# Steve Angello
**Steve Angello** (born Steve Josefsson Fragogiannis, 1982) is a Swedish DJ, record producer, and label head, known as a founding member of the house supergroup [Swedish House Mafia](https://www.edgepedia.org/swedish-house-mafia) and as the founder of Size Records. Born in Athens, Greece, to a Greek father and a Swedish mother, he grew up in Stockholm, Sweden[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/steve-angello-mn0000572508/biography).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1982, in Athens, Greece; raised in Stockholm[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/steve-angello-mn0000572508/biography) |
| Label | Founded Size Records in 2003, inaugurated with his own Simplicity EP[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/steve-angello-mn0000572508/biography) |
| Group | Swedish House Mafia, formed 2008 with Axwell and Sebastian Ingrosso[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/steve-angello-mn0000572508/biography) |
| Grammy recognition | Back-to-back nominations for Best Dance Recording: "Save the World" (2012) and "Don't You Worry Child" (2013)[2](https://ra.co/dj/steveangello/biography) |
| Solo albums | Wild Youth (2016), which reached No. 1 on the iTunes Dance chart in over 42 countries, and Human (2018)[3](https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/kobalt-signs-steve-angello-worldwide-recordings-deal/) • [4](https://www.insomniac.com/music/artists/steve-angello/) |
| Reunion album | Paradise Again (2022), No. 1 on the Billboard Top Dance/Electronic Albums Chart and the UK Dance Albums Chart[2](https://ra.co/dj/steveangello/biography) |
| DJ recognition | Fourteen consecutive years on DJ Mag's "Top 100 DJs" list; two DJ Awards[2](https://ra.co/dj/steveangello/biography) |
## Early life and start in music
Angello has said he decided he wanted to be a DJ as a child, buying secondhand records by [Led Zeppelin](https://www.edgepedia.org/led-zeppelin), Pink Floyd, Stevie Wonder, and [Michael Jackson](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-jackson) with money earned from chores[2](https://ra.co/dj/steveangello/biography). He began DJing around age 12 or 13 as a scratch and hip-hop DJ, performing at summer basketball tournaments and competing in scratch competitions around Sweden before moving into producing club-ready house and techno in the early 2000s[2](https://ra.co/dj/steveangello/biography) • [5](https://blog.pioneerdj.com/djtips/steve-angello-tells-us-about-his-favorite-dj-gear-and-techniques/).
In 2003 he founded Size Records, launching the label with his own Simplicity EP, and the same year released his full-length solo debut album, *Tracks*, on the German label Konvex | Konkav[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/steve-angello-mn0000572508/biography). Much of his early output appeared under monikers such as the Sinners, General Moders, and [Who's Who](https://www.edgepedia.org/whos-who)?, the first two shared with [Sebastian Ingrosso](https://www.edgepedia.org/sebastian-ingrosso)[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/steve-angello-mn0000572508/biography). His breakthrough chart hit came in 2004 with "Woz Not Woz," a collaboration with Eric Prydz for Subliminal Records, followed by a widely heard remix of the [Eurythmics](https://www.edgepedia.org/eurythmics)' "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)"[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/steve-angello-mn0000572508/biography).
## Breakthrough and Swedish House Mafia
**2006 was a turning point.** Angello teamed with Axwell as Supermode for "Tell Me Why," a track sampling [Bronski Beat](https://www.edgepedia.org/bronski-beat), and his solo release "Teasing Mr. Charlie" also became a hit; he subsequently released full-length mix CDs through [Ministry of Sound](https://www.edgepedia.org/ministry-of-sound) and Mixmag[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/steve-angello-mn0000572508/biography). Hits through 2009 included the [David Guetta](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-guetta) collaborations "Baby When the Light" and "Everytime We Touch," the Robin S.-sampling "Show Me Love" with Laidback Luke, and "Leave the World Behind" with Axwell, Ingrosso, Laidback Luke, and Deborah Cox[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/steve-angello-mn0000572508/biography).
Swedish House Mafia formed in 2008 in Stockholm with Axwell and Sebastian Ingrosso[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/steve-angello-mn0000572508/biography) • [6](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/swedish-house-mafia-mn0001714462). The trio became one of the most successful acts of the 2010s EDM boom, amassing six multi-platinum singles and two platinum albums in Sweden, with 2012's "Don't You Worry Child" as their biggest hit[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/steve-angello-mn0000572508/biography). They received consecutive Grammy nominations for Best Dance Recording for "Save the World" in 2012 and "Don't You Worry Child" in 2013, sold out venues including Milton Keynes Bowl and [Madison Square Garden](https://www.edgepedia.org/madison-square-garden), and headlined Coachella and [Ultra Music Festival](https://www.edgepedia.org/ultra-music-festival)[2](https://ra.co/dj/steveangello/biography). Angello left the group in 2013, after which he concentrated on Size Records, his creative agency, and his solo career[7](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/2014/2014-09-20-Music%20Week.pdf).
