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Daniel Allan Japan Interview: The Roots, Sound, and Social Media Strategy Behind the Buzz That’s Capturing Global Attention

The 192nd video changed everything… What he wants to reach is people, what he wants to resonate is conviction. Fresh off his urgent trip to Japan, the next-generation producer opens up about the mindset behind going viral.

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On Thursday, June 5, 2025, at CIRCUS TOKYO, and on Sunday, June 8, at CIRCUS OSAKA for the Japanese edition of the underground event series MIDNIGHT DINER, LA-based next-generation producer Daniel Allan—hailed for blending future bass with indie pop and for his bold, high-impact social media strategy—made his long-awaited appearance in Japan. Representing the local scene were NUU$HI, the DJ collective SPRAYBOX, and COOPAHTROOPA, the event’s organizer and one of Daniel’s closest collaborators. The shows drew an intensity rarely seen on a weekday night, once again highlighting just how much momentum Daniel Allan has gained in Japan.


At this rare and timely occasion, TJO, on behalf of the EDMMAXX editorial team, sat down with Daniel Allan for an in-depth interview. He spoke at length about his career, his musical roots, and the deeper intentions behind his social media strategy.


TJO : This is your first time visiting Japan — what kind of impression do you have of the country? And is there anything you’d like to do while you’re here?

Daniel Allan : I’ve actually been to Japan once before, but it was a really short trip, maybe five or six days.
That was in April 2023, I think. I absolutely love it here. Seriously. I love the fashion, I love the music – everything. I don’t know, there’s just something really special about this place for me. I really love being here. As for what I want to do this time…Honestly, I want to spend more time in Osaka. Last time, I was only there for one day. I spent quite a bit of time in Shibuya and Kyoto, but I really wish I had stayed longer in Osaka. So this time, I want to explore Osaka more and take my time. Last time, I played a show and didn’t really have much of a plan beyond that. Now I just want to stay open-minded and go with the flow.
If anyone has any recommendations, I’d love to hear them! I just want to see and experience as many new things as I can.


TJO : For those who are discovering Daniel Allan for the first time, which one song would you recommend?

Daniel Allan : That’s a tough one… I think the classic choice would be “I Just Need”. it’s my biggest song, and in many ways, it’s the one that really kicked off my career.



If I could recommend a second track, it would probably be “Better With You” which is the one I just released. I feel like it represents the most current version of what I’ve been working on lately. But if you’re looking for a place to start, you’ve got to begin with “I Just Need”. That’s really the start of the whole story.

TJO : Your music blends electronic and emotional elements, where do you draw inspiration from when creating music?

Daniel Allan : Honestly, traveling helps me a lot. It might sound a bit strange, but I actually really like chaos – the fast pace of touring, always being away from home. I enjoy that rhythm. For some reason, I tend to make some of my best music on airplanes, in cars, or just while I’m on the move. It’s kind of weird, I know, but I’ve always been like that. In fact, I actually find it a little hard to stay in one place for too long. I like moving around, you know what I mean? So for me, going to new places and experiencing different environments is really inspiring.
Maybe that’s even why I’m here – that’s why I’m in Japan right now.



TJO : So are there any genres or artists that you’ve been paying attention to recently – like new artists or artists that have been releasing for a while?

Daniel Allan : New artists… yeah, I mean, I guess it depends on how you define “new.” But there’s this artist duo from the UK called DJ Heartstring – I don’t know if you’ve heard of them. They make music that leans more toward trance, and I’ve been listening to that kind of stuff a lot more recently. But honestly, I’m kind of all over the place. I love discovering super small artists — like the ones with only 800 monthly listeners. I really enjoy digging deep and finding those hidden gems. I’m the type of person who does all that digitally, if you know what I mean.
That’s just how I am – I’m always deep in the weeds when it comes to discovering new music.



TJO : Excluding new artists, who are three artists that have influenced your current sound?

Daniel Allan : Holy — that’s so hard to narrow down to just three! But I’d say my all-time favorite artist is Skrillex. He’s always been number one for me, no question. When I first started getting into music production, Flume was a huge inspiration. It’s been really interesting lately to bring some of that early influence back into my current sound. And for the third, I’d probably say Above & Beyond — they’re more of an old-school trance group. Recently, I’ve been trying to weave a bit of that influence back into my music as well. So yeah… picking just three is tough, but I think those three feel right.


TJO : Are you into trance?

