It is one thing to remix a popular track and quite another to entirely rework a piece by your musical hero.
It’s a position masked producer and DJ Alan Walker found himself in earlier this year when offered the chance to collaborate with Hans Zimmer.
The legendary German film composer –the man responsible for countless evocative scores for blockbusters such as the Pirates of the Caribbean series, Gladiator, Dunkirk and Batman's The Dark Knight trilogy –wanted to shake things up and appeal to a younger audience.
So he decided to collaborate with the popular Norwegian-British DJ, to remix his most streamed Spotify track, Time, from the Leonardo DiCaprio-starring 2010 film Inception.
Speaking to The National, Walker says he still has fond memories of first meeting the maestro last year during his European tour.
“It was a moment that I will never forget,” he says. “I was so excited to meet my hero who has inspired me immensely. It was a priceless moment. I can only speak for myself in that Hans Zimmer has been a true inspiration for my music career, probably the biggest inspiration of all.”
Bringing out a visual universe
This explains the expansive sounds of Walker's own compositions. While tracks such as Alone and Sing Me to Sleep feature the hard-edged electro-house sounds that have led the DJ to dominate clubs worldwide, they still hold a key sense of melody and cinematic atmosphere.
My team and I focus so much on building out the visual universe with every content piece
It’s no wonder, then, that key parts of Walker’s success are his dazzling music videos and stage visuals, both aspects of his craft he describes as a “universe of [their] own”.
“It’s definitely important to build a visual profile and identity around my music, as I think it plays an equally important role to the entire experience,” he says. “That’s why my team and I focus so much on building out the visual universe with every content piece.”
A respectful and masterful remix
So how did Walker approach Time? Was the plan to out-visualise one of the masters of the form?
Well, not entirely. While listening to the finished work, it's clear Walker is a subtle presence throughout – and that’s a good thing.
The original composition, characterised by its pensive strings and yearning melodies, is retained. Walker's main contribution is upping the tempo to crescendos that explode in festival-ready synths and rhythms.
Walker says keeping his sonic print relatively low key was the most authentic way to approach this work. The remix, therefore, is essentially the sound of a student learning from a master.
“When it comes to music production, one of the things I value the most is the atmosphere and melody of a song,” he says. “And I feel like Hans has mastered that element, so I try to learn from that as well.”
Walker's tour plans post-pandemic
Walker hopes to play the track in a future festival, although he admits he doesn't know when he will take to the stage again. His career has taken a hefty hit because of the coronavirus pandemic, he adds.
“We had planned shows all over the world and it was sad to hear that there was a pandemic. But, of course, the most important thing is the safety of the people, so it made sense that shows could not go on as planned.”
With all that upheaval, Walker feels a new way of doing business is needed when it comes to the dance music industry, although he doesn't yet know the way forward.
Until those discussions begin and venues reopen, he plans to stay indoors and allow his fans to dictate his next tour plans through his social media accounts.
“Their devotion and dedication is thrilling,” he says.
“It always makes me happy when I see their supporting comments on my socials. So I try to make sure I visit wherever they are as often as I can.”
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
The Bio
Favourite holiday destination: Either Kazakhstan or Montenegro. I’ve been involved in events in both countries and they are just stunning.
Favourite book: I am a huge of Robin Cook’s medical thrillers, which I suppose is quite apt right now. My mother introduced me to them back home in New Zealand.
Favourite film or television programme: Forrest Gump is my favourite film, that’s never been up for debate. I love watching repeats of Mash as well.
Inspiration: My late father moulded me into the man I am today. I would also say disappointment and sadness are great motivators. There are times when events have brought me to my knees but it has also made me determined not to let them get the better of me.
The biog
Name: Fareed Lafta
Age: 40
From: Baghdad, Iraq
Mission: Promote world peace
Favourite poet: Al Mutanabbi
Role models: His parents
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, semi-final result:
Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona
Liverpool win 4-3 on aggregate
Champions Legaue final: June 1, Madrid
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Torbal Rayeh Wa Jayeh
Starring: Ali El Ghoureir, Khalil El Roumeithy, Mostafa Abo Seria
Stars: 3
Wenger's Arsenal reign in numbers
1,228 - games at the helm, ahead of Sunday's Premier League fixture against West Ham United.
704 - wins to date as Arsenal manager.
3 - Premier League title wins, the last during an unbeaten Invincibles campaign of 2003/04.
1,549 - goals scored in Premier League matches by Wenger's teams.
10 - major trophies won.
473 - Premier League victories.
7 - FA Cup triumphs, with three of those having come the last four seasons.
151 - Premier League losses.
21 - full seasons in charge.
49 - games unbeaten in the Premier League from May 2003 to October 2004.
MATCH INFO
World Cup qualifier
Thailand 2 (Dangda 26', Panya 51')
UAE 1 (Mabkhout 45 2')
Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
