Walker’s debut album “ORIGIN” arrived earlier this Spring (May 2024) as a 14-track testament to his artistic journey and continued evolution. The body of work offers a sonic odyssey that is equal parts nostalgic and contemporary – transporting listeners through a seminal era of 2010’s dance music – as Walker captures the sounds and emotions that inspired his own creative pursuits.
Delivering a new way for fans to experience “ORIGIN”, the DJ and producer will unveil a fully immersive sonic and visual experience, uniquely in a category of its own. Directed by Rafatoon’s Rafael Perez, the 35-minute performance video converges the reality with reverie, infusing his stunning soundscapes with 3-D holographics, bringing each track to life with otherworldly twists
What made you want to title this record ORIGIN?
My debut album, ORIGIN, is a journey back through the sounds, textures and emotions that originally captivated me about electronic music. Over the two years I worked on the album, I really dove back into the “Golden Era” of dance music, exploring the sounds that made me fall in love with it – larger than life melodies, classic mainstage anthems and nostalgic, evocative lyrics. The record itself, and its title weave together all of the musical elements I cherish into one cohesive narrative – my personal origin story.
Why did you want to make it a vfx experience?
I firmly believe that stunning visuals can profoundly enhance the listening experience of electronic music, and I feel that only utilizing basic lighting and effects for live sets can hold an artist back. I wanted to break that threshold and give my listeners an elevated, immersive experience with my debut album, taking them on the journey or my origin – my goal was to take the world of ORIGIN and melt it into our own, weaving reality with reverie. We created something truly unique with the VFX experience, taking the otherworldly digital imagery from the album and infused it into my live set, submerging viewers into ORIGIN’s euphoria.
Why is 2010 dance music so important for you?
The “Golden Era” of dance music during the 2010s holds an immense significance for me, as it was vital in shaping my identity as an artist. I really admired, and still take so much inspiration from the greats – artists like Avicii, Alesso and Swedish House Mafia – who were amplying the movement, uniting electronic music with almost every other genre and enhancing the stereotypical sounds with exceptional vocalists. While my love for dance music has always been strong, integrating the songwriting elements from folk, country and alternative music has really elevated the genre to a new level for me.
What inspired the visual portion of this project?
For the VFX experience, I teamed up with my good friend, and creative genius Rafatoon – his brilliance in visual effects is truly unmatched and I knew we could create something one-of-a-kind for this one. Together, we collaborated to create an euphoric, otherworldly experience for the live set, featuring surreal landscapes and larger-than-life imagery designed to transport viewers on an incomparable journey of ORIGIN.
What’s the most important track on this record?
The lead single, “I Go Dancing” was the catalyst for the entire album – it drove me to step back into the studio to do this and really set the tone for all of the tracks that followed. It’s a lyrically charged collab with Ella Henderson, and it inspired me to revisit the “Golden Era” of dance music, where I embarked on a journey into my own career’s origins. That track really embodies that era, a time marked by uplifting and emotive soundscapes that went beyond just dancing to foster genuine human connection. I owe my debut album to “I Go Dancing”, and it will always hold a special place in my heart for sparking this entire project.
How do you usually pick a track list for a live show? Or how do you approach a live performance?
I aim to take my audience on a journey with my sets – building tension through subtle and heartfelt moments that come to an apex with euphoric, electronic drops. My VFX performance is a prime example of how I approach all of my live performances – taking listeners on an emotional ride by creating balance between the nostalgic, mellow segments and the high energy tracks. I also intentionally mirrored this approach in my album’s track listening quick closely to create a similar listening experience.
What is the message behind this record ultimately?
My message behind the album is all about following your heart and staying true to yourself – ORIGIN was an exploration into what I really love musically, representing a deep dive into my musical passions. Seeing the ways that this message has struck a c