Daniel Allan : Yeah, it’s kind of wild, trance was actually the first genre of music I ever made. Even before I was Daniel Allan, I had another artist project I was just messing around with. That was back when I was first learning Ableton and figuring out how to make music. Trance was really my first love in music. And now, I think I’m starting to find a new approach to it – you know what I mean? Something that feels a bit more personal, and maybe like a 2025 version of trance that reflects where I’m at today. Honestly, my first love in music was stuff like Armin Van Buuren’s “A State of Trance”, Tiesto’s “In Search of Sunrise”. I got into that kind of music super early, mostly because I have an older brother who’s 15 years older than me and he used to show me all kinds of music when I was a kid. So yeah, that’s really where it all started for me.




ーーーAbout ”Better With You”





TJO : Let’s talk about “Better With You” such a sick track! What kind of concept did you have in mind when you were making it?

Daniel Allan : Yeah, I mean—at the beginning of this year, or really the very end of last year, I put out a mixtape called “Noise Pollution”. It was like a sampler of all the stuff I love. There was a jungle track on it, and a lot of… well, weird shit—sorry, not sure if I can curse! But yeah, it had a bunch of experimental sounds. After that, honestly, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do next. So I booked a trip to London and spent about a month just writing. And during that time, I think I started to fall into a sound that felt a little more like my own.


That direction really came through in “Better With You”, and also in the track right before it, “Something More”. Lately, I’ve been focused on exploring how synths themselves can become the hook of a song. Obviously, I love working with vocals—I’m very much a vocal-forward artist—and I often think about my music in a pop structure. One artist I didn’t mention earlier, who’s a huge influence on me, is Fred again.. He started in pop too, and I kind of approach my music in a similar way—like, asking myself, “What’s the hook of this track?” But I don’t think the hook always has to be the vocal. Sometimes, the production—like a synth line—can carry that role. With Better With You and Something More, I was really focused on making the synth lines the hooks. It’s kind of this blend of early Flume-style synth work with four-on-the-floor, trance- and garage-inspired drums. I don’t know, man—it’s like I stumbled into this weird pocket of sound that really excites me. It feels unique, it feels like mine, and honestly, it’s been so much fun. I don’t think I’ve ever really had a signature sound before this, so watching it all come together has been super rewarding.



TJO : Yeah, we were just saying that it’s such a huge tune!

Daniel Allan : Oh, thank you! Yeah, that one’s a big one for me. Really appreciate it, man. Hell yeah, I love that track.

TJO : The colorful synths really stand out — what were you conscious of or challenged by during production?

Daniel Allan : Yeah, I mean—there’s just so much to consider when you’re an artist in 2025. You really can’t talk about an artist’s career today without thinking about the internet. So for this track, I wanted to create a specific moment in the song—something that would clearly work as an online post. It’s kind of weird, honestly, because I’ve never approached music that way before. But I’m actually really happy with how it turned out. It was like a thought experiment for me—trying to figure out how I would go about building a track with that kind of intention. And like I mentioned earlier about the synths in the song, I was thinking a lot about how to create those 8-second, 12-second, 16-second moments—little clips that could grab someone’s attention right away. I’m really happy with how it came out. I’m a big chord guy – I really care about harmony. And I’m also someone who loves strong pop hooks. So it was cool watching this track come together, because while it’s not exactly a pop song, it still has so many of the elements that make pop music work.



TJO : Which collaborations were the most memorable for you, and why?

Daniel Allan : Yeah, that’s a tough one. I feel really lucky, man – so many of the people I collaborate with are my friends, which is honestly the best-case scenario. Every collaboration stands out in its own way, so it’s hard to pick just one.

But one that really stuck with me was a session with these guys called PARISI. I’ve done a lot of sessions in my life, and each one is unique — you always learn something new. But the reason this one stood out was because of how insanely unique their skill sets were. They’re brothers — not twins — Marco and Jack. Marco grew up as an incredible jazz pianist, and Jack was a phenomenal drummer. What’s really wild is that Marco worked for years as the lead demonstrator for the ROLI synth — not sure if you’re familiar with it — but he was basically the face of the product. He toured with it, gave feedback directly to the development team, and helped shape the actual design of the instrument. So when you think about it, Marco might literally be the best ROLI player in the world.



I’ve seen people who are amazing at piano, at drums, at traditional instruments — but Marco’s like… he has his own instrument, you know what I mean? That session was just magical. I remember thinking, “I’m just gonna step back and let this guy work his magic.” So yeah, that was one of the most memorable. But man — people like Lyra, Rio Craig — I’ve been fortunate to work with so many insanely talented friends. It’s hard to pick just one. Still, that Parisi session really sticks with me. They’re just incredible. Thanks for asking.

TJO : What about their production skills?

