Three years after meeting at a Madeon concert, the electronic pop production duo Louis the Child would open one of his shows. The Chicago-area pair — born Robert “Robby” David Hauldren and Frederic “Freddy” Judson Kennett — went to the same high school and had their own respective projects, but their paths never crossed. Hauldren manned the turntables as Haul Pass, while Kennett produced under the moniker Fatboy. After meeting on March 18, 2012 at that fateful Madeon set, the pair 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. In addition to opening for Madeon in 2015, they also toured with the Chainsmokers, whose own brand of pop-minded electronic music mirrored Louis the Child’s radio-friendly anthems. In 2016, the duo collaborated with New Orleans rapper Pell as Pellican Child, releasing the single “Turn Me Down” from a joint EP that would arrive in 2017. 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, they teamed up with Love Is Alive guest vocalist Ashe for another track, “Right to It.” ~ Neil Z. Yeung