3WATER Music P&P Insights

Blog #2 - Nov 23,  2025 

The 10 biggest hits by anonymous artists - what musical mystery can teach us today

In the history of music, few phenomena are as intriguing as the completely anonymous artist. No face, no background, no story,  only sound. And precisely that sense of mystery often turned out to be the key to global attention.

In this blog, we dive into the 10 most famous hits where no one initially knew who was behind them, and we explore how this strategy still works today, not only in music, but also in modern digital culture and creative innovation.

1. Enigma - Sadeness (Part I) (1990)

When Sadeness was released, no one knew who had created this mix of Gregorian chant and electronic beats. The mysterious atmosphere was amplified by the completely anonymous presentation. Only later was it revealed to be a project by Michael Cretu.

More on Enigma’s classic debut album: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MCMXC_a.D.

2. The KLF - 3AM Eternal (1990)

The KLF operated as an elusive collective with countless aliases and secret sub-projects. Their anarchic, mystical style made them one of the biggest electronic acts of the ’90s.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_KLF

3. Marshmello - Alone (2016)

A helmet. A smile. And… nobody knew who he was. Alone became a viral hit while Marshmello’s identity was deliberately kept hidden. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshmello

4. Daft Punk - Around the World (1997)

The French duo set the standard for masked artists. Their robot personas became the marketing weapon that turned them into global icons. Until today, after many hits, still nobody knows who they are. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Around_the_World_(Daft_Punk_song)

5. SBTRKT - Wildfire (2011)

SBTRKT (pronounced “subtract”) chose to remove his identity; literally and figuratively. His masked performances made him a standout figure in the electronic underground scene.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SBTRKT

6. Claptone - No Eyes (2013)

The DJ with the golden beak mask keeps his identity strictly secret. His deep-house sound and mystical branding earned him a devoted global following. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claptone

7. Malaa - Notorious (2015)

With his black ski mask and hidden identity, Malaa became the enigma of the French house scene. Notorious quickly turned into a club anthem.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaa

8. Burial - Archangel (2007)

Burial helped push dubstep into the mainstream without ever revealing his face. Only years later was his name (William Bevan) leaked. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burial_(musician)

9. Gorillaz - Clint Eastwood (2001)

The world’s first major virtual band. Nobody knew who the voices belonged to; only animated avatars appeared in public. Eventually, it became known that Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett were the creative forces behind the project. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clint_Eastwood_(song)

10. The Residents - Santa Dog (1972)

One of the longest-running anonymous groups in music history. Their iconic eyeball helmets became the symbol of total artistic mystery. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Residents

Why Does Musical Anonymity Work So Well?

From Enigma to Marshmello, anonymity creates attention, speculation, and narrative.
It provides a story people want to follow. It transforms music into something more than sound; it becomes an experience you want to be part of.

And that same principle is reflected today in how we shape digital identity, online storytelling, and creative branding across modern platforms.

The bridge to innovation: What does this have to do with Fusion X?

Just as the anonymous artists above shaped their identity through mystery, symbolism, and creative self-presentation, Fusion X from 3Water Music P&P focuses on a new way of shaping, performing, and collaborating in music.

It’s about redefining identity, perception, and creativity, but in a musical and artistic context rather than a technological one.

That is why the phenomenon of anonymous musicians aligns so naturally with Fusion X, the creative platform by 3Water:

https://www.3water.nl/homepage/3water-music-pp/fusion-x

Fusion X is built around:

·         creative transformation of sound and artistic form.

·         collaboration between musicians, producers, performers, and visual creators.

·         experimentation with cross-media concepts and hybrid music projects.

·         merging music, visual style, and artist identity into one integrated, expressive platform.

Just like the artists above broke the boundaries of identity, Fusion X breaks the boundaries of what is possible in modern musical collaboration and artistic presentation.

It represents the next step in how we connect music, visual expression, and storytelling in a contemporary world.