Daniel Allan : Oh dude, yeah — I mean, they’re incredible.
They’ve produced a lot of Fred again’s “Actual Life” tracks, and I think they’ve worked on three of Ed Sheeran’s albums — a bunch of Ed Sheeran records in general. But honestly, more than just their production skills, they’re simply the best people. They’re amazing producers — they have all these cool plug-ins and production tricks — but the way they treated me was just next level. They even brought me out for their Coachella set. I mean, they’re just… yeah, amazing people. So yeah, incredible producers — and even better human beings.




TJO : How was your Coachella experience? I saw the live stream!

Daniel Allan : Oh, you did? Yeah, dude — it was awesome, man. We made a track together called “Man Down,” which I think came out in April. That song actually came from our very first session. We ended up making five songs that day — like I said, they’re geniuses. Coachella was insane. I had never been to Coachella before, because I made this personal rule that I wouldn’t go until I played there myself. It’s kind of funny — it wasn’t technically my own set, but I let myself go because it was close enough. I performed during Weekend 1 with Parisi, and then Weekend 2 with Snakehips. We did a song together, and that was at the Do LaB stage. It’s such an iconic festival, you know? I’m really glad that my first time there was as an artist — it definitely made the experience more special. Yeah, it was a lot of fun.



TJO : What moment in your music career has been a turning point for you?

Daniel Allan : I hate to sound like a broken record, but it’s definitely “I Just Need.” I mean, that track was— we made it in like 15 minutes. Lyra already had the vocal hook, and the very first thing I did was chop the “I just need” vocal line. That was literally the first thing I did. I didn’t even really listen to it — it all just happened so fast.

It was wild, man. That was the first 4-on-the-floor track I ever released. I’d never even put out a house beat before in my life. Honestly, I didn’t even think the song was good at first. But all my friends were like, “You’re crazy, you need to put this out!” So I did — and honestly, my whole touring career, and even the recognition I started to get in the U.S., all began with that song.

I think my sound has evolved since then, but I still listen to that track and don’t get tired of it. You know how some artists end up having a love-hate relationship with their biggest song? I’m still really proud of that one — and the story behind it. I think it’s because it happened so quickly. When you spend forever tweaking a mix — version 39 or whatever — you can start to hate the song. But with “I Just Need,” it came together so quickly, I never had time to dislike it. So yeah, that’s definitely the turning point for me — the beginning of everything.



ーーー About Social Media Branding



TJO : You’re getting a lot of attention not just from your music, but also from your social media and videos. Why do you focus so much on social media?

Daniel Allan : I think it’s really important, in my opinion, for artists to be very involved on the social media front. Hudson — he and I have been working together for a couple of months now. He handles a lot of the video work for me. I also have another videographer, Mark, who has been touring with me for the past eight or nine months.
When Mark and I first started working together, I told him, “Hey, just follow me with the camera and we’ll figure it out.” But honestly, it didn’t go very well — I wasn’t giving him any direction, and he’d ask, “What do you want me to do?” and I’d just say, “I don’t know, figure it out.”

Eventually, something clicked for me — I realized I needed to learn about this more seriously. I started treating my Instagram as if I were my own creative director. I dove deep into learning how to edit and how to make things look polished. At first, I hated it — I think every artist goes through that feeling. Being an artist now is so different from even four years ago; everything is changing fast. I’m kind of a music nerd — all I really want to do is make music. So it took some adjusting. I realized that if I want to reach the goals I’ve set for my career, there are things outside of music I have to do to get there. I had a choice: be sad about it, or find a way to make it work. So I got really into it. I may not have the editing skills of a professional videographer, but I do have strong ideas about how I want things to be presented. Sometimes I’ll write out entire scripts or make scene-by-scene shot lists.

Honestly, the most important thing I’ve learned about social media is this: everyone wants their videos to blow up — of course. But we forget that we’re talking to actual people, not just the algorithm. Like I’m talking to you right now — there’s a real person on the other side of the screen. A lot of artists obsess over going viral — I’ve been there too. But once I realized I was making content for people, not numbers, my mindset shifted. I started asking myself: “If I were scrolling, would I actually like this?” That changed how I approached social media.

For a long time, I thought it had to be either one or the other — either super high-production narrative videos or quick iPhone selfie clips. But now I know you can do both. A great 10-second clip can work just as well. So yeah, I think that answers your question. I’m very hands-on with it, and honestly, I’ve grown to really enjoy it recently.



TJO : What kind of strategies do you consider when promoting your music on TikTok or other social media platform?

Daniel Allan : Oh man, honestly — just do it. Do it as much as you possibly can. It takes time — sometimes even more than making music. But I think it’s also about respect. If you spend all this time creating a song, you should respect that song enough to do what it takes to get people to hear it.

