Features
LUKE ALESSI: “I don’t have a plan B, I love making music too much”
On June 12th, 2026, Dobar House is bringing over Luke Alessi, one of the most interesting breakthrough acts in recent house music history.
Luke Alessi is riding a huge wave right now. With chart-topping releases and remixes dominating both Beatport and Traxsource, he's become one of the most exciting names in house music. We've been big supporters ever since After Five became a staple in our sets, so having him join us feels especially special.
We caught up with Luke ahead of the gig.
Hi Luke, thanks for doing this interview with us. Welcome to Zagreb! This is your first time here, I'm guessing?
Luke: Hey! Thanks for having me. Yes, this will be my first time playing in Zagreb (although I have played in Croatia before). It’s such a beautiful country and the people are lovely so I can’t wait to be back.
Did After Five feel like a moment of refining your identity as an artist, or more like a confirmation of the direction you were already heading in?
Luke: Probably more of a confirmation. I’d been transitioning my style over the last few years so I was already refining my sound and direction but I suppose the external success of the record definitely helped to push it to a wider audience.
With the launch of Coffee Cola, your new label and creative platform, what do you hope to achieve - what's the goal for the project?
Luke: At the moment Coffee Cola is a creative outlet for me to release what I want when I want. It’s definitely more dance record focused for now, but knowing I have the freedom to take it where I want is very exciting. I only plan on releasing my own records for the time being but I hope in the near future to expand and work with other artists as well as explore the live event space.
Looking back at your transition from a local Melbourne artist to playing internationally what was the biggest reality check in that shift to the global scene?
Luke: We are really far away in Australia haha. I’m super close with my friends and family so getting use to being away from them for long periods of time has been an adjustment and sometimes its not always easy so that’s been a reality check, but it’s also been really exciting and I’m living out my dream so no complaints.
Since your style lives in the space between house disco electro and funk which element do you find yourself returning to most when you are building a track from scratch?
Luke: To be honest with you it always changes. I never start two tracks the same way (often frustratingly) but I get bored very easily so I’m always listening to different styles and getting inspired by different types of music, which I think also keeps it fresh for me.
When you were balancing physical work with late-night studio sessions, what kept you going during that period and stopped you from giving up?
Luke: I’m pretty into my mental and physical wellbeing and routine. Getting up, going to the gym, meditating and eating clean when I can. I like to cook, it actually calms me down a lot and I use it as kind of my own zen time. That as my little ritual when there’s so much going on externally keeps me sane haha. Also I don’t have a plan B and I love making music too much so I’d never give it up 😉
not without friends, a project you share with Jordan Brando and William Kiss just made history with a Groovejet remix on Defected. Can you tell us more about not without friends?
Luke: We’d talked about starting a group for a long time, having been mates for nearly 10 years. We’d all worked collaboratively together, listened to tunes and played many afters so it just made sense to do it properly. We make whatever music we’re into at the time and can dip in and out of each others sounds, so it’s really just another creative outlet for us all. Oh yeah and going #1 with the remix was crazy.
Tell your old and new fans from Croatia what to expect this Friday.
Luke: Lots of fun and sexy rollers with a few curveballs thrown in… and plenty of unreleased music.
Luke is playing in Peti Kupe this Friday, 12.06.2026 and tickets are still available online, and will be available at the door.
