Alok (DJ)
Brazilian DJ and record producer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
26 August 1991
- DJ
- record producer
Alok | |
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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 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
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
Logica and early solo career
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Personal life
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
Studio albums
- O Futuro É Ancestral (2024)
Filmography
- Detetive Madeinusa (2021)[34]
Awards and nominations
| 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] |
