From: Bergen, Norway
DJ style: “Melancholic, emotional and mysterious.”
Best known for: “My debut single ‘Faded’. I am currently promoting my new single, ‘Diamond Heart’, the final chapter in the ‘World Of Walker’ trilogy.”
Fave tune of 2018: “Tiësto ‘WOW’.”
Breakthrough DJ/producer of 2018: “Brooks.”

Talk about whirlwind romances. If EDM crowds have been swept off their feet by anyone in the last couple of years it’s British-born, Norway-bred wunderkind Alan Walker. His meteoric rise to the upper echelons of global dance culture is nothing if not hugely impressive.

Considering how vast his army of so-called Walkers now is —check the fact his YouTube channel became Norway’s most subscribed portal this year —it’s amazing to think 2016 marked the Scandinavian maestro’s debut appearance in the Top 100 DJs poll. Since then there has been a wealth of incredible releases, the most recent being the stunning ‘Diamond Heart’, featuring Swedish experimental vocalist Sophia Somajo.

Arguably his deepest and most emotive work to date, which is saying something, it reflects Walker’s penchant for combining pop songwriting with club bounce. Concluding a three-part musical saga that began with the chart-topping ‘All Falls Down’ and continued with this summer’s ‘Darkside’, it’s yet more dancefloor ammunition for the incredible appearances that have dominated his year. “The highlights were definitely Coachella and Tomorrowland,” he tells us.

Words: MARTIN GUTTRIDGE-HEWITT