I’m not saying you need to dance or get naked or anything like that — definitely not. But respecting your art means doing what’s necessary to share it. And for me, that means finding a way to promote it in a way that still feels true to who I am.

I’ve told this story before, but the video of “I Just Need” that blew up — that was video number 192. I posted 191 times and nobody cared. Then the 192nd video got a million views and the track became the No.1 dance record in the U.S. And that was all me — just me and an iPhone. No team. No budget. Just belief in the song and the determination to see it through.


So yeah, it definitely takes time. But look — if you want to be an artist and make this your job, then it is a job. And every job has parts you don’t like.

I’m incredibly lucky — I get to play shows in Japan. I have the coolest job in the world. I literally pay my rent with Ableton. So if I have to spend an hour or two making a video? That’s nothing. There are people out there working jobs they hate, struggling every day. So who am I to complain about taking two hours to shoot a video? That’s just how I see it.

TJO : When it comes to self-branding, what are you especially mindful or careful about?

Daniel Allan : Self-promoting? Yeah… it’s tricky. Asking people to do something—it’s a really sensitive thing, you know? I try really hard not to ask for too much. Instead, I focus on giving as much as I can. Because when you start asking all the time, it starts to feel less genuine, less authentic. So I aim to give first—whether it’s production knowledge, cool videos, unreleased flips on SoundCloud, or just music giveaways.

If I know I’ve got something coming up, like a tour announcement or a big drop, I’ll try to post 10 or 20 things beforehand that are all about giving—content people can enjoy with no strings attached. I really believe that before you ask for anything, you need to give a lot. If all you’re doing is asking, you’re probably not going to get much in return.

TJO : What’s something you’ve been into lately in your personal life?

Daniel Allan : Man, my personal life… I don’t really have much of one, bro. That’s a tough question. I mean, I really appreciate any chance I get to travel, even in small windows. This trip, for example, is kind of half work, half personal. So anytime I can sneak in a little bit of travel, I’m grateful for it.

But the thing no one tells you about being an artist is—you’re basically working all the time. It’s tough to find balance. Honestly, I need advice from you on how to balance things. I really wish I had more of a personal life.

Right now, I’m just so deep into music and everything surrounding it. I keep thinking, “Man, I need to read more. I need to do something cool outside of music.” But honestly? I’m literally working on music all the time.

TJO : Including your appearance at Coachella that we talked about earlier, what are your future plans or things you’d like to try next?

Daniel Allan : Yeah, I mean with Coachella — I’ll only really cross it off my list when I get to play my own set there, you know what I mean? The thing is, it never really stops. You hit one goal, and then you’re like, “Okay, cool, I played EDC — maybe one day I’ll headline EDC.” So I think it’s super important to enjoy the ride.

If all you’re thinking about is the next goal, it starts to feel more like a job, and it gets harder to enjoy the moment. I’ve got so many bucket list things I’m grateful to be checking off. Like this year, I’m playing Lollapalooza for the first time — that was actually the first festival I ever went to as a kid, so that one is really special.

I’m also doing Hard Summer this year, and a bunch of other cool shows. Honestly, I feel lucky. There’s still so much on my list — like, I’ve never played in Australia before, and that’s a big one for me.

Also, I used to play tennis growing up — that was my first love before music. And one of my biggest dreams is to perform in each of the Grand Slam cities during the tournaments: Australia in January, Paris in May during the French Open, London in July for Wimbledon, and New York in September for the US Open. That’s kind of the dream — for music to take me full circle back to that original passion.



TJO : Yeah, well, you can do it — hopefully, hopefully, man. Is there anything you can share with us right now – like any upcoming releases or announcements?

Daniel Allan : Yeah, so I just put out “Better With You”, which is going to be the first single from an upcoming EP I’m working on. I don’t want to share the title of the EP just yet, but the whole project kind of feels like a sampler of the sounds I’m really into right now. There are some really cool collaborations on it — I’ve got a track with Louis the Child on the project, and another one with an incredible artist named Stresshead. In a few weeks, I’ll be releasing the next single called “Start to Slip” — I’ll actually play it during the DJ part of the show so you can check it out. Honestly, I just want to keep putting music out. That’s what I care about the most, more than anything.


TJO : So yeah, we’re always really looking forward to that!

Daniel Allan : Yeah, I don’t know, man, I’m just really excited to be in a good flow of releasing music right now.

TJO : Do you have a message for your fans in Japan?

Daniel Allan : Oh man, you need to teach me! How do I say “I love Japan”? “Nihon” means Japan, right?

(TJO teaches Japanese)

“Nihon Daisuki Desu!” Yeah, that’s my message!



Daniel Allan Official Site
https://danielallanmusic.vault.fm

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