Alesso
Biography
Alessandro Renato Rodolfo Lindblad, known professionally as Alesso, is a Swedish DJ and record producer from Stockholm. Born on July 7, 1991, he is of both Swedish and Italian descent. Alesso began playing the piano at age seven and developed an interest in electronic dance music (EDM) at sixteen.
Career Beginnings
Alesso first gained recognition in 2010 with the release of his self-titled EP, "Alesso EP". This early work captured the attention of established artists in the electronic music scene. A significant turning point in his career came in early 2011 when he was contacted by Sebastian Ingrosso of Swedish House Mafia. Ingrosso became a mentor to Alesso, introducing him to DJing and assisting with track production. That same year, his remix of Nadia Ali's "Pressure" became one of the most played EDM tracks of the year. His rapid rise continued as he debuted on DJ Magazine's Top 100 DJs list at number 70 in 2011.
Rise to Prominence
By 2012, Alesso's career had gained significant momentum. He was named one of MTV's "EDM Rookies to Watch" and had the opportunity to open for Madonna on her MDNA World Tour for several European dates. His collaboration with Sebastian Ingrosso and Ryan Tedder on "Calling (Lose My Mind)" became a huge success, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart. He continued to climb the DJ Magazine rankings, reaching number 20 in 2012. The following year, his collaboration with Calvin Harris and Hurts, "Under Control," topped the charts in the UK. He also released a highly successful remix of OneRepublic's "If I Lose Myself," which earned him a Grammy nomination.
Debut Album and Musical Style
In July 2014, Alesso signed with Def Jam Recordings. His debut studio album, "Forever," was released in May 2015. The album featured the platinum-selling single "Heroes (We Could Be)" with Tove Lo, which became his first U.S. Top 40 hit. The album showcased his versatile production style, blending progressive house with pop influences and including tracks like the energetic "Tear the Roof Up" and the melodic "Cool" featuring Roy English. Alesso is known for his signature melodic and euphoric progressive house sound, while also exploring heavier, rave-oriented productions.
Major Collaborations and Performances
Throughout his career, Alesso has collaborated with a wide array of international artists. These include Tove Lo, Calvin Harris, Usher, David Guetta, Liam Payne, Katy Perry, and Anitta. He is a staple at major music festivals around the world, having performed at Coachella, Electric Daisy Carnival, Creamfields, Tomorrowland, and Ultra Music Festival. In 2017, he released the hit single "Let Me Go" in collaboration with Hailee Steinfeld, Florida Georgia Line, and Watt. He has continued to release music, including mixtapes like "Progresso, Vol. 1" and "Vol. 2", and numerous singles.