine. 16 July 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "Hear Bag Raiders New EP 'Friend Inside'". 13 December 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ a b "Sydney electronic duo Bag Raiders have released their new EP Checkmate, and we're kind of losing our heads to its lead single Checkmate". AAA BackStage. 16 March 2016. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "Discographie Bag Raiders". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- ^ "Bag Raiders Chart History: Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 2 March 2020.[dead link]
- ^ "Discographie Bag Raiders" [Discography Bag Raiders]. lescharts.com (in French). Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 1 January 2024. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
- ^ "Bag Raiders Official Chart History". Official Charts. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "Bag Raiders Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- ^ "Bag Raiders Chart History: Hot Dance/Electronic Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- ^ "Bag Raiders Fun Punch". Universal Music Publishing. 2007. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "Bag Raiders "Turbo Love"". XLR8R. October 2008. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
- ^ a b "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Bag Raiders)" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
- ^ "Bag Raiders: 'Sunlight' Video". Lagasta. December 2010. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2018 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
- ^ "Watch: Bag Raiders "Not Over" Video". Pedestrian. June 2011. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "Bag Raiders Nairobi". Beat Magazine. 2014. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "Beat Me to the Punch – single". iTunes Australia. 18 November 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
- ^ "Shooting Stars – single". iTunes Store. 17 March 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
- ^ "Bag Raiders Shooting Stars". British Phonographic Industry. June 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "'Lightning' – Out This Friday!". Bag Raiders. Archived from the original on 1 March 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
- ^ "Wild at Heart (feat. Mickey Kojak) – Single by Bag Raiders". iTunes. 17 May 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
- ^ @bag_raiders (25 July 2019). "Bag Raiders tweet about new single "How Long"" (Tweet). Retrieved 25 July 2019 – via Twitter.
- ^ "UR Heart ❤️ our new jam, dropping on the world wide web this Friday 🏄♂️". Twitter. 22 March 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
- ^ a b "Bag Raiders celebrate transformative experiences on new single 'Never Forget'". NME. 10 June 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "Bag Raiders Invite You to Free Your Mind on the Dancefloor with New Single Letting Go". EDM. 31 October 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "Bag Raiders Bring Meg Mac to the Dancefloor on 'Love Me Back'". Rolling Stone Australia. 7 July 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- ^ "Bag Raiders drop a double A-Side, 'Right Here / Saliba',". Happy Mag. 18 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "Boston Bun & Bag Raiders – 'SAVE ME'". Acid Stag. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ "we give you Flowers 🌸 our new record with Panama". YouTube. 16 August 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
- ^ "Bag Raiders Hold Me". Rockol. 25 July 2025. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
- ^ "The Countdown Begins....Nominations Announced". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). 11 October 2011. Archived from the original on 27 December 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
- ^ "Nominations > Dance Work of the Year – 2012". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). 2012. Archived from the original on 12 May 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
- ^ "2025 APRA Music Awards Nominees Include Kevin Parker, King Stingray, Missy Higgins, Tones And I, and Troye Sivan". noise11. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Tame Impala Win 2010 J Award". loudnlocal. 30 November 2010. Archived from the original on 28 March 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
External links
[edit]Bag Raiders
View on GrokipediaBackground
Members
Bag Raiders is an electronic music duo consisting of Jack Glass and Chris Stracey, both natives of Sydney, Australia.[9][10] Jack Glass serves as the primary keyboardist and drummer for the duo, contributing to their live performances and productions with his percussion and synth expertise.[11] He developed an early interest in electronic music during his school years, experimenting with sounds alongside orchestral training on piano and cello.[9] Chris Stracey handles keyboards, guitar, violin, and piano, bringing a multifaceted instrumental approach shaped by his classical violin training from a young age before transitioning to electronic production and guitar.[11][12] Like Glass, he explored electronica amid his formal music education.[13] Glass and Stracey, who both attended Cranbrook School in Sydney, first met during their time there through shared orchestra experiences and a mutual affinity for electronic sounds, with no other permanent members since.[9][14] They occasionally collaborate with artists like Boston Bun on select tracks.[15]Formation
