Alesso is Sweden’s next great hope for an EDM superstar. After a string of successful singles—”Calling (Lose My Mind)” with Sebastian Ingrosso, “Years” with Matthew Koma, and a remix of One Republic’s “If I Lose Myself“—Alesso recently landed a contract with Def Jam Records, as one of select few EDM artists. What that means: the 23-year-old will probably be bumping into guys like Kanye West, 2 Chainz and Pusha T in the studio while recording his debut artist album, out next year. 

Here, Alesso opens up to THUMP about his anxieties over the upcoming album, his relationship with his mentor/BFF Sebastian Ingrosso… and his diehard coffee addiction.