The 2026 American Music Awards brought music’s biggest names to Las Vegas over Memorial Day weekend, but for Steve Aoki, getting to the star-studded event was a lot easier than it was for most attendees.
“We live here,” Aoki told Celeb Secrets with a laugh while walking the AMAs red carpet alongside his wife, Sasha Sofine. “It was a 20-minute drive from the house.”
The world-renowned DJ, producer, entrepreneur, and Dim Mak founder may call Las Vegas home these days, but his influence stretches far beyond the Strip. Between celebrating three decades of his groundbreaking record label, releasing new music, and preparing for another summer packed with international festivals, Aoki is entering one of the busiest and most reflective chapters of his career.
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Even after nearly three decades at the forefront of electronic music, Aoki remains just as excited about discovering new collaborators and pushing his sound into unexpected places. That adventurous spirit is front and center on his latest single, “Young,” which arrived on May 15 and sees him joining forces with platinum-selling rapper BIA, Opium standout Destroy Lonely, and legendary production duo Stargate.
The track blends Aoki’s festival-ready energy with contemporary hip-hop influences, creating an anthem built for massive crowds and late-night memories.
“I work with these amazing producers called Stargate,” Aoki shared. “They have produced some of everyone’s favorite songs. Then I got Destroy Lonely on there and BIA. Destroy Lonely is part of a whole new camp of hip-hop that I’m totally inspired by, and to be able to work with him is awesome. BIA’s an incredible vocalist.”
For Aoki, the song instantly felt special.
“The song is just fun. The song’s a party,” he explained. “It’s got this Pursuit of Happiness vibe to it. It’s meant to be played at festivals. It’s meant to be played when you’re turning up and having a good time.”
The response from fans has already exceeded expectations. After debuting the track during his headline set at Ultra Music Festival in Miami earlier this year, Aoki says it has quickly become one of the defining moments of his live shows.
“I play it every set,” he revealed. “It’s definitely the peak moment. Usually my peak moment’s on other songs that people know, but that’s usually the peak moment. It’s pretty awesome.”
His excitement around “Young” arrives just days before another major release. On Friday (June 5), Aoki unveiled “Heartless,” a collaboration with rising Japanese artist Mia Takarabe that serves as more than just a new single. The release represents the launch of Handcraft Entertainment’s vision for “Global J-Pop” — music created for worldwide audiences while preserving the cultural identity that makes Japanese pop unique.
The project holds particular significance for Aoki, whose Japanese heritage has long informed both his artistry and global outlook. Following the massive international success of his work with K-pop acts like BTS, “Heartless” positions him at the forefront of what could become the next major global music movement.
“‘Heartless’ shows how J-Pop can connect with audiences around the world while staying true to its identity,” Aoki said in a statement surrounding the release.
While new music continues to fuel Aoki’s creativity, 2026 also marks a milestone few independent labels ever reach. This year, Dim Mak celebrates its 30th anniversary.
Founded in 1996 from Aoki’s dorm room at UC Santa Barbara, the label has evolved into one of electronic music’s most influential independent imprints, helping launch and support artists ranging from Bloc Party and The Kills to Zedd, The Chainsmokers, Diplo, and countless others.
Reflecting on the journey, Aoki admitted the milestone still feels surreal.
“It’s crazy,” he said. “Last night we played in Dallas for a Dim Mak 30 party, and to see a sold-out audience supporting Dim Mak artists and just going back in time to ’96 when I started this thing… it’s incredible to sit back and actually reflect on us surviving.”
For Aoki, survival may be the accomplishment he’s proudest of. Operating an independent label in an ever-changing music industry isn’t easy, but he credits the passionate community that formed around Dim Mak over the years.
“As an independent record label, it’s already pretty difficult,” he explained. “But it’s always based on the community. The community supported us every turn, every new genre that we are supporting and releasing. It’s been amazing.”
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Although Aoki’s schedule remains packed with performances around the globe, his priorities have expanded in recent years.
When we asked how he plans to spend the summer, Sofine quickly chimed in with a reminder that their lives look a little different these days.
“We have a 10-month-old,” she said.
The couple agreed that family time has become one of their biggest focuses whenever they’re not traveling.
“Just spending a lot of time with him,” Sofine added. “Family time.”
Of course, that doesn’t mean the touring stops. Aoki revealed he’ll once again spend much of the summer crossing Europe for festival season, a tradition he’s maintained for well over a decade.
“We’re also touring Europe all summer,” he said. “We avoid the blistering heat of July and August, and we’re hitting all the festivals. I’ve been doing that for like the last 16 years.”
Make sure to watch our full interview with Steve from the AMAs carpet below, and don’t forget to let us know if you’re loving his new collabs by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sliding into our DMs on Instagram at @celebsecrets.
For more coverage from the 2026 American Music Awards, click here.
