Louis The Child

Chicago-area duo Louis the Child blend a mainstream-ready pop spirit with pulsing dance beats, creating affirmative and uplifting electronic anthems fit for both clubs and festival stages. Incorporating the occasional hip-hop and alternative rock edge into their songs, the pair have collaborated with the likes of Foster the People, Future, Icona Pop, K.Flay, and more since emerging on the scene in 2013. After spending the 2010s issuing EPs and building their fan base with steady touring, they released their official debut full-length, Here for Now, in 2020. Collaborations with the likes of A R I Z O N A, Theophilus London, and Kasbo followed, plus further EPs like 2022′s To Believe. They’ve also released a series of instrumental beat tapes, including two Candy volumes and 2022′s Black Marble. The pair — Robert "Robby" David Hauldren and Frederic “Freddy” Judson Kennett — actually went to the same high school in Winnetka, Illinois, but their paths never crossed. They each had their own respective musical projects as well: while Hauldren manned the turntables as Haul Pass, Kennett produced under the moniker Fatboy. After meeting on March 18, 2012, at a Madeon show, they decided to join forces and start making music together, even though Kennett was wrapping up high school and Hauldren had just enrolled at the University of Southern California. They titled their debut EP Dimensions and would release a series of singles — “It’s Strange” with K.Flay, “Weekend” with Icona Pop, and “Fire” with Evalyn — in the years that followed. They continued to tour, selling out shows in the U.S. and graduating to festival stages. They even brought their origin story full circle, joining Madeon on-stage as his opening act. As their brand of pop-minded, radio-friendly electronic anthems attracted a wider audience, they also added more professional collaborations to their resumé. In 2016, the duo joined forces with New Orleans rapper Pell as Pellican Child, releasing the single “Turn Me Down” from a proposed joint EP. That year, Louis the Child also released their Love Is Alive EP, a versatile set that featured the title track with guest vocalist Elohim and “Phone Died” with rapper Blaise Railey. Months later, after releasing the beat tape Candy, they collaborated with Love Is Alive guest vocalist Ashe for another track, “Right to It.” In 2018, the duo hit a milestone, teaming up with Aussie singer/songwriter Wafia for the gold-certified single “Better Not,” their highest showing to date on the U.S. dance chart and their first chart hit in Australia. That track landed on their Kids at Play EP, which also featured Quinn XCII and NoMBe. Soon after, Louis the Child got to work on their first official full-length. The life-affirming Here for Now arrived in 2020, loaded with U.S. Dance Top 30 hits “Free” with Drew Love, “Every Color” with Foster the People, and “Little Things” with Chelsea Cutler and Quinn XCII. The set also featured appearances by Atlanta rap duo EarthGang, returning collaborator K.Flay, and Bob Moses. Candy II surfaced during the year as well. A deluxe edition of Here for Now appeared in 2021, as did the standalone singles “Somewhere Else” with BabyJake and “Encinitas” (feat. Goth Babe). The EP Euphoria included guests like A R I Z O N A, Theophilus London, and Bea Miller. “Blow the Roof,” with Kasbo and Evan Giia, appeared in 2022. The track was included on the EP To Believe. A third beat tape, Black Marble, was released with an accompanying film. A standalone track, “Stay with Me” featuring U.K. singer/songwriter Absolutely, arrived in September 2023. ~ Neil Z. Yeung