IN CONVERSATION WITH ARTO

Interview by Samo Šajn

Arto is a Brussels-based artist whose music blends raw emotion with cinematic pop and club energy. Following the release of his singles Angelito and Human.co, he’s preparing to unveil his debut album Wasted. A powerful exploration of queer identity, nightlife, and self-discovery. We spoke with Arto about the stories behind his songs, his creative journey, and what listeners can expect next.

"Human.co" explores not fitting into society’s labels. What inspired this song, and how does it reflect your personal journey with identity?

I think that as queer people we grow up constantly reminded that we don’t fit in. As I got older, I also realised that I found it difficult to figure out where I belonged within the queer community, and that’s precisely what inspired the track. Toxic masculinity is very present within the gay community too, and for a lot of people it can feel quite hostile and unwelcoming.
"Human.co" was written at a moment when I felt quite lost, if I’m being honest. Deep down I know I’m happy not fitting in, but this track captures a moment of weakness and doubt about that feeling.

Your upcoming album Wasted dives into queer experience, nightlife, and self-discovery. What story or feeling do you hope listeners take from it?

I hope it makes listeners feel confident. Some tracks are quite deep, for lack of a better word, but I always try to write in a way that evokes resilience and a sense of being undefeated. At the same time, I hope people also feel the joy and fun I had recording and writing this record.

You grew up surrounded by music, from pop icons like Britney Spears to Belgian indie bands. How do these early influences show up in your music today?

I’ve always been a huge pop music fan, and I actually learned English as a kid through pop songs. I always knew all the lyrics by heart and listened to albums on repeat, so my love for writing lyrics definitely stems from that. There are so many albums I listened to as a kid that I still play on repeat, not only pop, by the way. Right now, for example, I’m really into Macy Gray.

When you were in Barcelona, you started making music with friends in your flat. How did those early sessions shape the honesty and emotion in your debut album?

Those early sessions seem like ages ago! They shaped me because they were such fun, fond memories that made me realise the silly things I was writing down could actually become songs. My friend Lucia, who I wrote with back then, composed a few tracks on the record and also sings backing vocals on many of them, so that period definitely had a big impact on the album.

Meeting Obsequeen was a turning point in your career. What was it about your collaboration that made it click and helped bring Wasted to life?

I think what really clicked is that we’re so different and have very different inspirations and references. We met through her agent but had never met before I came into the studio. I also think that not knowing each other beforehand helped, because we really built our relationship around the music and the work, which made the collaboration special since we got to know each other through the creative process.

Many tracks touch on desire, nightlife, and survival, like Airlock, Thirst and Rage. Was there a main feeling or question that guided you through writing the album?

Not really. There are recurring themes like the ones you mentioned, but I didn’t write with a specific angle in mind. Songs usually start from an idea or feeling that pops into my head, and then I build around that.

The album title Wasted has multiple meanings, from clubbing to time spent on meaningless jobs. How did you decide on it, and what does it mean to you now?

The title was actually supposed to be Vulgar, because it’s a word I love and had in mind for a long time. But the track with that name didn’t make the cut, I just couldn’t get it to sound the way I wanted. Then Sam Smith and Madonna released a track called Vulgar, and I took it as a sign that I needed a new name. My boyfriend actually came up with Wasted. I didn’t like the idea at first, if I’m being totally honest, but it grew on me and eventually just made sense.
As for what it means to me now, most of the tracks were written two or more years ago, so the album feels quite distant sometimes, in a good way. It’s a part of my life that I’ve worked through, and I’m excited to discover what’s next.

Nightlife isn’t just a theme in your music; it’s part of your life. How has working at C12 and co-founding Call of Dirty influenced your creative vision and the album’s sound?

A lot of the songs were written before Call of Dirty or my job at C12, but collaborating with artists through both the collective and the venue has been incredibly motivating. It inspired me to release my music and keep believing in the project.
Starting Call of Dirty and seeing it take off really proved to me that you can make things happen through hard work and perseverance. The most rewarding thing for us is seeing how people feel at home at our events. You can really feel that these spaces are sacred for our community, artists and crowds alike.

Two singles have been released, what’s next?

I’m releasing the last single, Kate Moss, on the 30th of September. It’s the track I’m most excited about, and I can’t wait to bring it into the world. It’s super fun and a little nostalgic, perfect for the end of summer. After that, the full album will be released. I’m someone who listens to albums rather than playlists, so I’m very excited for people to experience the record as a whole.