Bag Raiders, consisting of Jack Glass and Chris Stracey, originated in Sydney, Australia, during the mid-2000s when the two met as students at Cranbrook School.[13] Both classically trained musicians, they connected in the school orchestra practice room—Glass a year ahead of Stracey—where they bonded over a mutual passion for electronic and dance music, despite their formal training in instruments like piano and cello.[9] This shared interest laid the foundation for their collaborative venture, marking their entry into music production without any prior band experience.[1] The duo formally formed in 2006, deciding to create original tracks together using basic home recording setups in the wake of their school years.[1] Their initial efforts centered on blending synth-pop melodies with house rhythms, drawing from their enthusiasm for electronic genres to craft upbeat, dance-oriented sounds.[16]Career
Early career (2006–2009)
Following their formation in Sydney in 2006, Bag Raiders—comprising Jack Glass and Chris Stracey—began experimenting with electronic music production, drawing from the city's vibrant club scene in the mid-2000s. The duo quickly established themselves locally by releasing their self-titled EP in 2007 through the independent Australian label Bang Gang 12 Inches, marking their entry into the underground electronic community.[17][18] Building on this, they issued their breakthrough single "Turbo Love!" on October 15, 2008, again via Bang Gang 12 Inches, which became a cult favorite in Australia's electronic underground for its infectious house and electro influences. The track's release was accompanied by a national tour of intimate venues, helping to solidify their reputation among dance music enthusiasts. Initial reception highlighted the EP's role in positioning Bag Raiders as rising staples in Sydney's nightlife circuit.[19][20][21] In June 2009, Bag Raiders signed with the prominent independent label Modular Recordings, a move that expanded their reach beyond local imprints. Their first release under the deal, the single "Shooting Stars" (originally from the Turbo Love! EP), arrived in August 2009 and charted at number 44 on the ARIA Top 50 Australian Artist Singles year-end list, reflecting growing domestic buzz.[18][22][23] During this period, the duo focused on building a live presence through small club performances in Sydney and Melbourne, such as their appearance at the Good Vibrations Festival in Melbourne in February 2008, without venturing into international tours. These early shows emphasized their keyboard-driven sets and energetic electro-disco sound, fostering a dedicated grassroots following in Australia's electronic scene.[24][25]Debut album and rise to fame (2010–2011)
Bag Raiders released their self-titled debut studio album on October 1, 2010, through Modular Recordings.[26] The album debuted and peaked at number 7 on the ARIA Albums Chart, marking their first significant commercial breakthrough in Australia.[27] Key tracks from the record included "Way Back Home," which achieved international success by reaching number 17 on the German Singles Chart.[28] To promote the album, the duo embarked on a nationwide tour across Australia, performing at festivals such as Parklife in Sydney and club shows in cities like Canberra starting in October 2010.[29] This was followed by their first international performances in early 2011, including a series of live shows in Europe and subsequent gigs in Asia, expanding their exposure beyond domestic audiences.[30] Critics praised the album for its infectious blend of nu-disco rhythms and electro-house elements, describing it as an "easy listen with an extremely gratifying sound" that drew on 1980s pop and disco influences.[31] The release earned an ARIA Award nomination for Best Dance Release in 2011.[32] It also received a nomination for Album of the Year at the Triple J J Awards.[30] The album's success contributed to a growing fanbase, bolstered by increased airplay on Australian national radio station Triple J, where tracks like "Way Back Home" ranked at number 46 in the 2010 Hottest 100 countdown.[33] This period solidified Bag Raiders' reputation in the electronic music scene without any notable controversies.[1]"Shooting Stars" revival and hiatus (2012–2018)
