Where They’re From: Cleveland, OH

Who They Are: From a studio janitor and assistant engineer in the late 80s to one of the biggest stars of the alternative era in the mid-90s, Trent Reznor and his project Nine Inch Nails helped redefine electronic dance music as something emotional, aggressive, and intense. Heavily inspired by the industrial scene of Europe and the UK, as well as American metal and punk, Nine Inch Nails earned underground praise for their arresting early releases, but it was 1994’s sensual single “Closer” – with its heavy Prince influence and a refrain that was at once misanthropic and spiritual – that made NIN a household name. Their riveting live shows became the stuff of legend (and nightmares), and Reznor flexed his creative vision across the 2000s, dabbling in film scores and video game soundtracks, new mediums for releasing music and production collaborations with artists like Halsey, Lil Nas X, and Saul Williams. 

Years Active: 1988 – present

Essential Albums: The Downward Spiral (1994), The Fragile (1989), With Teeth (2005)