Alesso Surrenders to the Sound in PAPER Interview

Alesso’s career as a DJ and music producer comes as no surprise to us. He rose to fame during the EDM explosion. We’ve followed him throughout the years across continents and music festival stages. In an interview with PAPER magazine, Alesso sat down with Felicity Martin for some insight on his “hell of a journey”. From his recent health struggles with tinnitus and his future plans, and a little on his newest track ‘Surrender‘ with Becky Hill. The article also touches on his personal life, including his engagement, which led him to prioritize his health and adjust his lifestyle. Despite these challenges, Alesso remains focused on his music, with upcoming performances and new releases planned.

Now, he reflects on his early days, including mentorship from Swedish House Mafia’s Sebastian Ingrosso and touring with Madonna. He also talks about the evolution of dance music and the increasing scale of productions. Recently, Alesso launched his own label, Body Hi, to support emerging artists and explore more underground sounds.

Additionally, he talks about his Ultra performance as a “retina-blasting spectacle” with flames and fireworks. Remember that nostalgic mix of 2010s progressive house and trance, with Nadia Ali for their 2011 hit ‘Pressure‘ remix? He also incorporated remixes of classic tracks, bridging older and newer sounds, as well as underground and mainstream styles. When it comes to business, he had the look. His slicked-back hair and monochrome designer outfits and we followed his various endorsements and luxurious travel experiences on social media.

At age 20, his mentorship with Swedish House Mafia, whom he greatly admired, was true surrealism. He recalls waking up every day with a smile due to these experiences and connecting with the right people at a young age. But with a 10 out of 10 struggle with tinnitus, Alesso has dramatically reduced his show schedule. What’s more, he mentions not having consumed alcohol in five months as part of his efforts to optimize his well-being. His recent engagement to girlfriend, model Erin Cummins, at Lake Como last year shows how great things are truly becoming for the DJ. He remains private about specific wedding plans but confirms he will not be DJing at his own wedding (ha!).

“Everything felt surreal. It felt like I was dreaming all the time, to be honest.” – Alesso on the era of his life

He touches on the evolution of DJing, contrasting how his early days went. From well-prepared sets to massive LED screens, production, and immersive environments. It was like “stepping into another planet.” He also points out that dance music has shifted from being considered “weird” to becoming a widely accepted genre. And on a humble note, Alesso considers it incredible to have been part of the electronic music scene in the US during its major wave from an underground phenomenon to mainstream popularity. He felt it was a dream to play festivals in the US as a 19-year-old, something many European artists aspire to.

Read the entire interview with PAPER magazine here.