The Chain Gang of 1974 is the solo project of Kamtin Mohager — a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer born in San Jose, California and raised between Hawaii and Colorado. Drawing on the atmospheric synth-pop, post-punk, and shoegaze of the 1980s and '90s, Mohager has built one of indie electronic music's most distinctly personal catalogs over nearly two decades of releases.

He launched the project in 2007 after a stint as touring bassist for 3OH!3, self-releasing a series of EPs before his full-length debut White Guts arrived in 2010. The follow-up, Wayward Fire (2011), earned praise from Paste, Spin, and Consequence of Sound, establishing Mohager's signature sound: dense synth layers, melodic guitar, and confessional lyrics rooted in heartbreak and longing.

In 2013, the project gained worldwide recognition when "Sleepwalking" was featured in the official trailer and soundtrack of Grand Theft Auto V — one of the best-selling entertainment products of all time. The song became a cultural touchstone, and its parent album Daydream Forever (2014), released via Warner Bros. Records, marked Chain Gang's major label debut.

Subsequent albums Felt (2017, Caroline Records), produced by Thom Powers of The Naked and Famous, and the independent Honey Moon Drips (2020) on his own Fever Ltd. imprint, cemented Mohager's reputation as a craftsman of emotionally resonant electronic pop. He has collaborated with Dillon Francis, Jai Wolf, Flux Pavilion, and The Naked and Famous, and performed at Lollapalooza, Governors Ball, and Austin City Limits.

Alongside Chain Gang, Mohager co-founded the grunge project Heavenward and previously served as bassist and vocalist for Teenage Wrist. He continues to release music independently through Fever Ltd., with a prolific run of singles in 2026 including "End Credits" (with Slow Magic), "Thinking Of You," "Forever Your Star," and "Crying."

Releases

Chain Gang of 1974