DJ brings signature sound
After touring nine months this year, while headlining almost every major music festival and being recognized as one of the world’s leading electric dance music artists, Alesso will now head to the City of Angels to perform at the Shrine Auditorium on Friday.
Going places · Only 22 years old, Alesso has already established himself as one of the biggest names in electronic dance music. Now he is tailoring his signature style, focusing on emotional songs with strong chords and melodies. – Courtesy of Alesso’s Official Facebook Page
Following two successful shows in Canada, Alesso is bringing his inspirational legacy with him to the States.
“I want people to listen to my music and hopefully they can remember something, or think about something,” Alesso said. “Like people who are going through hard times. I think it’s important to have some sort of message with your music, because music is so powerful.”
Powered by 26,000 first-week downloads, Alesso’s newest track, “Under Control” with fellow industry giant, Calvin Harris, is ushering in a dance music revolution. The duo began working together this year in a collaboration that Alesso called “very natural.” And how exactly did two of the gods of EDM promote this sensational union?
“We were just talking to each other during Miami Music Week. We were talking to each other and he said, ‘I have an idea, and it reminds me of you. Would you be interested in doing a collaboration with me?’ And I went, ‘Yes of course,’” he said. “At first, we started through emails, and after that I flew to London and we recorded the vocals with him.”
“Under Control” demonstrates just how magical a collaboration between two successful artists can be. Alesso first dropped the track at a set in Ibiza this past summer. “Under Control” features an unwavering ’90s house beat and rave synths building rudiments beneath Theo Hutchcraft’s sensational vocals. With Harris’ vibrant beats and Alesso’s elaborate and forceful sound, the track builds an anticipation that is difficult to get over, even after the crescendo.
And though Alesso doesn’t have a wealth of experience to dwell on, he has taken inspiration from the presiding gods of the EDM genre. It was only a few years ago that Alesso struggled to convince fellow Swede Sebastian Ingrosso (of Swedish House Mafia) to listen to the amateur CD that he had created. Just earlier this year, Alesso, along with several other EDM artists, bid farewell to Swedish House Mafia, who disbanded after a final show at Ultra Music Festival in Miami.
After such meteoric success, Alesso no longer needs to transform his sound to appease his audience. Instead, he sticks to his signature style.
“I’ve always been in love with melodic songs,” Alesso said. “Very emotional songs, and chords and melodies that kind of count for something. That’s always been the main thing that I wanted to focus on.”
And even more recently, Alesso’s work with Calvin Harris taught him a few essentials about his own technique.
“I love Calvin Harris. I learned a lot, because he’s such an amazing songwriter,” Alesso said. “That’s something that I wanna start working with more. Calvin is very good at that.”
At just 22, Alleso has already performed at some of the world’s biggest venues. Still, he has to pick one as his absolute favorite.
“Ultra Music Festival, Miami. That was a very big moment for me. … The production was incredible,” he said.
After launching an impressive Uprising tour, headlining the Main Stage at this year’s Electric Zoo Festival and releasing a storm of original hits, what else is in sight for this young superstar?
“I just realized this is the ninth month of the year that I’m touring,” Alesso remarked. “I’ve been touring a lot this year and of course I’m going to tour in 2014, but I really, really want to get into the studio and maybe start making an album. Because I’ve never done an album before, which, if I do, I’m going to need a lot of time. You get tired, you need to find inspiration — you can’t force that.”
Despite all the fame and glory that comes with traveling the world and playing with some of EDM’s most famed artists, Alesso still said he is humbled by his fans.
“I have to say, I love my fans. I feel like I relate to them. They’re like me,” he said. “They like my music, and when I play my songs to my fans, we connect.”
And though the Shrine is certainly not his biggest venue on the tour, Alesso seemed sentimental about the L.A. vibe. The city has been the site of several recent memorable events for the artist, and Nov. 22 will prove to be no different.
“It’s gonna feel like I’m coming home,” he said.
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