10 Questions with ... Alan Walker

Website: http://www.alanwalker.no
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/alanwalkermusic
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/iamalanwalker
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/alanwalkermusic
Soundcloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/alanwalker
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/alanwalkermusic

1) When did it begin for you?

Back in 2012 I was inspired by a Spanish producer known as DJ Ness; I discovered him on YouTube and I got in touch with him through YouTube and Facebook. We just connected and he taught me the basics of producing music. I asked him what program he was using to produce music and he told me he was using Fruity Loops Studio. Then we started a Facebook group with more and more people; we used that group to give each other tips on what to do, what not to do, etcetera. In 2014 I released my song, “Fade” which after three months of its release I signed it to NoCopyrightSounds. In 2015, I signed with my management from Norway, known as Mer Musikk. We thought what if we made a vocal version of “Fade,” just maybe with a vocal, and called it I’m faded or fading or whatever? I started working on a song, and we tried it on a piano and I later discovered that we should write full lyrics on top of that song. That’s pretty much when “Faded” came together; we released that one in the very end of 2015 and we got to sign it with Sony Music in Sweden. Since then it’s been a crazy, wild journey. The single “Faded” did very well and then we got to follow it up with “Alone,” which has also performed really well.

2) “Alone” is your current single, it’s gotten a couple of hundred million views. What was the inspiration behind “Alone”?

“Alone” was pretty much a song I wanted to do. It’s kind of like to expand the sound of Alan Walker and do something different from what I usually do. Like for example, the song starts in immediate rest and that’s like straight-on action. Then it goes straight into a drop. The melody of it was really inspired by the other songs that I’ve been producing throughout the years. Also I am trying to establish the signature of Alan Walker and that’s the trippy sound I use in the melodies. “Alone” is pretty much a song about unity; we are never alone, we are all together. It’s a very powerful message to be able to put it to a song.

3) What are you working on now, music-wise, that’s going to be coming out?

Right now I’m only working on singles. No new albums or EPs. Other than that more touring; I’m on my first U.S. tour. I just played in Las Vegas, D.C., New York and Miami, and I’m going to be playing at Ultra Music Festival, which is a dream come true.

4) Some of your early inspirations I know are film composers. Where did that love come from?

Pretty much, movies and games. You always have these soundtracks in the background. The way that they’re made, it is very nice and they blend in with the background. It’s kind a like they’re in your way but it doesn’t necessarily feel like they’re in you’re way, they’re just blend really well in the background. What’s really cool when it comes to gaming and also making gaming music, through people and also reaching out to the gaming community, I am able to create music that every gamer wants to use while playing. That’s a pretty good combination because there are so many gamers out there right now. Just being able to have that market in front of you and being able to provide music for them is very, very good.

5) Is there a video game that features your music? And what’s your favorite game right now?

My music hasn’t been featured in any games. I really hope that one day I get to make an entire soundtrack for a game, or a movie soundtrack for anything I guess! Right now my favorite game is Battlefield 1. It’s the newest one from EA. It’s just a crazy game. It was pretty much a toss-up between Call Of Duty and Battlefield 1. But when I saw the trailers for both games it wasn’t a problem to choose.

6) I also noticed that you’re into graphic design and you created your own logo. Where did the love for that come from?

I don’t know where the love came from, but I was curious. I wanted to find out how things were made and how it worked because when I was younger, I was also part of the gaming forums. I was pretty much participating in different forums. I saw that people had these fancy signatures with a name and therefore, I wanted to make my own. So I started to learn Photoshop and started to mess around and since then I pretty much liked it, and it’s something that I can do. That’s where I got, like you say, the love for making graphics where it all started.

7) Today’s DJ, or any artist, has the web where they can just get the word out really quickly. Back in Norway [where you are from], you have the largest YouTube channel. How did you grow it so big?

Right now it’s up to 5.8 million subscribers. Since “Faded” has been such a massive hit on YouTube essentially, and having YouTube as one of the main sort of social media to put out my music, I would say that is one of the reasons why my YouTube channel has been continually growing. Also after “Faded,” maybe because it was such a unique music video that was followed up with “Sing Me To Sleep” and “Alone,” that showed people that there is something unique going on here. It made people very interested in the content that’s being put out there. They want to come back to see if there’s something more unique going on. Why my channel has actually grown so much it’s very hard to say, but I am very thankful for every one that’s taken the time to subscribe and also taking the time to listen to the music.

8) When you first started out you were known as DJ Walkzz; where did that name come from?

I haven’t told many people how that artist name ended up as it was. My cousin from the United Kingdom, he used to make music as well; he used to go by the name Walker. I wanted to do something kind of similar, something with Walk with an “s” but it kind of looked weird, so when I was around 13 years old, when I decided to have this artist name with me, then I went for DJ because I saw all these producers on YouTube using DJ and some random name and they were maybe only producers not DJs. I went for DJ Walccs, with the double c, and after having that artist name for two years, I changed my name to Alan Walker in 2014, if I remember right. I felt like maybe it was too childish to use DJ and I wasn’t really being a DJ at that time and also, having Walccs with the double c in the name was maybe a bit too much. I discussed with people on Facebook about changing my name from DJ Walccs to just Walks or Walker or something else. People told me I should just go with your real name, Alan Walker. Since then, I designed my own logo for it and yeah, I went for Alan Walker.

9) When you perform on stage, you wear a mask and hoodie, what’s the reason for that?

Yes. One reason for that, is not necessarily about me hiding myself, it’s pretty much a symbol of unity, that any one can be a Walker. It’s a very great symbol to put out and it’s been very successful. It’s just that immediately when you put on the hoodie and mask, you became a Walker. Sometimes I do have a few regrets because it’s kind of hot in there and sometimes it gets brutally hot on stage.

10) If you were to give some advice to an up-and-coming artist, DJ and/or producer what would it be?

I would say, never give up, because you never know when success is right around the corner. Of course there’s always going to be points when you’re working in the music industry when you feel like giving up. You have to get over that thought because you never know if you are going to end up writing your next hit or whatever. That’s what has been happening to me. You get this writing block, and as time passes you never know what happens. It’s very good to get over it because you fell so much more enlightened and you want to work even more when you overcome it. And like I said, never give up, just keep on working hard. The music industry can take years to come into, and it is for sure a really fun industry to work in as well.

What do you do to relax?

Sleep. LOL

What’s a hidden talent of yours?

I like to draw.

Mac or PC?

Both.

Reality TV or scripted TV?

I don’t watch reality TV so I’m going to say scripted.

In the shower, what are you singing?

“Faded” LOL

Creamy or chunky?

I don’t really like peanut butter

Favorite candy?

Something sour.

If you weren’t working tonight and you could see any artist perform who would it be?

Maybe Dillon Francis.