// Workers AI · dad joke modeIs Alok mixing a good life? He's beating the odds.
Alok | |
|---|---|
 Alok in 2025 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Alok Achkar Peres Petrillo 26 August 1991 Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil |
| Origin | Brasília, Federal District, Brazil |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2004–present |
| Labels |
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Spouse |
Romana Novais (m. 2019) |
| Website | aloklive |
Alok Achkar Peres Petrillo (born 26 August 1991), known professionally as Alok, is a Brazilian DJ and record producer. He became internationally known following the release of the 2016 single "Hear Me Now", recorded with Bruno Martini and Zeeba. The song reached charts in several countries and made Alok the first Brazilian artist to surpass 100 million streams on Spotify with a single track.[1]
Alok began his career in psychedelic trance as a member of the duo Logica with his twin brother, Bhaskar, before moving toward house music as a solo artist. His later work has included collaborations with Indigenous Brazilian musicians, performances at festivals including Tomorrowland, Rock in Rio and the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, and philanthropic projects through the Alok Institute.
Early life
[edit]Alok Achkar Peres Petrillo was born on 26 August 1991 in Goiânia, in the Brazilian state of Goiás.[2] His father, Juarez Achkar Petrillo, known professionally as Swarup, and his mother, Adriana Peres Franco, known as Ekanta, are DJs associated with Brazil's psychedelic trance scene. They were also involved in the creation of the Universo Paralello electronic-music festival.[3]
He has a twin brother, Bhaskar, who is also a DJ and record producer. During their childhood, the brothers lived in the Federal District, Alto Paraíso de Goiás and, for a period, Amsterdam. They began learning to mix and produce electronic music using equipment in their father's studio.[3]
Petrillo later enrolled in an international relations course at the Catholic University of Brasília, but left the programme after his touring schedule made it difficult to continue his studies.[4]
Career
[edit]Logica and early solo career
[edit]At the age of 12, Alok and Bhaskar formed the psychedelic trance project Logica and began performing professionally. The duo appeared at Universo Paralello and later released music through labels including Vagalume Records and Liquid Records.[3][5]
After Logica ended, Alok began developing a solo career and moved gradually from psychedelic trance toward house music. In 2013, he released "We Are Underground", which received attention within Brazil's electronic-music scene.[6]
In 2015, he founded Up Club Records after some European labels declined to release his music.[7] That year, he entered DJ Magazine's Top 100 DJs poll for the first time.
International breakthrough
[edit]In June 2016, Alok signed with the Dutch electronic-music label Spinnin' Records.[8]
In October 2016, he released "Hear Me Now" with Bruno Martini and Zeeba. The single reached the top of the Brazilian iTunes and Spotify charts and later entered Spotify's global top 50.[9][1]
The song was certified platinum in Italy by the Federation of the Italian Music Industry.[10]
In 2017, Alok was involved in the creation of Artist Factory, an electronic-music management venture formed in partnership with Audiomix.[11]
In 2019, he founded Controversia, a label affiliated with Spinnin' Records.[12] The same year, he was introduced as a celebrity character in the mobile game Free Fire.
Tomorrowland and large-scale performances
[edit]Alok has performed at several editions of Tomorrowland in Belgium and Brazil. At Tomorrowland Brazil in 2023, he performed the final set on the festival's main stage.[13]
In August 2023, he performed a free concert on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro. News reports estimated that the event drew approximately one million people.[14]
In 2023, he received the rank of Grand Officer of the Brazilian Order of Merit of Labour Justice for his social work.[14]
Indigenous collaborations and O Futuro É Ancestral
[edit]In September 2021, Alok performed for Global Citizen Live from a stage on the Amazon River alongside artists from the Huni Kuin, Yawanawá and Guarani Mbya peoples.[15]
The project was later presented during events connected with the United Nations in New York. In 2022, the United Nations described the collaboration as part of an initiative promoting Indigenous cultures and languages.[16]
In April 2024, Alok released the album O Futuro É Ancestral, created with approximately 50 artists representing eight Indigenous peoples in Brazil. The album's proceeds and royalties were allocated to participating communities.[17]
Recordings associated with the project received two nominations in the Latin Grammy category for Best Latin Electronic Music Performance: "Pedju Kunumigwe", recorded with Guarani Nhandeva artists, and "Drum Machine", recorded with DJ Pickle.[18]
In September 2024, Alok and Indigenous artists involved in the project performed at the Global Citizen Festival in Central Park, New York.[19]
Coachella and Keep Art Human
[edit]Alok made his Coachella debut in April 2025, performing on the Sahara stage. The performance featured members of the Italian dance group Urban Theory, who created synchronized formations that functioned as human visual panels.[20]
The performance used the phrases "This Is Not AI" and "Keep Art Human". Alok later adopted Keep Art Human as the name of a campaign addressing human creativity and the use of artificial intelligence in the arts.[20][21]
In June 2025, he presented a Keep Art Human concert at the Mercado Livre Arena Pacaembu in São Paulo. The performance included dancers, Indigenous musicians and a drone display, as well as an appearance by Brazilian musician Gilberto Gil.[22]
TIME100 Climate and Rave the World
[edit]In 2025, Alok was included in Time's TIME100 Climate list. The magazine highlighted his collaborations with Indigenous artists and environmental initiatives connected with the Amazon rainforest.[23]
In 2026, Alok introduced Rave the World, a live-show and recording concept centred on rave culture and audience participation. A preview of the production was held at Greenvalley in Brazil, followed by a launch in London.[24]
Musical style and influences
[edit]Alok's music has been associated with house, deep house, electronic dance music and Brazilian bass. His early career was rooted in psychedelic trance.
