In a night packed with genre-bending triumphs and unexpected moments, French producer Gesaffelstein scored a major milestone at the 2026 Grammy Awards — bringing one of dance music’s most respected underground voices into a spotlight typically reserved for mainstream recognition.
At the ceremony in Los Angeles, Gesaffelstein was awarded the Grammy for Best Remixed Recording for his remix of Lady Gaga’s “Abracadabra.” It’s his first Grammy win, and a moment that underscores how electronic producers — especially those with roots in techno and experimental club sounds — continue to shape the larger musical conversation.
Teaming up with Lady Gaga on her 2025 album Mayhem, where he also co-wrote and co-produced several tracks, Gesaffelstein’s take on “Abracadabra” turns the pop original into something darker, more volatile, and unmistakably his own — a crossover piece that helped bridge underground sonic sensibilities with massive pop appeal.
Mike Lévy aka Gesaffelstein was born in Lyon, France and emerged in the early 2010s as one of electronic music’s most distinctive dark architects. Blending industrial textures, EBM influences and razor-sharp techno minimalism, he quickly built a reputation through releases on labels like Turbo and Bromance before breaking wider with his 2013 debut album Aleph, a record that fused underground aggression with cinematic precision.
Known for his stark visual identity — tailored black suits and a metallic mask — Gesaffelstein cultivated an aura of mystery while collaborating with major pop artists including Kanye West, The Weeknd, and Lady Gaga. Over the years, he has balanced experimental club roots with high-profile production work, evolving from a shadowy techno purist into a cross-genre producer whose sound bridges underground intensity and global pop culture without fully belonging to either world.
His remix of “Abracadabra,” which was nominated alongside other reworks from figures like Kaytranada and Chris Lake, stood out not just for its technical craft but for its conceptual depth — folding pop structure back into a universe of tension, pulse, and layered sonic drama. It may be a remix category win on paper, but what it really represents is electronic music’s place across music genres, a place where club-born producers can coexist with pop stars in the highest echelons of the music industry’s recognition.
A memorable Grammys appearance
Beyond the trophy itself, Gesaffelstein’s appearance on the Grammy stage sparked conversation thanks to his enigmatic visual presentation — often clad in his signature black mask and tailored look that has become part of his artistic identity. This duality — invisible yet unmistakable, underground yet industry-recognized — reflects his trajectory: a figure who has maintained artistic autonomy while deftly navigating the terrain between club culture and global mainstream exposure.
With his first Grammy now in hand, the question isn’t whether the industry finally sees him — it’s how Gesaffelstein will carry this moment back into the club spaces and experimental scenes that first defined his sound. In a year where artists like Fred again.., Skrillex, and Kaytranada also made waves in electronic categories, his win feels like both a personal achievement and an affirmation of the genre’s expanding creative influence.
The bigger picture: electronic music keeps on rising
The 2026 Grammys were notable for their genre diversity and bold artistic statements across categories — from Kendrick Lamar’s multiple victories to Lady Gaga’s own wins in dance pop and remix categories — but Gesaffelstein’s breakout moment highlights a particularly rich evolution for electronica: one where club roots, remix culture, and mainstream artistry intersect in powerful, unexpected ways.
Whether you first heard his work in a dark basement club or on a festival lineup, this Grammy signals something deeper: electronic music isn’t just influencing culture from the margins anymore — it’s now shaping it from the center stage.
📷 : Cover Photos Credits / Just for fun, an AI creation pic.
