Axwell is the first member of Swedish House Mafia to reveal his plans for his post-SHM life since the trio announced in June that its upcoming tour would be its last. According to Scotland’s The Daily Record, the DJ/producer, who has been running Axtone Records since 2005, is planning to take a step back and focus on underground music and talent.
Said Axwell, ““The big names are not the future. There are more American R&B artists wanting to meet people like us and wanting to learn our world. They want to come to our world and that is all fine but, for me, that’s not what I’m chasing.
“I’m introducing what is new and what new producers and completely unknown singers we have. I’m interested in the new Adele, the new Gotye. Who is the next guy? That is really the future. Just meeting big name people for the sake of it is not what I’m looking for.”
Reflecting on his group’s work since forming in 2008, Axwell added: “We provided an energy that makes people go crazier than ever on the dance floor. They were always dancing but we gave the crowd an extra push that I had never seen before.”
SHM’s final shows will be a residency at Ibiza’s Ushuaia until August 29, followed by one further gig at Stockholm’s Friends Arena on November 24.