He has cited his parents as formative influences. He has also mentioned electronic acts including Daft Punk, The Chemical Brothers, The Prodigy and Gorillaz among the artists he listened to while developing his musical style.[25]
Philanthropy
[edit]Before establishing his own institute, Alok supported social projects in Brazil and Africa. In 2018, he donated R$400,000 toward the construction of a school in Maputo, Mozambique.[26]
In 2020, he established the Alok Institute with an initial allocation of R$27 million for social projects.[27]
The institute supports projects related to food security, access to water, education, technology training, Indigenous communities and emergency relief. Its published social report states that it has supported more than 100 projects in Brazil and other countries.[28]
In 2024, the institute supported the Água de Beber programme, developed to expand access to drinking water in communities in northeastern Brazil.[29]
The institute has also supported technology-training programmes for young people and Indigenous students. In 2024, the Alok and Vini Jr. institutes launched Base Ancestral, an education project in public schools serving Quilombola communities in the states of Rio de Janeiro and Bahia.[30]
In 2025, the institute announced a partnership with Fundação SOS Mata Atlântica to restore approximately 12 hectares of degraded Atlantic Forest land in the state of São Paulo.[31]
Business activities
[edit]Alok founded Up Club Records in 2015 and Controversia in 2019.[7][12] He was also involved in the creation of Artist Factory in 2017.[11]
In 2022, he partnered with Brazilian appliance manufacturer WAP to launch WAAW by Alok, an audio-products brand.[32]
Personal life
[edit]Alok married physician Romana Novais on 15 January 2019 in a ceremony at Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro.[33] They have two children.
Discography
[edit]Studio albums
[edit]- O Futuro É Ancestral (2024)
Filmography
[edit]- Detetive Madeinusa (2021)[34]
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Year | Organisation | Category or honour | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Prêmio Multishow | DJ of the Year | Alok | Won |
| 2023 | Order of Merit of Labour Justice | Grand Officer | Social work | Awarded[14] |
| 2024 | Prêmio Multishow | DJ of the Year | Alok | Won[35] |
| 2024 | Latin Grammy Awards | Best Latin Electronic Music Performance | "Pedju Kunumigwe" | Nominated |
| 2024 | Latin Grammy Awards | Best Latin Electronic Music Performance | "Drum Machine" | Nominated[18] |
| 2025 | Time | TIME100 Climate | Alok | Included[23] |
References
[edit]- 1 2 Antunes, Pedro (19 February 2017). "Alok é o primeiro brasileiro a ultrapassar as 100 milhões de audições no Spotify com 'Hear Me Now'" [Alok becomes the first Brazilian to surpass 100 million Spotify streams with 'Hear Me Now']. O Estado de S. Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- ↑ "Oito motivos que fazem de Alok o DJ mais top do momento" [Eight reasons why Alok is one of the leading DJs of the moment]. UOL (in Brazilian Portuguese). 12 January 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Família que toca unida: falamos com o irmão e os pais DJs de Alok" [A family that performs together: an interview with Alok's brother and DJ parents]. Music Non Stop (in Brazilian Portuguese). 15 February 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- ↑ Campos, Giuliana (11 September 2015). "Atração eletrônica do Rock in Rio, DJ Alok analisa: 'O DJ virou um astro do rock'" [Rock in Rio electronic act Alok says: 'The DJ became a rock star']. Quem (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- ↑ "Festival Respect monta line-up somente com DJs brasileiros" [Respect Festival presents a line-up composed entirely of Brazilian DJs]. Folha de S.Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). 16 July 2009. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- ↑ Kidd, Alex; Natália Albertoni (17 April 2016). "Circuito eletrônico" [Electronic circuit]. Folha de S.Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- 1 2 Fernandes, Renan (28 May 2015). "UP CLUB: Alok lança própria gravadora" [UP CLUB: Alok launches his own record label]. Phouse (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- ↑ Azevedo, Danuza; Lucas Portilho (8 June 2016). "Alok assina com uma das maiores gravadoras do mundo, a Spinnin' Records" [Alok signs with electronic label Spinnin' Records]. House Mag (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- ↑ "Depois de Spotify, Alok alcança topo do iTunes Brasil e bate marca histórica" [After Spotify, Alok reaches the top of iTunes Brazil]. POPline (in Brazilian Portuguese). 8 December 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- ↑ "Certificazioni". Federation of the Italian Music Industry (in Italian). Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- 1 2 Tolipan, Heloisa (26 March 2017). "Agência que domina o mercado sertanejo fecha sociedade com DJ Alok" [Brazilian entertainment agency forms partnership with DJ Alok]. Jornal do Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- 1 2 "Com releitura para 'The Wall', Alok lança a Controversia, sua própria gravadora" [Alok launches his own record label, Controversia]. Phouse (in Brazilian Portuguese). 