Daft Punk Reflect on Split with New ‘Human After All’ Video

Five years after announcing their disbandment, the influential French electronic music duo Daft Punk has released a new video for their 2005 single “Human After All.” The release coincides with the 20th anniversary of the album and follows recent collaborations with Fortnite and a vinyl release of remixes by artists like Justice, and Soulwax.

Daft Punk’s Disbandment After 28 Years

Daft Punk, comprised of Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, confirmed their split in February 2021 after a nearly three-decade-long career. The announcement came with an eight-minute video titled “Epilogue,” depicting the duo as robots walking into the desert, culminating in one robot’s self-destruction.

Bangalter on the End of Daft Punk

Thomas Bangalter has spoken about the reasons behind the breakup, expressing a sense of relief. He explained to the BBC that he felt it was important to step away from the robotic persona, particularly in a world increasingly dominated by technology. “As much as I love this character, the last thing I would want to be, in the world we live in, in 2023, is a robot,” Bangalter stated. He likened the band’s journey to a television show with a natural conclusion, stating, “It’s a lot like a story or mini saga – sometimes there’s a TV show that has a special place in people’s hearts and it keeps that place, and it runs for one, two, three, four, five, sometimes 10 seasons.”

Recent Projects and Collaborations

Despite the disbandment, both members have remained active in music. Daft Punk collaborated with Fortnite and released a collection of ‘Human After All’ remixes on vinyl in 2023, featuring reworkings by Justice, Soulwax, SebastiAN, Basement Jaxx, and The Juan Maclean. Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo recently co-wrote the song “Reliquia” on Rosalía’s latest album, ‘LUX’, credited as a composer and songwriter [Billboard].

‘Human After All’ and Daft Punk’s Legacy

“Human After All,” released in 2005, was Daft Punk’s third studio album and preceded their critically acclaimed 2013 album, “Random Access Memories,” which marked their final full-length release. The new video for “Human After All” features footage from their 2006 sci-fi film, Electroma, showing the duo driving through a desert landscape and observing people wearing helmets in a tranquil town.