Electronic megastar Don Diablo chatted with Digital Journal’s Markos Papadatos about his new studio album “FOREVER,” his writing process for this collection of songs, and being an artist in the digital age. Diablo also revealed his dream collaboration choices in music.
In 2020, he ranked No. 6 on DJ Magazine’s Top 100 DJs poll. “That still feels a little bit surreal,” he admitted. “Being in the Top 10 for three years now has been an absolute blessing. That is pretty mind-blowing but honestly, you forget those things, and you are always focusing on what is next. I just want my art and my music to speak for itself.”
‘FOREVER’ album
On the song selection process, he said, “It was tough. Right before the pandemic, I kind of finished the album, and I toured many places and it was amazing. I was about the drop the album and then the pandemic hit, and I saw it as an opportunity. I thought that everything happens for a reason and I revisited the whole album, and I started from scratch almost.”
“I started writing new music that reflected the way that I was thinking at that specific time, and I think it was all for the best, to be very honest,” he said. “I feel this is the best album I could have created in the last couple of years.”
“I still ended up with 21 records, but obviously, I put out 10 records during the pandemic,” he admitted. “I think this whole album tells a story so all of the records are quite personal not just musically but also lyrically. If you listen in, you can hear what is going on in my head. I think everyone can relate to it, and I wanted to create a little world around it.”
Diablo listed “Survive,” his collaboration with Emeli Sandé and rapper Gucci Mane, and “Thousand Faces” as his personal favorite tracks on the album. “I really love ‘Survive,’ it’s so pure and straightforward. All three of us wrote the record, nobody else was involved,” he said, prior to adding that “Thousand Faces” is another one of his favorites, “if not the favorite.”
“This album for me was growing more as a songwriter and not just as a producer,” he said.
The digital age
On being an artist and producer in the digital age, he said, “I absolutely love it because it makes me independent from radio and from politics, it gives the power back to the people. The digital age is very democratic. If people love something, more people will hear it. Digital is the new physical.”
“It’s not about making hit records, it’s about making records that people will keep listening to. That’s what my music is aimed for, to be listened to at least twice,” he added.
Diablo listed Dua Lipa and Bjork as his dream female collaboration choices in music. “I remixed Dua Lipa this year and I would love to make a record with her. I love everything about her and she is high on the list,” he said. “I would love to do something with Bjork, I love her music, her voice, and her creative outlook. That would be pretty amazing if I wind up doing something with Bjork.”
On the title of the current chapter of his life, he responded, “Forever Young.” “For me, it’s really the idea of exploring eternal youth not just physically, but also mentally,” he said. “I am looking at opportunities for the future and have no fear. I need to take big risks and stay forever young.”
“When you feel good, then you are actually more creative. I never realized that before,” he added.
Diablo defined the word success as “finding real happiness.” “I am successful as anyone out there but I am still searching for that happiness,” he said. “Hopefully, success and happiness will one day go hand in hand for me as well.”
“FOREVER” by Don Diablo is available on digital service provides by clicking here. “I want the fans to get confidence from this album. Some records are about giving back to the world, while others are about being okay with the darker side of yourself and embracing that. There is a lot to discover on this album if they dive into it,” he said.
For more information on Don Diablo, follow him on Instagram.
Read More: Don Diablo’s new album “FOREVER” earned a glowing review from Digital Journal.