28 June 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- ↑ "Alok tem feito histórico no encerramento do Tomorrowland Brasil" [Alok performs the closing set at Tomorrowland Brazil]. Terra (in Brazilian Portuguese). October 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- 1 2 3 "DJ Alok recebe medalha da Ordem do Mérito Judiciário do Trabalho" [DJ Alok receives the Order of Merit of Labour Justice]. Superior Labour Court (in Brazilian Portuguese). 8 September 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- ↑ "DJ Alok faz show com indígenas Huni Kuin, Yawanawá e Guarani da Amazônia para o Global Citizen Live" [DJ Alok performs with Indigenous Amazonian artists for Global Citizen Live]. Conexão Planeta (in Brazilian Portuguese). 27 September 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- ↑ "Parceria do Pacto Global com DJ Alok promove cultura indígena na ONU" [UN Global Compact partnership with DJ Alok promotes Indigenous culture at the United Nations]. United Nations News (in Brazilian Portuguese). September 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- ↑ "Com representantes do Acre, Alok lança álbum que exalta sonoridade indígena brasileira" [Alok releases album highlighting Indigenous Brazilian music]. Portal Amazônia (in Brazilian Portuguese). 19 April 2024. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- 1 2 "Alok apresenta O Futuro é Ancestral no CCBB Rio" [Alok presents O Futuro É Ancestral in Rio de Janeiro]. Rolling Stone Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). 19 November 2024. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- ↑ "Em Nova York, Alok apresenta a potência dos indígenas na música e alerta para a crise climática" [In New York, Alok presents Indigenous musicians and discusses the climate crisis]. Exame (in Brazilian Portuguese). 28 September 2024. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- 1 2 "Brazilian DJ Alok on AI in Art and Coachella Debut". The Hollywood Reporter. 26 April 2025. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- ↑ "Alok lança manifesto contra uso desenfreado de IA nas artes" [Alok launches manifesto addressing the use of AI in the arts]. CNN Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). 17 May 2025. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- ↑ "Alok inaugura nova era no entretenimento global com o espetáculo Keep Art Human" [Alok presents the Keep Art Human concert in São Paulo]. DropDaily (in Brazilian Portuguese). 30 June 2025. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- 1 2 Chhabra, Esha (30 October 2025). "Alok Petrillo: The 100 Most Influential Climate Leaders of 2025". Time. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- ↑ "Alok fala sobre retorno a Londres com grandioso show Rave the World" [Alok discusses his return to London with Rave the World]. Billboard Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). May 2026. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- ↑ Aloi, André (2 May 2015). "Tomorrowland: DJ Alok, o representante do Brasil nos festivais lá fora" [Tomorrowland: Alok represents Brazil at international festivals]. Site RG (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- ↑ "DJ Alok doa R$ 400 mil para construção de escola em Moçambique" [DJ Alok donates R$400,000 for the construction of a school in Mozambique]. UOL (in Brazilian Portuguese). 7 December 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- ↑ "Instituto Alok: DJ lança projeto social e faz doação de R$ 27 milhões" [Alok Institute: DJ launches social project with a R$27 million allocation]. Metrópoles (in Brazilian Portuguese). 14 December 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- ↑ "Relatório Social" [Social report]. Instituto Alok (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- ↑ "Alok anuncia projeto Água de Beber com investimentos no Nordeste" [Alok announces the Água de Beber water-access project in northeastern Brazil]. WSCOM (in Brazilian Portuguese). 18 June 2024. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- ↑ "Vini Jr. e Alok lançam projeto educacional focado em inclusão digital e educação antirracista" [Vini Jr. and Alok launch educational project focused on digital inclusion]. Conexão Planeta (in Brazilian Portuguese). 15 June 2024. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- ↑ "Alok vai plantar 20 mil árvores da Mata Atlântica com nova turnê" [Alok project to restore Atlantic Forest land alongside new tour]. Rolling Stone Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). 27 May 2025. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- ↑ "Alok lança empresa de produtos de áudio em parceria com a WAP" [Alok launches audio-products company in partnership with WAP]. Exame (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- ↑ "Alok foi o primeiro a se casar ao amanhecer no Cristo" [Alok held a sunrise wedding ceremony at Christ the Redeemer]. G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 15 January 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- ↑ "Detetive Madeinusa será lançado globalmente no Amazon Prime Video" [Detetive Madeinusa to receive a global release on Amazon Prime Video]. Portal Exibidor (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- ↑ "Prêmio Multishow 2024: veja os vencedores de cada categoria" [Prêmio Multishow 2024: winners by category]. CNN Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). 3 December 2024. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
External links
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