DJ Illenium Says He Can't Wait To Return To India For Sunburn Tour: 'I'm Planning On Playing A Lot...' | Exclusive

Illenium, whose real name is Nicholas D. Miller, is an American musician, DJ, and record producer. He has gained substantial popularity in the electronic dance music (EDM) scene for his distinctive blend of emotional melody with the energy of dubstep and trap. He’s known for hits like “Take You Down,” “Good Things Fall Apart” with Jon Bellion, and “Crashing” featuring Bahari. Illenium’s music is particularly known for its melodic basslines and detailed productions that often evoke a sense of ethereal and emotional richness.

He began his career around 2013 and has since released a series of albums and EPs. His work often features collaborations with other artists, both vocalists and producers, and he’s built a reputation for his compelling live performances that often incorporate live instruments, making his shows a powerful emotional experience for fans. Illenium’s dedication to his craft and his ability to connect with listeners have made him a beloved figure in the electronic music community.

As he is all set to perform in India, Illenium exclusively talked to News18 Showsha about his latest album and what he has in store for Indian fans.

Here are the excerpts:

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How excited are you for three-city Sunburn Arena tour in February? What does it mean to you performing in India? And what do you have planned for the Indian audience?

I can’t wait to return to India for my first tour! I’ve played a festival here previously but this is my first time actually spending some time in the country. I am planning on playing a lot of songs from my most recent album but also some of my favorites from past releases for my Indian audience.

2023 was a glorious year for you especially with the release of your self-titled album. Can you take us through the journey of creating it and the audio-visual imagery that accompanied it?

I absolutely love creating lore and a story behind my albums. I had an idea in my head for the self-titled project and I worked closely with my team, particular Sandy our VJ, to flesh out an entire world where the album exists. We created a movie to tell the story that the album is based on along with a graphic novel to really make the world big. I’m very happy with how it all came together.

Ever since then, you have been on the road, taking your album to different cities and countries and delivering once-in-a-lifetime experience. How did you curate these live shows and how did you go about designing an interactive and visually rich experience for your listeners?

I spent a lot of time putting the live show together. Luckily we had a ton of resources to pull from because we had created this epic world for the album to live in. I’ve worked with my same crew for quite awhile now so everyone was involved in building out their respective parts (LD, VJ, Lasers, etc).

You have a penchant for fantasy and world building. Where did this interest emanate from and how is it symbiotic to your musical sensibilities? How does it give an extra edge to your soundtracks?

I’ve always been a nerd for that kind of stuff. I grew up as a huge Tolkien fan and appreciate the world building and lore that goes into those stories. It’s something that has always intrigued me and helped me develop songs that have a much deeper meaning than what’s on the surface. I don’t think it’s a requirement to appreciate the music but it gives fans who are into that sort of thing an opportunity to dig deeper.

Since India is quite culturally different from the countries of the west, will there be surprises and Easter eggs that solely captures the spirit and heritage of our country? Tell us something about the kind of setlist you have in mind for your tour in India?

For India the setlist is focused mainly on my most recent album but I’ve included lots of my favorite past releases as well.

The EDM landscape has changed and evolved a lot from the time you started. Over the years, how has this genre been able to garner more and more listeners every year, despite the presence of other popular genres? What sort of changes has EDM gone through which are good and which are also bad?

EDM has always been quick to evolve – I think because so much of it is based on technology that also evolves quickly (computers, software, etc). Over the years it has also fragmented into dozens of sub genres which means there’s usually something for everyone. It’s also been interesting to see EDM go from underground warehouse raves to more of a mainstream audience today. Some fans might view that as a bad thing but I think it’s great that the genre has expanded so much.

You are a very collaborative artists. How important are collaborations for you and for the global brand that is Illenium? How do you go about choosing people for collaborations and how these collaborations have shaped your identity as an artist?

For one, collaborations have always been important to me just because I’m not a very good singer! If I want to make anything other than instrumental music it means someone else is usually involved ???? A lot of the time people will reach out to me, or we’ll meet organically and come up with something. Other times I’ll reach out to an artist I’m a fan of and ask them to work on something together. I feel like I always learn something when working with other people so it’s definitely shaped my identity as an artist.

You have been previously nominated for Grammys. How do you view these awards and whether they are necessary for the recognition of an artist and their talent?

I think it’s cool to be nominated but what’s more important to me is that people enjoy my music.

Along with your music, you also do humanitarian work. You previously partnered with a Non-Profit organization which offers education as well as helps prevent overdose cases among those who consume drugs. Why should this kind of humanitarian work a roadmap for other artists in bringing change and awareness around the world?

I would encourage any artist to find a cause they are passionate about and use their platform to affect change. For me, as a former addict, overdose prevention and education is super personal and I know what it’s like to experience that. We’ve seen how this work can save lives so I’ll continue doing whatever I can to assist with that.

Can you reflect on a particularly memorable moment or experience in your career that has had a lasting impact on you?

It’s hard to choose just one moment but one thing that comes to mind is the amount of messages I’ve received from people about how my music has helped them get through something they were struggling with. Music got me through some of the darkest times in my life and having the opportunity to give that to someone else makes it all worth it.

What role do emotions play in your creative process, especially considering your music often carries strong emotional elements?

I’ve always used music as a way to express and process my emotions so every song of mine has that at its core. My music has evolved over the years but I still feel like every song starts with an emotion and develops from there.

What are your creative plans for 2024? What more do you have lined up later this year that will be a treat to your fans?

More new music and some big shows! I’ve been getting more into electronic focused music as of late so I’ve been producing in that realm for the last couple months. I can’t wait to share it with fans!