- Words Darcy Culverhouse
From reimagining Celine Dion to launching SUPERHUMAN, the Swedish House Mafia co-founder is stepping into a new chapter defined by instinct, emotion and creative release.
One morning in Stockholm, Sebastian Ingrosso woke up with Celine Dion in his head. Not the Titanic-era ballads that ruled the ’90s, but ‘A New Day Has Come’, her 2002 hymn to renewal. He played it on loop, letting the stillness of her voice fill the room, until instinct pushed him into the studio. Within hours, the track had shifted shape: basslines cutting through the calm, percussion sparking like strobe lights, Celine’s vocals lifted into something altogether different. The result, ‘A New Day’, is less a remix than a reimagining: a collision of past and present, where pop legacy is refracted through rave euphoria.
Sebastian is no stranger to this kind of alchemy. As one third of Swedish House Mafia, he’s long been one of the architects of modern dance music, building moments that can fill a stadium with collective release. From the anthemic melancholy of ‘Don’t You Worry Child’ to the techno-leaning edge of recent single ‘No Enemies’ with Steve Angello, his sound has always lived at the intersection of the emotional and the physical. His latest chapter, however, comes under SUPERHUMAN, a new label and creative hub founded with Axwell and Steve built as much for experimentation as it is for longevity.
Still, the pull toward emotion is evident. Where Swedish House Mafia thrives on scale and spectacle, Sebastian’s solo output carries a more intimate charge: big-room tracks that still ache with feeling. Working with Celine’s voice was never intimidating, he insists, more like an open invitation. “You can feel her presence in every note,” he says, describing the process as instinctive, almost inevitable.
Across his career, from founding Refune Records in his teens to selling out Madison Square Garden, to steering Swedish House Mafia into its 3.0 era, Sebastian has navigated the highs of global dance culture while constantly searching for renewal. ‘A New Day’ feels like a statement of that search, a reminder that even within the most towering drops, there’s space for vulnerability.
Here, Sebastian Ingrosso talks about reframing Celine Dion for the dancefloor, the ethos behind SUPERHUMAN, and why chasing freedom might be the most important move he’s made yet.
Let’s start with ‘A New Day’. What drew you to reimagine one of Celine Dion’s most iconic tracks, and how did the idea first come to life?
I actually woke up with Celine Dion’s voice stuck in my head. I started listening to ‘A New Day Has Come’ and thought about how beautiful the song is. It’s full of emotion, and I instantly felt like I had to make something with it. I went to the studio that same day and started working, and a few hours late,r ‘A New Day’ was born.
Celine’s original was a deeply emotional, uplifting ballad. What was your vision when reworking it into something dancefloor-ready, and how did you keep its spirit intact?
I wanted to make something emotional but powerful. Something that works in clubs, raves, and stadiums. The original already had a huge emotional core, so I kept the vocals and melodies intact, then built the production around them to lift the energy without losing that heart.
You’ve launched ‘A New Day’ under SUPERHUMAN. How does this new label reflect where you are creatively, and how does it sit alongside everything you’re doing with Swedish House Mafia (SHM)?
SUPERHUMAN is a fresh chapter for me and SHM. It’s a place where I can release music exactly the way I feel like it. It gives me freedom to experiment and try things that might not fit that world, but still mean a lot to me. ‘A New Day’ is the perfect example.
What was the process like working with Celine’s vocals? Was it intimidating, freeing, or something totally different?
It was the opposite of intimidating; it was incredible! Her voice is so iconic, and you can feel her presence in every note. Honestly, I was honoured that she loved the track and wanted to support it. That kind of trust from an artist like her is priceless.
There’s a strong emotional current running through this release. Is that something you consciously aim for when producing solo, especially compared to SHM tracks?
Definitely. I’ve always been drawn to big emotions and big moments. I feel it’s the same with SHM as well. When I’m working solo, I like to lean into the emotional side a bit more and focus on melodies that hit you right in the chest, but still make you move.
Between this and ‘No Enemies’, it feels like you’re tapping into a different energy than we’ve heard before. What’s been inspiring you lately, and how has that translated into your recent solo work?
With ‘No Enemies’ and now ‘A New Day’, I’ve been exploring more textures and emotions. A lot of it comes from personal growth over the past few years and pushing myself creatively, having fun with it, and not overthinking. Doing it on our own label just makes it feel even freer.
From your Refune Records beginnings to global stages with Swedish House Mafia to now launching SUPERHUMAN, how would you describe the arc of your journey as a solo artist?
It’s been a constant evolution. Refune was where I built my sound. SHM was this huge collaborative explosion that shaped dance music in a big way. Now with SUPERHUMAN, I’m in a place where I can take everything I’ve creatively built over the years and make music that’s even more personal and experimental.
SHM helped shape a generation of dance music and continues to evolve. How has your experience within the group influenced your creative decisions today, both solo and with SUPERHUMAN?
Working with Steve and Ax has been a gift. We all have different strengths and styles, and I’ve learned so much from that. It’s like having three different creative engines in one car. That foundation is always with me when I work solo or on SUPERHUMAN projects.
You’ve worked with everyone from Alesso to Ryan Tedder, and now Celine Dion. What makes a collaboration exciting for you, especially when you’re working with such a wide range of artists?
I love contrast. Bringing together different worlds creates unexpected magic. Whether it’s Celine or Ryan. Each collaboration pushes me somewhere new, and that’s where the magic happens.
Looking ahead, what’s next for Sebastian Ingrosso?
More music. More SUPERHUMAN releases. Supporting new talent. And of course, SHM isn’t going anywhere – we’re working on the next chapter. I’m just excited for what’s coming.