Attlas is the stage name of Jeff Hartford, a Canadian DJ, electronic music producer and musician from Toronto. He works in progressive house and electronica, and his recordings appear on the mau5trap label. He also features regularly on the label’s We Are Friends compilation series.

Career

Hartford grows up in Toronto surrounded by a broad mix of musical influences, including New Orleans jazz, Beethoven, hip-hop and hard rock. After moving to Detroit, he learns to play a piano that is left in the basement of his home and begins writing his own music. He later develops an interest in electronic music through listening to Matt Lange, deadmau5 and artists on Warp Records.

Before releasing music as Attlas, he works on film scores with composer Trevor Morris. He first attracts attention in November 2014 with a self-released remix of deadmau5’s “Aural Psynapse”, which quickly prompts speculation about the producer’s identity. He then sends his music to mau5trap and is signed by the label.

His identity is not immediately public, despite interviews in which he gives his first name. It is later revealed by Pete Tong on his Evolution broadcast on iHeartRadio, where Tong identifies him as Jeff Hartford and dismisses rumours that he is deadmau5 in disguise.

Releases and recognition

Attlas releases three albums, six extended plays and several singles. He receives two Juno Award nominations during his career.

Other projects

He is also one half of Sun Lo with Richard Walters.