Following the release of their self-titled debut album in 2011, Bag Raiders maintained a lower profile with sporadic original releases. In July 2014, they issued the Nairobi EP on Modular Recordings, a four-track collection featuring the title track "Nairobi" and "Savannah," blending their signature synth-pop with tech house elements.[34] This was followed in 2015 by the EPs Waterfalls (July 17, 2015) and Friend Inside (December 11, 2015), both released via Modular Recordings, showcasing the duo's continued exploration of upbeat electronic sounds.[35][36] In 2016, they released the Checkmate EP, marking their final major original output during this era.[3] A pivotal moment came in 2017 when "Shooting Stars," originally released as a single in 2009 with limited initial chart success (peaking at number 62 on the ARIA Singles Chart), experienced a dramatic revival through an internet meme. The trend involved user-generated YouTube videos editing footage of people falling, diving, or tumbling through space to the song's iconic synth riff and instrumental break, starting with early examples like the 2016 clip "Fat Man does amazing dive" by All Ski Casino and exploding in popularity by early 2017.[37] Popularized further by creators like Grandayy with remixes featuring figures such as Donald Trump, the meme became one of the year's most prominent viral phenomena, helping to bridge the gap in short-form video trends after Vine's decline.[37] The meme's success significantly boosted the track's visibility and streams, transforming it into a cultural touchstone used in advertisements, media, and online content. By 2018, "Shooting Stars" had been certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for sales and streams exceeding 70,000 units in Australia.[1] During this period, the duo shifted emphasis toward remixing and production work for other artists, including their 2015 remix of Starsmith's "Leave Me Slowly," while scaling back original material and live performances.[38] This phase culminated in a creative hiatus, with no new full-length album until their 2019 return, allowing members Jack Glass and Chris Stracey to recharge amid the unexpected resurgence.Horizons and return (2019–2021)
Following their extended hiatus, Bag Raiders returned with their second studio album, Horizons, released on September 6, 2019, through Modular Recordings and Island Records Australia.[39] The 12-track record documented the duo's personal and artistic evolution over the preceding eight years, incorporating themes of love's anticipation and return, as well as broader reflections on youth, loss, and growth.[40] Jack Glass and Chris Stracey drew from global recording sessions and collaborations with artists like Panama and The Kite String Tangle, creating a sound that blended anthemic disco house, synth-pop, and emotive breakbeats.[39] Critics praised Horizons for its matured production and cohesive energy, marking a shift from the high-octane dance focus of their debut toward more introspective, tropical-infused grooves suitable for both club play and reflective listening.[39] Atwood Magazine highlighted the album's variation across genres like tropical house and drum-and-bass, noting its departure from earlier work while maintaining an accessible, sunset-ready vibe that resonated with longtime fans.[40] Tracks such as "Wild at Heart" and "Back to Myself" exemplified this depth, earning acclaim for their infectious melodies and emotional layering without relying on massive commercial singles.[39] To promote the album, Bag Raiders embarked on a nationwide Australian tour in late 2019, performing in major cities including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, and Wollongong.[41] They extended their live shows to North America in early 2020, with dates at venues like Schubas Tavern in Chicago and The Independent in San Francisco.[42][43] However, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 halted further touring plans, limiting their return to primarily pre-lockdown performances and reinforcing fan connections through existing recordings rather than new live experiences. The album's release ultimately bolstered their dedicated following, emphasizing artistic consistency over chart dominance.[40]Recent releases (2022–present)
Following the momentum from their 2019 album Horizons, Bag Raiders resumed releasing music independently through their Broken Head Records label, beginning with a series of singles in 2022. Their first post-hiatus track, "UR Heart," dropped on March 25, 2022, marking a return to their signature upbeat electronic sound with nostalgic synth elements. This was quickly followed by "Never Forget" on June 10, 2022, a dreamy house track that celebrated personal transformation and received positive reception for its retro influences.[44][45][46][47] In 2023, the duo continued their singles-focused approach with the EP Love Me Back (lead single released July 5, 2023), which featured high-energy production and announced their U.S. tour dates, emphasizing live performance integration.[48][49][50] Later that year, on December 15, 2023, they issued the double A-side "Right Here / Saliba," blending funky basslines and atmospheric builds to showcase their evolving dance-pop style. These releases highlighted Bag Raiders' shift toward digital platforms for direct fan engagement without a full album commitment.[51][52] The year 2024 saw Bag Raiders expand into collaborations, starting with "Save Me" alongside Boston Bun on July 5, 2024, a collaborative house track that fused their styles for a vibrant, club-ready sound. This was followed by "Flowers" with Panama on August 16, 2024, a melodic electronic piece that explored themes of renewal and appeared on Panama's upcoming album. These partnerships underscored the duo's active role in the broader electronic scene.[53][54][55][56] By 2025, Bag Raiders maintained their output with "Hold Me," released on July 25, 2025, via The Cross Records—a feel-good house track with disco-infused production that balanced emotional depth and dancefloor appeal. They also contributed remixes, including a version of "Leave Me Slowly" in January 2025 and remix of Troye Sivan's "Got Me Started," released on March 20, 2024. Alongside these, the duo has remained active with live sets and festival appearances, such as headlining Live at the Gardens in Melbourne on November 29, 2025. As of November 2025, no third studio album has been announced, with the focus staying on sporadic singles, remixes, and performances.[57][58][59][60][61]Musical style and influences
