When Alessandro Lindblad talks about the future, the vision is less about trends and more about feeling. About goosebumps that take precedence over algorithms. Fifteen years after his breakthrough, Alesso is facing a shift. One that is about daring to stick to his sound in a time where dance music is constantly changing shape.

TEXT MONICA JONSSON PHOTO PETER CEDERLING, ZAP PR GROOMING & STYLING SHADA GHARI

FROM WORLD TOURS AND Iconic festival moments to an impending wedding, today he's trying to find something that has long been harder to capture than crowds and top charts: harmony. And when he returns to Stockholm for his biggest gig here in over a decade, it's not just a DJ coming home. It's an artist looking back. At the same time, he's trying to create the next chapter without losing himself along the way.

When VOYAGE takes over Eric Ericsonhallen on Skeppsholmen on a warm spring day for the meeting with Alesso, the space within the venue is immediately palpable. The high dome lets in a soft Nordic light, and the interior is still strongly characterised by its origins as a church, now more stripped-back in bright tones. We settle into the box two flights of stairs up.

A sound that never dies
Alesso is, as usual, well-groomed, with a fresh haircut and a sparkle in his pleasant face. He's set to finish a long day of cover shooting after the interview, still in high spirits. We joke a lot and laugh often, in a relaxed conversation between music enthusiasts. We talk about dance music that's constantly changing, with new trends and hot genres every season. One year melodic house dominates, the next hard techno. Alesso follows the developments closely., but have become increasingly less interested in chasing the latest.

THEN IT'S ABOUT CONTINUING TO DEVELOP WITHOUT LOSING WHAT YOU STAND FOR. IN MY POSITION, THAT BECOMES IMPORTANT. IF I FOCUS ON WHAT'S MOST TRENDY RIGHT NOW, I'LL JUST BE ONE OF THE CROWD.

– I’d say 2026 is the year for techno, with very hard music. You can see it in Germany, among other places, and many other DJs are exploding in the USA right now. Of course, I get inspired and listen to a lot of other people's music, but I also try to do my own thing. When I started, everything was underground, but then it became more commercial and I became known for the Golden Era sound, he says.
Together with names like Avicii, he defined a style that would come to characterise a whole generation of festival-goers: euphoric build-ups, explosive melodies and choruses that felt as much pop as rave.

– One had some sort of wave then. And then it's about continuing to develop without losing what you stand for. In my position, that becomes important. If I focus on what's trendiest right now, I'll just become one of the crowd.
At the same time, he's thinking about the fans and can clearly see how the audience's relationship with the EDM boom has deepened. Old festival videos are going viral on TikTok. Clips from his older sets are getting millions of views. And The nostalgia wave is becoming impossible to ignore.

– People still seem to love that type of music. Then you don't want to let go of it completely.
He mentions the collaboration with the rock band Pendulum, which resulted in the song Fade, with frontman Rob Swire, whose voice is unique – an example of trying to find the balance between then and now.

I'm working hard in the studio to create melodies that might remind people of a generation, but still feel new to me.
When asked what drives him creatively, the answer is that at the moment it feels easier to release singles often than to produce another album. Albums take up more time as a lot has to be handled with other artists.
Furthermore, the songs need to hang together artistically. The world we live in prioritises them being released quickly and continuously. However, an album is promised in the future.

It's quite unique today to do events like these. This goes a bit against what everyone else is doing right now. But it felt right. No DJ has played on the Solliden stage before.

THE HUNT FOR GOOSEBUMPS
Despite billions of streams and countless hits, Alesso still describes the creative process with almost childlike passionate warmth. The goal is simple: to feel something.

– I'm always chasing goosebumps. The euphoric feeling.
He talks about the upcoming collaboration with OneRepublic, where Ryan Tedder is once again responsible for the vocals. About the voice he never tires of, the feeling when the singer performs the song. The duo has previously made dance classics Calling (Lose My Mind) or If I Lose Myself. The new song took over a year to complete.

– We wrote a lot. There was so much pressure to do another song together, but now it feels like we've found our stride. What feels good about this song is that I've had it for a long time and still like it when I hear it. That's usually a good sign.
He describes how he can still detect details he wishes he could change, even after a song has been released. Previously, a lot of it was about creating music that worked here and now. Today, he thinks differently.

– I want the song to be good today, but also in ten years. For it to age well. This time, I'm mixing and mastering it myself, which has taken longer. So I go back and forth, checking if there's any sound that's a bit too loud and adjusting it. At the same time, you just have to make a decision in the end.

Summer and Skansen
You're doing your first solo gig in Stockholm in over ten years. How does that feel?
– It feels mad and fun. You are
nervous when thinking about the bigger picture and I feel an enormous responsibility to deliver. It’s quite unique today to do events like these. This goes a bit against what everyone else is doing right now. But it felt right. No one
The DJ has played at the Solliden stage before.
Alesso has, at the time of writing, recently launched his concept The One, revealing that the Skansen show will be a variation of that production. He laughs when the conversation turns to the Swedish summer light and how difficult it is to create a dark, cinematic show when the sun barely sets.

