The German dance-pop duo Fast Boy, consisting of brothers Lucas and Felix Hain, received the SWR3 New Pop Award at the SWR3 New Pop Festival in Baden-Baden on September 20, 2025. This award recognizes their significant contribution to contemporary music, with SWR3's music director Gregor Friedel highlighting their distinctive fusion of catchy melodies and modern electronic beats.
Fast Boy has established a unique presence in the music industry through their energetic electronic sound, complemented by live vocals and guitar performances. Their style, which blends indie influences with Berlin's club culture rhythms and accessible pop hooks, has propelled them to international recognition. The duo, formed in Berlin in 2021, previously performed as Oh Brother before adopting their current name. Their major breakthrough came in 2022 with the hit single "Bad Memories," a collaboration that topped airplay charts in seven countries.
Their success was further amplified by their extensive work as songwriters and featured artists, accumulating over a billion streams and collaborating with renowned artists like Tiësto, David Guetta, and Meduza. Their recent single, "Born Again," released on March 28, 2025, in collaboration with ClockClock, continues their upward trajectory with its empowering message.
The SWR3 New Pop Festival, which has been a platform for emerging talent since 1994, has a history of supporting artists who later achieved global fame, including Ed Sheeran and Dua Lipa. This year's festival featured a diverse lineup, including Purple Disco Machine, Michael Schulte, and Felix Jaehn, culminating in the award ceremony for Fast Boy. The festival itself is a major event, attracting around 50,000 visitors annually and transforming Baden-Baden into a lively music hub. The festival's 30th anniversary in 2025 includes an extended program with a dedicated Sunday for highlights.
Fast Boy's appearance this year marks a notable return to the festival, having previously performed an open-air set in the Kurgarten, and now taking a headline slot in the Festspielhaus.