HELLO! India Exclusive: Alan Walker on his unforgettable hits: "Faded will always be a special one"

Chances are, you've swayed to the beat drop of Faded at a club or allowed a melancholic moment to wash over you with Alone playing through your headphones, at least once in your life. You may not be able to recall when these songs first arrived into public consciousness or how many years they've quietly been existing on your techno playlist but the thumping familiarity of any of them are enough to transport you to a different time in your life. That's what good music does. Alan Walker has chosen not to be a popularly-known celebrity face—his music is incredibly famous enough. The Norwegian DJ, music producer, and songwriter, whose face is partially covered as part of his public image, is a worldwide phenomenon for his EDM tracks, hit albums and musical collaborations with Sabrina Carpenter, Hans Zimmer and Steve Aoki. In an exclusive conversation with Alan Walker, HELLO! India's Associate Editor, Dayle Pereira-Alemao goes behind the sold-out concerts and global fame to speak to the international artist about his most memorable performances, his newest project with Sting and Formula 1 and more.

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HELLO! India: How do you deal with pressure and expectations in the ever-growing music industry?

Alan Walker: I try to stay grounded by spending time with my family and friends and making sure I still do normal, everyday things. At the end of the day, I focus on making music I love and enjoying the process rather than getting caught up in expectations.

HELLO! India: What is one track in your set list that feels especially personal to you?

Alan Walker: Faded will always be a special one for me. It's where everything started, and I still love performing it for people all around the world. Seeing audiences connect with it years later is something I'll never take for granted.

HELLO! India: What keeps you creatively inspired after years of touring and performing worldwide?

Alan Walker: As a producer, I'm constantly listening to the world around me, not just to music, but to sounds, moments, and experiences that can spark an idea. This Sting project is actually a great example of that. The whole concept started from something incredibly simple: the observation that an F1 car speeding past can almost sound like "Sting." Most people might hear that and move on, but for me, that's the kind of creative trigger that can turn into a song. It's about finding music in unexpected places and looking at everyday sounds from a different perspective. That's something that continues to excite me even after years of touring and making music. Inspiration doesn't always come from a studio session or another song; it can come from a conversation, a place, a feeling, or even the sound of a Formula 1 car. The challenge is to take those moments and transform them into something people can connect with emotionally. That's what keeps the creative process fresh for me, and it's why I'm always curious about what's happening around me.

HELLO! India: What are your thoughts on the Indian music industry?

Alan Walker: I love the Indian music industry. It's incredibly inspiring and full of amazing talent. I've already had the chance to work with some brilliant artists, and I'm excited to spend more time in India, explore the scene further, and discover even more great music.

HELLO! India: Who would be a dream collaboration for you?

Alan Walker: There are a lot of artists I admire across different genres, and that's what makes collaborations exciting. You never know what can happen when different worlds come together. I've always been inspired by artists who have a strong identity and aren't afraid to push creative boundaries. Whether it's someone from the world of electronic music, pop, film scoring, or even a completely different genre, what matters most is finding a creative connection. For me, the dream collaboration is less about the name and more about creating something unexpected that resonates with people. Some of the most memorable collaborations happen when audiences don't necessarily see them coming.

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