In this episode of Variety’s Behind the Song, legendary producer and artist Alesso takes us inside his collaboration with Nate Smith on their new track, “I Like It.” Alesso, renowned for his high-energy hits that electrify crowds, has collaborated with rising country star Nate Smith on his latest project to blend country and dance music.
The collaboration is a natural fit: Alesso, known for his impressive EDM crossover smashes such as “Heroes” and “If I Lose Myself,” joins forces with Smith, whose track “Bulletproof” has spent 14 weeks and counting on the Billboard Hot 100.
The fusion of dance and country music is well-established, with Alesso crediting the late Avicii as a pioneer in this genre crossover. “Avicii was definitely one of the first ones to do it and since then, everyone realized, ‘Oh my God, this is such a good combination [of genres].’”
“Right now, on the radio, we feel like we need some bangers,” Alesso tells Variety. “That specific one that has the high-energy, higher BPM, guitar … combining that country/dance; it works.”
“It’s got a little bit of that nostalgic 2000s dance thing about it,” Smith tells us. There’s no denying that the strong guitar with vocals right off the bat brings us back to those early 2000s feel-good anthems. Alesso agrees, saying, “I’ve been missing, when you go to the club, you hear a song that’s more upbeat.”
Regarding the decision to feature guitars and Smith’s vocals prominently at the start, Alesso explains, “You should never wait too long to showcase one of the best parts of the song.”
Between the intricate production and the catchy vocals, the song “feels like an anthem,” declares Alesso. “I Like It” was released on July 12, and its accompanying music video is out now. Watch Alesso and Nate Smith dive into the creation of the track for Variety’s Behind the Song here.
