There was a time when Major Lazer ruled the world’s playlists. From Lean On to Cold Water, they defined the sound of the 2010s. For a while, it felt like that whole era went quiet when they left. But if the past few years have taught us anything, it’s that nostalgia hits hard, and Major Lazer is back to crash the aux.

Earlier this year they released GANGSTA, however, they now return with BRUK DOWN. A release that reintroduces Major Lazer’s core members Diplo, Walshy Fire, and Ape Drums, joined by newcomer America Foster, who was discovered by Diplo while working backstage as a security guard. For BRUK DOWN, the track features Parris Goebel on her first-ever recorded vocal, which she also co-directed with Philippa Price, known for her visionary collaborations with Rihanna.

With a new mixtape dropping in November and Coachella 2026 plus a headline slot at Ultra already on the calendar, V caught up with Major Lazer to talk about what’s next.

Photography by Julian Burgueño

V Magazine: GANGSTA and BRUK DOWN are your first singles in years, reintroducing Major Lazer to the world. What feels different this time around?

Diplo: “BRUK DOWN features so many new voices working with us for the first time, it’s been a breath of fresh air. America’s been with the group for the past year, but these are the first official tracks with her contributions, and her freestyles on them are insane–some of our best tracks to date. She made it clear that badass female energy is what the group has always needed.”

“Lazer has always been about finding the absolute bleeding edge of what pop music can be, and we’ve picked that mantle back up with this one. We’ve been playing new and unreleased songs at shows throughout the summer, and fans have been losing their minds. We did some street parties in Paris and London–everywhere we went, people got down crazy.”

V: Why now for the return? Was there a single moment that flipped the switch?

Diplo: “The world needs a Lazer release right now. Our goal is to make the world smaller by making the party bigger, and these tracks are some of the biggest party starters ever. Walshy Fire, Ape Drums and I have been consistently working on Lazer music over the past few years, but we didn’t really nail it until we brought America into the fold, everything just clicked. Once we started putting the pieces together for this track, it felt so right, and there’s a lot more coming.”

V: You’re known for global collisions. Which scenes or cities were mood boards for this track?

Diplo: “The artists on vocals come from Canada, New Zealand and England, but they bring influences from dance hall, reggae, electronic and plenty more. We shot the video outside my farm, and it really captures the aesthetic of the song –a high-energy party in the middle of nowhere.”

V: When you first met America while she was working security, what stood out to you before she had a microphone?

Diplo: “When she first reached out, I was immediately struck by how funny and smart she is. Her energy in the studio has brought Lazer to the next level. Her freestyle videos are wild, it takes so much skill to freestyle, and she does it flawlessly.”

Photography by Julian Burgueño

V: You’re stepping into a legacy that already has a mythology. What does belonging look like to you, in a band, on a global stage, and in your own sound?

America Foster: “Stepping into Major Lazer’s legacy is surreal. They’ve built something that not only pushes boundaries sonically but also pays deep homage to culture, especially to the Caribbean. That’s something I’ve always admired. The group has represented the diaspora, the rhythm, and the spirit of our people on a global scale. To now be part of that story, and to carry that same energy forward, feels both humbling and empowering.”

“When it comes to belonging to me, it’s a feeling. Being part of Major Lazer feels like being part of a family. From day one, it was love, support, and pure energy. It honestly feels like I’ve been adopted into my musical family. There’s this real synergy between us, a shared passion, respect, and understanding that makes it all feel so natural.”

“Being on the global stage is mind-blowing, but at the same time, it feels like home. I’ve visualized this moment for years, and now that I’m here, it feels like I was always meant to be. It’s that feeling of alignment, like everything I’ve worked toward has led me to this exact space and time. I’ve been creating music for about eight years, but I waited until now to release because I wanted to be intentional. I wanted my sound to be me, fully authentic.”

“When the opportunity with Major Lazer came, everything just clicked. The timing, the creative vision, the synergy, the stars truly aligned. My sound is an extension of who I am, it’s bold, honest, and rooted in my Jamaican-British heritage. It blends style, personality, relatability, and that undeniable Bad Gyal energy, with a touch of sensuality. When you put that all together, you get me (America Foster). My background in voice acting also adds a unique layer to my artistry, and I can bring different characters and textures into a song, sometimes sounding like multiple artists on one track. That versatility lets me tell stories in a really dynamic way.”

Photography by Julian Burgueño

V: How did you balance classic Major Lazer iconography with a clean slate for its identity?

Diplo: “It’s never really been a concern for us. Major Lazer has always been centered around musical exploration. The new music we’ve been working on continues our experimentation with cool sounds, and what we’ve made is fire.”

V: What do you want day-one listeners to recalibrate about who Major Lazer is after watching this?

Diplo: “I think day-one fans of Lazer have come to expect constant evolution, and we’re bringing that with our new music. We continue to find inspiration through new artists and sounds that are really fucking cool. Fans are going to love America’s work with us, and we’re bringing her crazy energy to a bunch of live shows next year.”