From chart-topping collaborations and genre-defining performances to turning “caking” into a global festival phenomenon, Steve Aoki has continually pushed the boundaries of live entertainment. In this exclusive conversation just before his set at World Club Dome 2026 in Germany, he reflects on the collaborations that shaped his career, the values that continue to inspire him and more.
You’ve collaborated with some of the biggest names in the music industry. If you had to pick one collaboration that truly changed your career, which would it be?
I’d have to say my collaboration with Kid Cudi on Pursuit of Happiness. I produced my version of that track back in 2009, and here we are 16 or 17 years later, still playing it in my sets. That says everything.
It happened very early in my career, and I think that’s what made it so impactful. When you have a major record at the beginning of your journey, it can completely alter the direction of your career. Later collaborations are still meaningful, but they don’t have quite the same transformative effect. So if I had to choose one, it would definitely be Kid Cudi.
What determines whether you say yes or no to a collaboration?
There are a lot of factors. It’s not always about whether I like the artist or the idea. Timing plays a huge role. Sometimes I’m focused on a particular musical direction, while someone approaches me wanting to recreate a sound I made six or ten years ago. That happens all the time people say, “Can we make something that sounds like this old track?” But by then, I’m usually in a completely different creative mindset. That said, I’m always open to finding common ground. Instead of recreating the past, I like taking elements that both artists love and using them to create something entirely new. For me, collaboration should always move the music forward.
Japan is admired around the world for its culture and traditions. Is there one value or habit from your Japanese heritage that you carry with you every day?
When you visit Japan, you see people who have spent decades mastering a single skill. Whether it’s sushi-making or another traditional art, the knowledge is passed down from generation to generation. They become true artisans because they devote themselves completely to perfecting what they do. I think that’s something the entire world can learn from. Today, we’re constantly distracted and trying to do everything at once. There’s real value in mastering one craft first, developing excellence, and then expanding from there.
Your iconic ‘Cake Me’ moment has become one of the most recognizable traditions in electronic music. How did it all begin?
It actually started back in 2011, and I have to give credit to AutoErotique, an artist on my label, Dim Mak. They made a music video for Turn Up the Volume where cakes were exploding into people’s faces. I saw it and thought, “That would be fun to try at one of my shows.”
So I bought a cake, launched it into the crowd… and the rest is history.
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