Norwegian DJ Alan Walker takes the world by storm with electro house

Norwegian DJ and producer Alan Walker brought his electrifying "Walker Tour" to China, hitting cities like Shanghai, Wuhan, and Chengdu. Fresh off his fourth album release, Walker is set to surprise the music scene with the promise of bringing out a new song every month starting this year. But that's not all – he's bringing the immersive "World of Walker" to his legion of fans.

Staying true to his unique style, Walker sat down with our host Leonie Zeumer during his China tour in Shanghai. During the interview, he wore his trademark hoodie and face mask, which are key parts of his look and stage persona. This wasn't his first time in China. "I think what makes it really special for me to come to China is the fact that the Chinese audience has always been there for me," Walker said. "Ever since my first song 'Faded' blew up on the internet, the Chinese market was the first to show real interest, passion, and love for my music."

Walker has created a virtual world around his music. "For this new tour we built the 'World of Walker,' or 'Walker World.' It's a giant storyline that we are building. Now (we) are collaborating with different games and other ways to engage fans from all over the world… I usually engage the community in different ways: to do fan projects, or even fan creations or co-creations. I will build different songs and community projects. We are just trying to create something immersive together that can be life changing," he said.

During his tour in Chengdu, the capital of China's southwest Sichuan Province, Walker collaborated with a young Chinese suona player for a performance of one of his hits, "The Spectre," which captivated the entire audience. The video quickly went viral on Chinese social media, garnering over 3 million likes on short video app Douyin. When asked about the possibility of incorporating more traditional Chinese instruments into his future music, he expressed great interest, saying, "You can create something incredible just by including some traditional Chinese instruments."

Since his breakout hit "Faded" in 2015, Walker has been unstoppable. With a BRIT award nomination, a Norwegian Grammy, and collaborations with stars like Bruno Mars and Sia, his debut album "Different World" has over 3.2 billion Spotify streams. Beyond the studio, he has performed at over 600 live shows, including the Coachella and Tomorrowland festivals.

As for his music plan, Walker has promised to release one song every month in 2024. What appears to be an intensive feat, he rather sees as an interesting opportunity for him to experiment and have fun with music.

In China, amid an ever-evolving music scene, Walker's tour was more than just a series of concerts. It was a glimpse into the future of music, where artists create entire online communities, offering fans new ways to connect with each other and their favourite music. Alan Walker is not just performing; he's pioneering a new era of musical experience.