Who is Thievery Corporation?

Thievery Corporation is an American electronic music duo from Washington, D.C., consisting of Rob Garza and Eric Hilton, both of whom are co-founders of the label Eighteenth Street Lounge Music. They are renowned for their chillout and downtempo style, which fuses elements of dub, acid jazz, reggae, Indian classical and Brazilian music. Their live performances often feature a full band – including vocalists and percussionists – plus guest musicians.

History

Thievery Corporation was formed in 1995 by Rob Garza and Eric Hilton. They released their debut album Sounds from the Thievery Hi-Fi in 1997. The album featured a mix of downtempo and lounge music with influences from Brazilian and other international styles. The album was well received by critics and reached the number one spot on Billboard’s Top Electronic Albums chart. Since then they have released eight studio albums, two live albums and numerous EPs and remixes.

Collaborations

Thievery Corporation have collaborated with many artists over the years including David Byrne, Wayne Coyne, Snatam Kaur, Bebel Gilberto, LouLou Ghelichkhani and many more. Their sound has been described as a mix of ethno-style chill-out and downtempo lounge music with influences from worldwide styles such as reggae, bossa nova and Indian classical music. They have also remixed numerous tracks for other artists such as Radiohead and The Postal Service.

Discography

Thievery Corporation’s discography includes nine studio albums: ‘Sounds From The Thievery Hi-Fi’ (1997), ‘The Mirror Conspiracy’ (2000), ‘The Richest Man In Babylon’ (2002), ‘The Cosmic Game’ (2005), ‘Radio Retaliation’ (2008), ‘Culture Of Fear’ (2011), ‘Saudade’ (2014), ‘The Temple Of I & I’ (2017) and ‘Treasures From The Temple’ (2018). They have also released two live albums: ‘Live At The 9:30 Club’ (2011) and ‘Radio Retaliation Live In Brussels’ (2009) as well as numerous EPs and remixes.

Influence

Thievery Corporation have been hugely influential in the world of downtempo/chillout music since the mid 90s. They continue to inspire new generations of producers with their unique sound – a combination of ethno-style chill-out with influences from around the world.