How did the name come up? I was supposed to release music but I didn’t really have a name. A friend and I were out in Stockholm and there was a Swedish techno DJ named Oscar Can and I decided to be the one who “knows.” It was fun in the beginning but now that I have stuck with the name for 9 years it is almost in my passport. What inspired you to hop on board the EDM scene? It was these 4 guys from Sweden; Eric Prydz, Steve Angello, Axwell and Sebastian Ingrosso. They were the DJs that I looked up to ever since the first time I saw them when I was 16. I realised they came at a very important time in my life and from then on, I made house music a big part of my life as well. How would you say your sound has changed through the years? I think I've grown up and become more mature. I really found a way to express myself as an artist. and I’m in a really creative phase right now I never experienced before. I'm just so hungry to make new music, and I have no idea where my sound will go. All I know now is that I make music I really love and don't listen much to what other people think. You’ve worked with a lot of EDM stars. Who did you enjoy working with the most? I’ll say everything I do with Alesso and Sebastian Ingrosso is special. We hang out a lot, we see each other as much as we can, talk to each other almost every day on the phone. We’re like a small family with the same kind of thoughts behind music, so it must be them for sure. Were you a DJ or a producer first? I was actually a DJ first, but a bedroom DJ really. Then I got into production later. I sold my DJ gear and bought an iMac and Logic and went from there. I'm totally addicted to Logic, I can't even imagine putting down a kick and a clap in any other program. Who are some artists you would love to collaborate with someday? There are so many amazing artists I want to collaborate with. I think it’s cool when two artists from different worlds collide and collaborate. That’s when the most exciting things can be created, in my opinion. How do you feel that DJing and producing has changed over the last few years? The scene has gotten a lot of exposure and become a huge market. There are so many new up-coming artists and tracks being released constantly. In my opinion, you need to really work hard and be dedicated to stand out. That’s my main goal everyday! What is a dream venue you would love to play at? If Sweden wins the World Cup in football and I got to play at the celebration when the players got home, that would be my dream gig! We’re extremely impressed with your track ‘Million Voices.” Can you tell us more about this track? We heard it was made in a back room while Sebastian Ingrosso and Alesso were in the studio next door. Yeah, Sebastian Ingrosso and Alesso were making music in the studio, and I was in another room. It’s weird to think about that, it was such a long time ago. Any advice for young, aspiring bedroom DJs out there? Most importantly, work hard. Just believe in yourself and try to compare your music to other stuff to make it sound as good as possible. There are no shortcuts in life and you gotta work as hard as you can to achieve success. What's next? I'm finishing my new single, Always. It's still got a few tweaks that are needed for the mix. It's another instrumental and I don't really feel any pressure to make vocal tracks right now. I still need to make tracks to play in my DJ sets. https://soundcloud.com/aviciiofficial/without-you-otto-knows-remix"The music I make tends to be very emotive and that is important to me."
A Sit Down With DJ Otto Knows
In the large pool of talented dance music rookies, Otto Jettman – known internationally as Otto Knows – is perhaps the most promising young Swede of the crop. You’ve heard his music, but you probably haven’t heard from the man himself.