Bag Raiders

Known for synthy, dance-oriented electro-pop, Australian duo Bag Raiders broke through in 2007 with their hit “Fun Punch.” The band’s 2010 eponymous full-length also spawned the single “Shooting Stars,” which gained further attention after it became attached to an online meme in 2017.
Founded in 2005 in Sydney, Bag Raiders is comprised of Chris Stracey and Jack Glass. The duo initially met while attending Sydney’s Cranbrook School, where they were both classically trained musicians. They initially made their mark as remixers, working with Sneaky Sound System, Lost Valentinos, Muscles, Midnight Juggernauts, Kid Sister, Cut Copy, and ZZZ, among others. They made their solo production debut in 2007 with The Bag Raiders EP on Bang Gang 12 Inches. Later licensed by Fool’s Gold for American release, the EP included the club favorite “Fun Punch,” a breakout hit for the duo that was licensed for numerous compilations and DJ mix albums, most prominently Ministry of Sound Australia’s The 2008 Annual (2007). Subsequent Bag Raiders EPs released on Bang Gang 12 Inches include Bag Raiders Remixed (2008), Turbo Love (2008), and Turbo Love Remixes (2009). Along with recording, they began playing live, touring Australia in 2008 as part of the Parklife festival.
They released their first album, Bag Raiders, for Modular in late 2010. It peaked at number seven on the Aria charts, buoyed in part by the single “Shooting Stars.” Over the next few years, the duo stayed busy issuing singles including 2015′s “Checkmate” with Benjamin Joseph and 2016′s “Beat Me to the Punch” with Mayer Hawthorne. “Shooting Stars” gained a second life in 2017 after it was attached to an online meme featuring people floating through space. In 2019, Bag Raiders issued their sophomore full-length, Horizons. They also paired with Mickey Kojak for the track “Wild at Heart” and issued the single “Lightning” featuring the Kite String Tangle. ~ Jason Birchmeier