ALAN WALKER ON AI, GAMING NEW MUSIC AND INDIA PLANS

The Norwegian DJ-producer speaks with us about revisiting core memories for the music video to his latest song "Who I Am," building a virtual theme park-like Walkerworld and more

- Anurag Tagat

ONE OF THE THINGS all musicians get asked about whether they like it or not is the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on art in these times. We ask Norwegian DJ-producer Alan Walker whether he's tired of fielding questions about AI and he's actually rather welcoming.

Speaking over a video call from Oslo ("It's a lot colder than it was in the U.S.," he says), Walker regards AI in music to be in a "very early developing stage." Describing it as "cool but a little bit scary," but also reminds us about the sea change that's taken place in modern music recording technology, which allows anyone to produce music from pretty much anywhere and with anyone in the world. He ultimately concludes and says, "I think for an artist, it's always important to adapt and see where it will take you. But with AI, it's really hard to say what the result and outcome will be." Walker has always engaged with bigger tech changes, like creating Walkerworld in the game Fortnite and more. Even his newest video for the introspective song "Who I Am" - which progresses like an EDM ballad, if there ever was one - brings in a bit of animation and features the artist looking back at different key moments in his life, with family, friends and peers, plus the biggest gigs.

In an interview with Rolling Stone India, Walker talks about the making of his latest song, how he plans to release one song each month and where India figures in his plans this year. Excerpts:

Rolling Stone India: What was it like making "Who I Am" and the music video, especially to dive into the process emotionally for all this footage we see from your past?