The young Swedish DJ/producer Alesso is currently climbing the Billboard charts with “Heroes (We Could Be),” a saavy collaboration with fellow Swede Tove Lo (whose own “Habits (Stay High)” is currently a top 5 Hot 100 hit). Billboard caught up with Alesso to talk about the inspiration for the track. Listen to it below:
How did you connect with Tove Lo?
My team and I reached out to her to see if she’d be interested in a collaboration, and a couple months later, we began writing the lyrics that would go over these instrumentals. We discussed what it should be about — we knew it should be an emotional record — and she came back with this gorgeous topline.
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What moment or feeling inspired the song’s lyrics?
When Tove Lo and I first started working together, she’d tell me about how she wanted to be different, to stand out as an artist. And on some level, I think everyone goes through that. As a teenager, I was always wondering about who I was, what was my identity, did I secretly wish I was someone else. But as you [age], you realize that it’s not about being someone else.
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It’s very emotional for a club song. Was that your goal?
Honestly, I’m a pretty emotional person. Sometimes that’s what is missing in the electronic landscape — the real emotions. I have a euphoric sound, so when you combine that with an emotional message, it sticks with people.
This story first appeared in the Nov. 8 issue of Billboard.