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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Celebrities devider Steve Aoki drops his 9th studio album 'Paragon'

Steve Aoki drops his 9th studio album 'Paragon'

Published Jul 1, 2024 01:28 pm

At A Glance

  • The story of 'Paragon' builds off of the expansive Hiroquest universe Aoki has established through his music, trading cards, and a newly released graphic novel. 

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Renowned producer and 2X Grammy-nominated artist Steve Aoki has unveiled his 9th studio album, ‘Paragon.’ 

The story of ‘Paragon’ builds off of the expansive Hiroquest universe Aoki has established through his music, trading cards, and a newly released graphic novel. 

The album showcases the contemporary global dance sounds Aoki encounters during his 200+ concerts each year. It features his latest collab with Kid Cudi, the vibrant sounds of South Africa on “Mad” with Moonchild Sanelly, and the Amapiano-heavy “Visa” in collaboration with Major League DJZ. 

“Bum Bum” with Natalhão highlights Brazilian Baile Funk, while “Get Lower” with Lil Jon blends American hip-hop with EDM. Accompanying the album, Aoki released the vibrant music video for "Heavenly Hell," collaborating with three-time Grammy award-winning hitmaker NE-YO. The video vividly transitions from heaven to hellish scenes.
 
“This album revisits the core themes that defined my early work, with a strong emphasis on crafting tracks that get people moving,” Aoki shares. 

“Although it spans a variety of genres, it remains true to the essence of dance music, uniting cultures worldwide through a myriad of sounds. At the center of ‘Paragon’ is my collaboration with NE-YO. NE-YO has voiced so many essential dancefloor anthems, and it’s an honor to work with him on this next chapter. ‘Heavenly Hell’ has been going off in my sets around the world, and I’m excited to officially share it with the everyone.”

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NE-YO and Steve Aoki

“Been a long time coming, this collaboration,” NE-YO adds. “Super excited for the world to hear what we’ve come up with! Thanx for the vibes, Steve!”

Sonically, the album is a snapshot of an Aoki concert experience, full of high-energy moments. One of the biggest songs in Aoki’s sets is his remix of Kid Cudi’s “Pursuit Of Happiness.” The pair reunite on ‘Paragon’ with “Electrowavebaby 2.0,” another contagious crossover anthem. 

Elsewhere on the album, “Lose My Mind” with K?D, “Voices In My Head”   with Bassjackers (featuring Teddy Bee), and “Better Run” with Just_us provide festival-ready electro sounds, while “Play The Track” with 22Bullet provides a melodic techno vibe. There are also singalong moments on big vocal-driven records such as “Drive” featuring KIDDO.

From the studio to the stage, Aoki's passion for pushing boundaries and exploring new sonic landscapes shines through in every track. His previous album ‘HiROQUEST 2: Double Helix’ was inspired by nostalgia and the dynamic sounds of contemporary dance, Latin music, and more. The first 'HiROQUEST' drew from Aoki's alternative music and punk band roots.

This year, Aoki has been on his Heavenly Hell Tour, previewing ‘Paragon’ songs for audiences in each city he visits, including major festivals such as EDC Las Vegas, Tomorrowland Winter, and Ultra Miami. Aoki has brought along fellow Dim Mak artists, including Callie Reiff, Deorro, Nostalgix, Pickle, Cheyenne Giles, Yetep, Ookay, Henry Fong, and Wolfgang Gartner, to join him on select stops. Tonight, Aoki celebrates ‘Paragon’ with a record-release party at Brooklyn Mirage. For tickets, please visit www.stevesoki.com.

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