Style
Bag Raiders' music is primarily rooted in electro house, nu-disco, and synth-pop genres, featuring upbeat synth melodies, driving basslines, and nostalgic 80s influences that evoke a retro-futuristic vibe.[62][63] Their tracks often blend infectious, hook-driven arrangements with pulsating rhythms designed for both club play and personal listening, emphasizing layered electronic textures over complex structures.[64] The duo's style has evolved notably over time. Their early work from 2008 to 2010 was more dance-floor oriented, prioritizing high-energy, instrumental builds suited to electronic sets and remixes.[64] Following an extended hiatus from 2012 to 2018, their post-2019 output, including the album Horizons, shifted toward incorporating emotional, melodic layers, adopting a more subdued and balmy tone with chillwave and house elements while retaining core synth-driven propulsion.[65][40] However, their 2020s releases, such as the 2023 EP Love Me Back and the 2025 single "Hold Me," marked a return to vibrant, dancefloor-ready vibes blending high-energy house and disco-house.[66][67] This evolution reflects a maturation in their approach, balancing introspective, atmospheric soundscapes with relentless energy. In production, Bag Raiders employ a mix of analog synthesizers such as the Korg MS-20, Roland Jupiter-8, and modular systems, often synced with software like Ableton or Logic for sketching and refinement.[64][68] They incorporate live drums for organic grooves, violin elements played by Chris Stracey to add emotive strings, and process sounds through guitar pedals for texture, all developed within a DIY ethos centered on home studios and improvisational jamming sessions.[69][70] A hallmark of their sound is the creation of catchy, memorable hooks, as exemplified by the iconic synth riff in "Shooting Stars," which builds tension through repetitive motifs without relying on heavy vocals.[64] Most tracks maintain a focus on instrumental or minimally vocalized compositions, prioritizing melodic synth lines and rhythmic drive over lyrical content.[65]Influences
Bag Raiders' music draws from a diverse array of influences spanning classic funk, pop, and electronic genres, reflecting the duo's eclectic tastes. Jack Glass and Chris Stracey have cited artists such as Earth, Wind & Fire, Hall & Oates, Prince, Michael Jackson, and Fleetwood Mac as foundational inspirations, particularly for their rhythmic grooves and melodic hooks that inform the duo's upbeat, nostalgic sound.[64][69] Modern electronic acts like Daft Punk also played a significant role, with the duo embracing the French house movement's emphasis on infectious beats and synth-driven production during their early development.[71] Additionally, experimental electronic influences from Aphex Twin, Amon Tobin, and Boards of Canada contributed to their textural depth and innovative layering.[69] The Australian dance scene shaped Bag Raiders' roots, as they emerged alongside contemporaries like Cut Copy and Midnight Juggernauts, producing remixes that highlighted shared indie-dance sensibilities and electro-house energy.[72] Their involvement in Sydney's mid-2000s club culture, mentored by the Bang Gang DJs, exposed them to bloghouse and early electronic parties, fostering a high-energy, party-oriented approach to music-making.[13] Classical elements stem from Stracey's background as a violinist, having been classically trained from a young age, which introduced organic string textures and melodic phrasing into their electronic compositions.[73][69] This training, combined with Glass's drumming and keyboard skills, allowed the duo to blend live instrumentation with synthesized sounds. These influences manifest in Bag Raiders' work through a signature fusion of retro synth elements—evoking 1970s and 1980s pop-funk—with contemporary house rhythms, creating tracks that balance emotional depth and dancefloor propulsion.[64][71]Discography
Studio albums
Bag Raiders have released two studio albums to date. Their self-titled debut album, Bag Raiders, was released on 1 October 2010 by Modular Recordings.[74] The album features 11 tracks and debuted at number 7 on the ARIA Albums Chart, where it spent three weeks in total.[27] It received a gold certification from ARIA for shipments exceeding 35,000 units.[75] Key track "Way Back Home" highlighted the album's electro house style and contributed to its commercial success.[30]| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Castles in the Air | 3:33 |
| 2 | Sunlight | 4:03 |
| 3 | Shooting Stars | 3:56 |
| 4 | So Demanding | 3:45 |
| 5 | Gone Away | 2:47 |
| 6 | Prelude | 3:08 |
| 7 | Not Over | 4:00 |
| 8 | Snake Charmer | 4:02 |
| 9 | Always | 3:46 |
| 10 | Golden Wings | 4:45 |
| 11 | Way Back Home | 4:11 |
