The Chainsmokers and Illenium drop collaboration of the summer, ‘Takeaway’ [Stream]

by: Ross Goldenberg Jul 24, 2019

With dance music’s often fleeting nature, few releases are met with the commotion that the pairing of The Chainsmokers and Illenium has generated. Considering how sonically cohesive the two entities’ styles can be, as noted from Illenium’s famed remix of “Don’t Let Me Down,” expectations for a formal union between the two electronic powerhouses became understandably lofty.

From the moment the trio joined together atop Ultra Music Festival’s mainstage earlier this year, the joint product, now known as “Takeaway,” became one of the most sought-after unreleased tracks on the market. Following a handful of official track teasers leading into the release, The Chainsmokers and Illenium are now finally equipped to release their Lennon Stella-assisted single into the libraries of millions. The collaboration is additionally accompanied by an immersive visual that follows the single’s creators around New York City’s newly built landmark structure, Vessel.

A duet-led lyrical adventure on “Takeaway” between Stella and The Chainsmokers’ Drew Taggart attracts immediate reminiscence to the duo’s Grammy-nominated 2016 release alongside Halsey, “Closer.” The pairing’s consoling back and forth seamlessly falls into a breathtaking acoustic before Illenium encrypts his impassioned melodic bass to give “Takeaway” a charming edge to teeter on the fringe of pop.

Both The Chainsmokers and Illenium have LPs slated for release before the end of the year, with ‘World War Joy and Ascend, respectively. With the early prosperity of “Takeaway,” the collaboration could assuredly find its way onto either of the two forthcoming tracklists.