- Yes, one is a bit limited with what's possible. We'll run as late as we can. We'll have to manifest for it to get dark enough. No, but the show will be visible. It went really well the first time we did it.
in Denver, Colorado. And each time the production gets better. This will be the fourth time here in Sweden.
The cinematic often returns when he describes his live shows. The intro is almost the most important part and his great love for film music is clearly evident. Hans Zimmer is mentioned as a constant source of inspiration, as is his fascination with The Batman and Dune.

– JI want the intro to feel like the start of a film. I really love that world. Alesso proudly talks about how one of his tracks was used in a scene in The Batman with Robert Pattinson. How it was a completely new feeling to hear his music in a film in that way.

I AM ALREADY LIVING THE DREAM, I WOULD SAY. AND I AM EXTREMELY GRATEFUL THAT I STILL GET TO DO THIS. CHILDREN ARE THE NEXT DREAM

Is there anything here in Stockholm that still inspires your music?
– Swedish artists inspire me, absolutely. Alesso comes in on the track Words as he did with Zara Larsson. That what he's looking for in a collaborator is someone who can ”carry the song”. That is, sing well enough to
to merge with the work.

She has such a fantastic voice, unlike any I've ever heard before. The original song was in a certain key, but then Zara said we could go up two semitones. I thought, how high can we go? How far can we push it? But of course, we returned to where we felt her voice sounded its best. It felt destined that she, specifically, should sing that song.
A side fans rarely get to see is Alessandro's private joke page. He realises he's a bit too serious sometimes, despite having a great sense of humour. Conversely, he advocates for calmness in life – that not everything has to be fun all the time. In the same vein, he admits that a dream of his would be to perform on the moon.

– Yes, come on. Take me there! Otherwise, I try not to have so many plans. I'm already living the dream, I'd say. And I'm extremely grateful that I still get to do this. Children are the next dream. If he could travel back to a single moment in his career to experience it again, it would be to the Coachella festival in 2015, when Ryan Tedder and Tove Lo came and performed.

It was an evening I'll never forget. The stars, as if, were aligned. My music had broken through, it was at its peak then, and it was magical.

If you were playing your last gig in 40 years, where would you want it to take place?
That's a good question. Should I perhaps say Stockholm because that's where it all started for me? Yes, I think it's a place where all loved ones can come, if one is to be a bit more philosophical.

FIVE QUICK ONES
Listening to right now: ”Justin Bieber's latest album Stylish. The album took off after his Coachella performance, and I realised then how much presentation means to one's album. Bieber's performance was spectacular. At the same time, laid-back, as if you were in his living room, just hanging out and watching YouTube.”

Watching now: ”Love is Blind, haha, and the series Beef, whose first season I really liked. Also Invincible. I'm not normally one for watching cartoons, and my fiancée thinks it's too gory, but it's really good!”

Relation to Skansen ”I'm afraid I've never visited Allsången, but I did watch it on TV. What I remember most from
the childhood is the animals.”

Favourite place in the world ”Tokyo. Every time I'm there, I feel very inspired in life in general, by their culture, food, fashion, people – everyone is so wonderfully nice and friendly, and everything is so well organised. We should take notes from how they live there. Nobody throws anything on the ground. There aren't even any rubbish bins.,
You should take the rubbish home with you. Everyone should go there!”

Best travel ritual ”I'm bad at drinking a lot of water, which is important when flying. With supplements
”With electrolytes, you don't need as much fluid, but you still stay hydrated, so that's a good tip."

ALESSANDRO ”ALESSO” LINDBLAD
Age: 34.
Occupation: DJ and music producer.
Boron Las Vegas.
Family Fiancée, mum, dad and siblings, the dog Turbo and the cat Prince.
Brief backgroundAlessandro ”Alesso” Lindblad is a Swedish music producer and DJ, born and raised in Stockholm. He achieved international breakthrough during the EDM boom in the early 2010s with tracks like Calling (Lose My Mind), If I Lose Myself or Heroes (We Could BeThere have been many collaborations with other artists
over the years, such as Katy Perry, Sebastian Ingrosso, Calvin Harris, Tove Lo, David Guetta and Zara Larsson, among others. Over the past year, Alesso has released several chart-topping songs, including Surrender alongside Becky Hill, Inside Our Hearts with Martin Garrix and his latest release Destiny med SACHA. Alesso is considered one of Sweden's most successful electronic music exports and is known for his spectacular shows on major festival stages worldwide.
Currently with: A historic summer concert at the Solliden Stage at Skansen on 27/6, which will be his first own Stockholm concert in over ten years, as well as the new song In Your Eyes together with OneRepublic.
Ticket link: www.ticketmaster.se/event/alesso-tickets/619707700