Behind the Hook: An Interview with Luke Alessi
If you've spent any time on the dancefloor lately, there's a good chance you've moved to the sounds of Luke Alessi. If you’re a house music enthusiast, there's a high likelihood you have a track or two by the Australian sensation in your playlist. His music has been popping up everywhere—from underground clubs to major festivals—with releases on labels like Life & Death, Rose Avenue, and Watergate. His late 2024 track After Five became an instant go-to, lighting up clubs across the globe. For Luke, it wasn’t some calculated hit; it was just another idea that came together quickly, built around a groove that simply felt right.
Luke’s artistic flow is all about riding the groove. Sometimes it starts with a hook—maybe a synth line, a drum groove, or even a bass loop that just sticks. He even finds inspiration in the most unexpected places, like Donkey Kong Country and Mario Kart soundtracks. It’s that blend of nostalgia and forward-thinking that keeps his tracks fresh. His side project notwithoutfriends, with longtime mates William Kiss and Jordan Brando, is much the same—just good friends making music, throwing parties, and keeping things real. No egos, just pure fun.
In 2024, Luke took his sound international, hitting venues like Space Miami, The Brooklyn Mirage, and Pacha Ibiza. He capped off the year at Strawberry Fields, supporting Solomun at The Wool Store, bringing it back to where it all began. It’s been a wild ride, but it’s clear he’s only getting started.
We caught up with him to chat about his session work, wild tour stories (including a raccoon stealing his guacamole in Tulum), and what’s coming up next for him and notwithoutfriends. Dive into the full interview below.
When kicking off a new track, what's usually your first step?
It changes all the time, but usually, I start with the hook. It could be a synth, vocal, bass line, or even a drum groove that has some tonal element to it. If I find a loop that just hits the spot—something I could listen to on repeat for ages—then I know I’ve got a good base. I’ll build everything else around that.
What's a surprising or quirky influence that’s found its way into your sound?
I’m really inspired by '90s video game soundtracks. In particular, Nintendo games like Donkey Kong Country and Mario Kart. I’ve actually sampled these quite a bit in the past and still do. They just take me back to such a nostalgic, happy place and seem to work in my productions.
Any favorite moments or funny stories from playing some of the iconic venues you've visited?
Actually, something crazy happened to me recently after a set I played in Tulum. I was back at my hotel room with a friend, having a beer on the balcony, and I heard the screen door to my room open. I turned around to find a raccoon trying to break in and steal my guacamole from my bedside table. Cheeky bugger! I ended up leaving it out the front for him because I felt bad.
How have collaborations with friends like Chloé Caillet or DJ Tennis shaped your artistic flow with music?
Overall, I’ve loved it. Collaborating with other artists always pushes me outside my comfort zone. Chloé used to be in a band and comes from a more traditional songwriting background, so she has taught me a bit about traditional pop structure and how to integrate that into dance music, which has been valuable.
DJ Tennis, on the other hand, has this mad-scientist approach in the studio where he’ll throw something completely unexpected into the mix—mucking around on random bits of hardware, playing with FX pedals and synths—and suddenly, the track takes on a whole new life form. Before you know it, inspiration strikes.
"After Five" blew up—did you feel it would be a hit while making it, or was the success a bit of a surprise?
Ummmmm... not really. The record came together quite fast, and I just thought, “Oh, this will be a fun, loopy, disco groover that will be fun in the clubs.” I guess in that sense I knew it would be functional on the dance floor, and “functional” generally means it gets played, but you never really know how people will react. Then I started getting messages from other artists and DJs I really respect, asking for the track, and I thought, “Okay… maybe this one’s got legs.”
What’s special to you about working with Life & Death Records?
They genuinely feel like family to me. DJ Tennis is a true friend who helps support me in so many ways beyond just releasing with the label. Musically and artistically, they give me complete freedom. They’re not looking for a particular sound or aesthetic—just art that feels fresh and authentic. That kind of trust makes a huge difference as an artist.
What’s one festival or venue you’re dying to perform at but haven’t yet?
Ooft, that’s hard to pick! I’d say clubs and rooms like Robert Johnson, Panorama Bar, and DC-10 Circoloco—all would be a dream for sure!
With your side project notwithoutfriends, what’s the best part about collaborating closely with friends?
It just feels effortless. No egos, no overthinking (a lot of blunt honesty)—just making tunes and throwing parties with your best friends the way we’d want to experience them. Our Heide Sculpture Park show was a perfect example of that energy.
What's your secret to staying creative and healthy when you're always on the move?
I try to get in the ocean or a body of water whenever I can. It resets everything. Also, eating properly on tour is a struggle, but if I can get a place with a kitchen, then I love to cook. Every chance I get to eat real food and know exactly what is going into my body, cooking myself is the only way to do it.
How do you keep up with fresh music trends without losing your own style?
I listen to a lot of stuff outside of club music—jazz, weird ‘70s records, film, and video game scores. That way, I’m influenced by more than just what’s trendy at the time.
Any new or upcoming artists you’re super excited about right now?
William Kiss and Jordan Brando are doing some wild stuff right now, but I’m biased because we’ve been making music together for years. But honestly, I think they inspire me more than anyone. Also, Demi Requismo and D-stone are making some heat and almost always feature in my DJ sets.
If you could swap lives with another DJ or producer for a day, who would you choose and why?
Again, so tough, but I would have to say Four Tet. Not so much musically, but just his range and general ethos on music and the way he views the industry really inspires me a lot. He’s not afraid to just make music as he feels. Sometimes it could be an ambient track, next a full underground club record, then he’s collaborating with a pop artist. There seems to be this creative freedom and output that is so broad yet super authentic, and his fans just accept and appreciate it. That’s honestly what I want to strive towards as an artist.
What is something meaningful to you, but not to others?
Quite often, I’ll underlay my tracks with a field recording of something that was happening in my life at the time I came up with the idea or was writing the track. It could be while I’m at the shops, in the park, at a café—whatever it is, I’ll put it so low in the background that it’s often inaudible to the listener. But it just kind of laces the track with the energy and vibe of the time I wrote it.
Lastly, what’s one random talent or hobby you have that fans might be surprised to hear about?
I can do some pretty good voice impressions—Dumbledore and David Attenborough, to be specific (although they are pretty much the same).