| No. | Title (featuring if applicable) | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Faraway | 4:00 |
| 2 | I Need You | 3:58 |
| 3 | How Long (feat. Panama) | 4:21 |
| 4 | Wild at Heart (feat. Mickey Kojak) | 3:26 |
| 5 | Back to Myself (feat. Tora) | 3:45 |
| 6 | Medicine | 5:22 |
| 7 | Lazy | 3:36 |
| 8 | Lightning (feat. The Kite String Tangle) | 3:50 |
| 9 | I'll Be Loving You | 3:38 |
| 10 | Breakdown | 4:51 |
| 11 | Anchor | 4:49 |
| 12 | In This Life | 4:59 |
Extended plays
Bag Raiders released their debut extended play, Turbo Love!, on October 8, 2008, through the independent Australian label Bang Gang 12 Inches.[80] The EP consists of four tracks, including the title track "Turbo Love" and its "Raiders Slamball Revision," alongside "Turbo Love (Tough Love Edition)" and another remix variation, totaling approximately 18 minutes of runtime.[81] As their first major project, it introduced the duo's signature blend of electronic house and electro elements, marking an early showcase of their production style during their formative years.[20] In 2014, Bag Raiders issued the Nairobi EP via Modular Recordings, with the digital release occurring on July 4 and physical formats following shortly after.[34] This EP features the originals "Nairobi" and "Savannah," both clocking in around five minutes each, emphasizing an experimental house sound with deep and tech house influences, expanded to four tracks with remixes including "Nairobi (Zombie Disco Squad Remix)" and "Savannah (Roland Tings Remix)," adding layered electronic textures.[82] While it received attention within electronic music circles for its atmospheric production, the EP achieved limited commercial charting success.[83] In July 2015, Bag Raiders released the Waterfalls EP on Modular Recordings. The three-track EP, including the title track "Waterfalls," "Time," and "One Two," explored tropical and melodic electronic sounds, with a runtime of about 15 minutes, and was praised for its summery vibes in dance music outlets.[84] The Friend Inside EP followed in December 2015 via Modular Recordings, featuring three tracks: "Friend Inside," "Time Will Tell," and "One Two (Bag Raiders Re-Edit)." It continued their evolution toward more emotive, synth-driven productions, with a total length of approximately 13 minutes.[85] In February 2016, the Checkmate EP was issued on Modular Recordings, comprising three tracks including "Checkmate" (feat. Benjamin Joseph), "Beat Me to the Punch," and "Savannah (Bag Raiders Re-Edit)." The EP, around 13 minutes long, highlighted collaborative elements and punchy house rhythms.[86] In July 2023, Bag Raiders released the Love Me Back EP through their Broken Head Records label. The EP features high-energy tracks blending funk and house, including the title track "Love Me Back" (feat. Meg Mac), with a focus on dancefloor appeal and streaming success.[87]Singles
Bag Raiders have released several standalone singles throughout their career, with "Shooting Stars" emerging as their most enduring hit due to its initial chart performance and later viral resurgence. While the duo has not achieved a number-one single on major charts, their tracks have garnered significant digital streams, particularly following the 2017 meme revival of "Shooting Stars," which has amassed over 4 billion streams across platforms.[59][88] Their early singles from the late 2000s and early 2010s achieved moderate chart success in Australia and Europe. "Shooting Stars," released on August 7, 2009, peaked at number 38 on the ARIA Singles Chart and later received platinum certification in Australia for sales exceeding 70,000 units.[89][1] "Way Back Home," issued in 2010, reached number 17 on the German Singles Chart (Offizielle Deutsche Charts).[90] In the 2020s, Bag Raiders shifted toward independent releases via their Broken Head Records imprint, focusing on high-energy electronic tracks often featuring collaborations. These later singles have emphasized streaming performance over traditional radio airplay, contributing to the duo's sustained popularity in the dance music scene without notable chart peaks.| Year | Title | Peak Chart Positions | Certifications | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | "Shooting Stars" | AUS: 38 | AUS: Platinum | Viral revival in 2017 via memes; over 4 billion global streams.[89][1][59] |
| 2010 | "Way Back Home" | GER: 17 | — | Featured on debut album; 16 million+ Spotify streams.[90] |
| 2022 | "UR Heart" | — | — | Debut release on Broken Head Records; 1.2 million+ Spotify streams.[44][59] |
| 2022 | "Never Forget" | — | — | Club edit available; 300,000+ Spotify streams.[46][59] |
| 2023 | "Love Me Back" | — | — | High-energy single; 500,000+ Spotify streams.[48] |
| 2023 | "Right Here" | — | — | Double A-side with "Saliba"; 200,000+ combined streams.[51] |
| 2023 | "Saliba" | — | — | Double A-side with "Right Here."[51] |
| 2024 | "Save Me" (feat. Boston Bun) | — | — | Collaboration via Future Classic; 100,000+ Spotify streams.[53] |
| 2024 | "Flowers" (feat. Panama) | — | — | Released on Future Classic; 500,000+ Spotify streams.[55] |
| 2024 | "Got Me Started (Bag Raiders Remix)" | — | — | Remix of Troye Sivan track, sampling Bag Raiders' work.[5] |
| 2025 | "Hold Me" | — | — | Released on The Cross Records.[57] |
