28/08/2025
New York’s Alan Nieves lands on Ilario Alicante’s Sound D’Elite for the first time, unveiling his brand new three-track EP ‘Bareso’ on 22nd August. A sharp, high-energy debut that also underscores his evolution as a producer, combining years of technical experimentation with an unwavering sense of groove, this is a statement release from an artist pushing house music into exciting territories.
Kicking off the EP, title track ‘Bareso’ is a bold, feel-good anthem that fuses chopped R&B vocals with crisp rhythmic percussion and dynamic, rising drops. Next up, ‘Bronx Shh Happens’ taps into the rawer side of his New York roots. Packed with percussive flair and hip-hop vocals, it’s a gritty, heads-down heater that hits hard while still remaining infectious, with its tight, driving groove and stripped-back attitude tailor-made for sweaty, late-night dancefloors. To close, ‘Yeah 3x’ leans into Nieves’ more progressive sensibilities, as wigged-out synths float over a solid groove, delivering a hypnotic experience that merges deep textures with a moody, danceable feel.
Having released on top-tier labels, including elrow, Knee Deep In Sound, Circus Records, and Deeperfect, and with support from heavyweights like Marco Carola, Jamie Jones, Loco Dice, The Martinez Brothers, and Dennis Cruz, Nieves continues to cement his place on the global house landscape. ‘Bareso’ is no exception, a sleek, modern package that speaks to over a decade of sonic exploration and refinement.
Q: Please introduce yourself
Hello! My name is Alan Nieves. I am an artist, DJ, and producer from Brooklyn, New York. I have been making and playing music for over half of my life and have been focused exclusively on electronic music for the last 15 years as a DJ and Producer :) I love to make dance-floor friendly upfront house and techy minimal deep tech groovers. I also love my family, tea, and traveling.
Q: One person you'd dream to have a coffee with?
I think I would pick Hans Zimmer. He's one of the great composers and musicians of all time, and I would love to speak to him to get insight into his creative process and how he approaches composition for his various projects.
Q: If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
Teleportation, it would save so much time traveling :) Or not needing sleep.
Q: If you would have been given the chance to do a film score, what movie would you choose and why?
Interstellar, because it's my favorite film score of all time and I'd love to write music to some scenes (with zero expectations, of course ha)
Q: Who has been the most influential in your music career? And why?
As a DJ, I would say Marco Carola, Dennis Cruz, and Hot Since 82 because their style has been the most important to inform my sound based on their combination of groove, minimalism, and energy.
Q: Tell us about your journey, what got you to where you are today?
I used to drive around listening to instrumental hip hop tracks, wondering how they made them. At that time, the rise of the "artist producer" started to put the production process more into the Spotlight. I started off making music in my dorm room at the University of Chicago, and back then, I was making hip-hop music. I transitioned to making electronic music after I graduated and eventually started DJing in smaller events around New York while working full-time at an investment bank.
Eventually, I found myself booking gigs at smaller venues and, then, Output, and eventually I became a resident there, where I played a total of 30 shows over the years until they sadly closed down. After they closed, I began playing more shows outside of New York and eventually internationally. Production-wise, I have always been focused on groove and minimal beats that generate powerful dance floor energy and moments, and that has evolved to where I am today.
Q: What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone just starting out their career in music?
The single most important thing you can do is try to find your own specific sound within whatever genre you love. Figure out what it is that makes you want to have a music career, and try to find the best parts of that on which to build a career. From there, you can start to let your creativity drive you to new places and sounds that will eventually lead to a "signature style" that will define you as an artist and your project. This will be key to differentiating yourself from the slew of other artists out there, and also give you a sense of authenticity and longevity in a constantly changing landscape of the music industry.
Q: Can you recall a DJ set or performance of yours that remains unforgettable to you? Where did it take place, and what makes it stand out among all others?
Probably one of my favorite sets I've ever played was in Lima, Peru, where I played for 3 hours to a crowd of over 600. I was able to explore the different aspects of my sound that I enjoy and perform a wide range of tracks from my originals and unreleased works to music by producers I love. It's rare to get that much time these days in a set, and South American crowds are just incredible! They are so locked into the music.
Q: How has your music style evolved over the years?
I would say it has evolved to become more vulnerable and emotional, and also naturally based on what I think the general taste I have for production and DJing has been. Lately, in the last few years, productions have gotten faster from say 123-125 BPM around the mid-2010s to closer to 128-130 BPM now in 2025, so that in itself has been a natural evolution. Personally, I would say my music has gotten a bit deeper and more emotional as I feel I'm now including elements that at times can be quite melodic and interesting, and more vulnerable, but also still work to deliver energy on the dance floor.
Q: If you were to venture into another music genre, which one would you choose and why?
I have always been a massive fan of Hip-Hop, and I think it's quite apparent in my productions and sampling, so that would be the one. I've always loved the idea of producing beats that make people dance, and I think Hip-Hop is one of the more danceable genres outside of Electronic Dance Music itself, of course. Plus, I love the energy and lyricism. Aside from that, maybe film scoring.
Q: Could you name 3 tracks that got you into electronic music and why?
Marco Carola - Play It Loud is the most iconic track for me as it completely shaped my idea of how to use groovy and minimal beats to deliver peak time energy and moments on a dance floor.
Another one would be Hot Since 82 - Bigger Than Prince as that was (and still is) one of the best productions I've ever heard. Every element works in harmony to make it such a banger, and it still slaps today over a decade later!
Lastly, I would say an older track would be Armand Van Helden - I Want Your Soul, as it's simply iconic and I still play it as often as I can because it's just pure perfection and epitomizes what dance music is for me.
Q: Can you recommend a hidden gem in your home country that would be perfect for a rave?
The Brooklyn waterfront is right next to the Brooklyn Bridge Park. It offers my favorite views of the NYC skyline with a pristine backdrop for an open-air event and plenty of green space :)
Q: Could you tell us about your upcoming releases and plans for the year?
I've got this next EP dropping on Ilario Alicante's label Sound D'Elite. I'm quite proud of it as it's 3 tracks I've been playing quite regularly. I've also got another 2 EPs coming on Yousef's label, Circus Recordings, out of Liverpool, UK. I have a release scheduled for Deeperfect as well, and another one picked up for MK's label Area 10. Lastly, I have several collaborations and tracks that I'm looking to put out with fellow artists I am working with that I think will be quite special.
Q: Can you share a fun fact about yourself that most of your listeners are probably unaware of?
I used to work full-time as a derivatives salesman at an investment bank.
Alan Nieves - Bareso EP [Sound D’Elite]