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SWAGGER MAGAZINE
Drew Williams
Stephen Foster
Kristen Anzelc
Dave Gordon
Supplied by Urban Rebel
Kristen Anzelc
“The tricky part of DJing isn’t mixing — anyone can learn that. It’s figuring out which song goes where, how to take the energy up, then down, then back up again. You have to be flexible while keeping control,” KAAZE told SWAGGER from his home in Sweden. For KAAZE, touring at the highest level has never been about chaos, but discipline. It is about control of energy, time, and identity. “KAAZE and Mick are two completely different people. Mick doesn’t exist on social media; if KAAZE didn’t exist, I probably wouldn’t even have Instagram,” he says of his DJ persona.
That separation has become essential as his stature has grown within the global electronic scene. KAAZE first entered the DJ Mag Top 100 in 2021, marking his arrival on the global stage, before climbing into the Top 40 by 2023. He has collaborated with electronic music heavyweights including Steve Aoki, Tiësto, David Guetta, and Calvin Harris, and established himself as one of Sweden’s most internationally recognized electronic exports of the past five years. His catalogue moves seamlessly between festival main stages and club circuits, polished enough for crossover appeal yet credible enough to command underground respect.
“Steve [Aoki] and I are close friends. He believes a lot in my sound and the way I choose to evolve as an artist. He loves to jump on that train with me,” he explains. Their creative chemistry culminated in recently released EP Head Rush, a project that blended both artists’ signature styles.
“Steve [Aoki] and I are close friends. He believes a lot in my sound and the way I choose to evolve as an artist. He loves to jump on that train with me,”
Swagger talks to KAAZE: about Fatherhood, Fame, and the Sound of Discipline
KAAZE’s latest single, Antidote, released on January 23, came together with unusual speed and a rare moment of creative clarity. “I had a demo I’d been playing in my sets, and my team sent me a hook that was almost identical. I literally merged them into one, and within an hour, the track was done. It was meant to be,” he says, still slightly amused by the efficiency of it. In an industry often defined by endless revisions and label politics, the simplicity felt almost radical.
Beyond the studio, KAAZE approaches touring with the precision of an athlete. His schedules may begin in southern Sweden and stretch across Europe and North America, but the routine remains constant. He goes directly to the hotel, prioritizes sleep, hits the gym, prepares his sets, and avoids alcohol before or during performing. “I try to live on tour the same way I live at home — sleep, food, gym. I also don’t drink when I perform,” he explains. Consistency, he believes, is what separates longevity from burnout. The image of the perpetually partying DJ may dominate pop culture, but he rejects it entirely.
“People think DJs are always gone, partying, living in a suitcase. Sure, some are. But I plan my tour schedule to have free time. I work way less than a normal working person in some ways, but I get more done because I work in intense bursts.” It is a philosophy rooted in sustainability rather than spectacle — an understanding that careers are marathons, not moments.
Fatherhood has only deepened that perspective. His daughter, Seven, now two and a half years old, has become the central reference point for every major decision. “Fatherhood changed me into a better person, but it also made me smarter in business. I started thinking about how to get the most out of my career in a way that would benefit my child, while still being present for her,” he says. That shift led directly to the creation of SE7EN Records, a label named in her honour, which will showcase his future releases and nurture emerging artists whose sounds reflect the qualities he values most: mature, intentional, and forward-thinking.
That maturity extends into his sonic identity. Fans have dubbed his sound “hot techno,” a phrase he initially used half-jokingly. “‘Sexy techno’ sounded cringe, so I wrote ‘hot techno’ once and the fans ran with it,” he laughs. What started as a joke has since become shorthand for a sound defined by tension, pacing, and control. His sets are carefully constructed arcs; transitions are deliberate, and crowd dynamics are treated like a living instrument.
“Fatherhood changed me into a better person, but it also made me smarter in business. I started thinking about how to get the most out of my career in a way that would benefit my child, while still being present for her,”
Yet for all the structure and discipline, KAAZE’s music remains deeply emotionally driven. Whether crafting a track that ignites the club or a more pop-leaning release like Invincible, connection is always at the center. He works closely with songwriters, often stripping vocals down to their essence and rebuilding the production around them. “If I get a finished vocal, I might remove all the elements and create something new around it. I love being involved in both the lyrics and the production,” he explains.
For Kastenholt, success is no longer measured by stages or rankings alone, but by stability: creating a life that allows him to be fully present as both artist and father. “All I need to do is think about my daughter, and ideas start flowing. My music might go softer now because she’s such a sweetheart, but when I’m not with her, I work intensely — which gives me real time with her and real time for myself.”
“2026 is shaping up to be my most exciting year yet. And for Mick… I’m hoping for the best,” he adds with a laugh. While the world still expects chaos from the DJ lifestyle, KAAZE is quietly redefining it. Not as excess, but as intention. Not louder — just smarter.
SWAGGER Magazine is North America's Men's Luxury Magazine. We focus our content on everything men love. Gear, Tech, Fashion, Rides, Sports, Health & Fitness, Food, and Feature Men and Women who possess SWAG.
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