One third of the now defunct super group Swedish House Mafia and a 17-year veteran of the electronic music scene, Steve Angello, sat down with Billboard for a candid chat about his upcoming music and what impresses him or doesn't in the current dance music landscape today. The 32-year-old Los Angeles-based DJ, notes that in dance music everyone is too stuck up and pay attention to what others think. He points to Kanye West as an example as someone who is "a musical visionary" and "doesn't give a sh*t," yet still manages to make momentous music that will stand the test of time.
That same argument is applied to current DJs who are obsessed with the need for more fame and fortune, and radio has become the new accessible outlet for that.
"In EDM, people are stuck on this obsession with getting on the radio, and now, I can't tell the difference between a dance record and a Selena Gomez song. It's a phase, sure, but someone needs to usher us out of it. This career doesn't have to be a joke. We need to be able to take it seriously again."
He explains that dance music has disappointed him with its lack of creativity and blind pursuit of the next paycheck.
"It's safe. The attitude is like, 'We're making great money, let's milk it.' That bothers me."
Over the past two years, Angello has been working on his debut artist album Wild Youth, which is expected out at some point later this year. He at first signed the LP to Columbia Records, but quickly became unhappy with the creative control he had there and bought himself out of the control to keep the album on his own label, Size Records.
He describes his new album as "not EDM" and how it will sound now that he is on his own again.
"I'm not hyper-focused on nailing that radio record. I'm trying to make a piece of art that I'll be able to look back on in 10 years and say, 'I'm f---ing proud of that.' That's the difference between doing it yourself and doing it with a major label."
Stay tuned for any updates on Wild Youth and listen to the lead single from the album "Wasted Youth" below.
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