## Solo career: Wild Youth and Human
After the group's split, Angello signed with [Scooter Braun](https://www.edgepedia.org/scooter-braun), topped festivals from Ultra to [Electric Daisy Carnival](https://www.edgepedia.org/electric-daisy-carnival), and launched a Las Vegas residency[8](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/00s/2015/BB-2015-20-06-20.pdf). His debut solo album, *Wild Youth*, released in 2016 on Size Records, debuted at No. 1 on the iTunes Dance chart in over 42 countries[3](https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/kobalt-signs-steve-angello-worldwide-recordings-deal/). Billboard's review described it as an autobiographical concept album tracing a narrative arc from misbegotten youth to adult success[9](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/00s/2016/Billboard-2016-01-23.pdf).
In August 2017, Kobalt signed Angello to a multi-faceted worldwide label services deal that included a partnership with Size Records UK Limited, covering distribution, marketing, and sync licensing[3](https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/kobalt-signs-steve-angello-worldwide-recordings-deal/). His next album was released in three parts, Act I – Genesis, Act II – Inferno, and Act III – Paradiso, with Genesis arriving in August 2017 with the singles "Breaking Kind" (featuring Paul Meany) and "Rejoice" (featuring T.D. Jakes)[3](https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/kobalt-signs-steve-angello-worldwide-recordings-deal/). These songs fed into his 2018 sophomore album *Human*, on which he collaborated with Bishop T.D. Jakes, [Pusha T](https://www.edgepedia.org/pusha-t), and [Barns Courtney](https://www.edgepedia.org/barns-courtney), among others[4](https://www.insomniac.com/music/artists/steve-angello/). Angello has described *Human* as a deliberate break from expectations, made after he moved his family back to Sweden following twelve years in Los Angeles[2](https://ra.co/dj/steveangello/biography).
## Swedish House Mafia reunion
Swedish House Mafia reactivated in 2018 with a surprise performance at Ultra Miami announced only 24 hours in advance, followed by the Save The World Reunion Tour across Europe[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/steve-angello-mn0000572508/biography). Their comeback single "It Gets Better" arrived in 2021, and their first proper full-length album, *Paradise Again*, was released in 2022 with guests including Sting, the Weeknd, A$AP Rocky, and Ty Dolla $ign[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/steve-angello-mn0000572508/biography). The album reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top Dance/Electronic Albums Chart and the UK Dance Albums Chart and cracked the Top 10 of seven global charts; the trio headlined Coachella alongside the Weeknd in support[2](https://ra.co/dj/steveangello/biography). The trio also co-wrote and co-produced songs on the Weeknd's *Dawn FM*, including "Sacrifice" and "How Do I Make You Love Me?"[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/steve-angello-mn0000572508/biography).
## DJ style and recent activity
Angello describes a hybrid style that blends DJing with live performance: he breaks apart tracks, mostly his own, Swedish House Mafia's, and Size label material, and recombines them through improvised performances[5](https://blog.pioneerdj.com/djtips/steve-angello-tells-us-about-his-favorite-dj-gear-and-techniques/). His festival setup uses four CDJs, a V10 mixer, and an SP16 sampler, with two decks for music and two for acapellas and sound effects[5](https://blog.pioneerdj.com/djtips/steve-angello-tells-us-about-his-favorite-dj-gear-and-techniques/).
He has remained an active touring headliner, with recent appearances including a three-hour set at Tomorrowland's Crystal Garden in 2026, Rock in Rio's New Dance Order stage, and dates at Ultra Mexico and We Belong Here[10](https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/steve-angello-53d69b65.html). His remix catalog spans Justin Timberlake, Coldplay, Depeche Mode, Fergie, and Moby[4](https://www.insomniac.com/music/artists/steve-angello/).
## References
1. [Steve Angello Biography, AllMusic (Jason Birchmeier)](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/steve-angello-mn0000572508/biography)
2. [Steve Angello Biography, Resident Advisor](https://ra.co/dj/steveangello/biography)
3. [Kobalt signs Steve Angello to worldwide recordings deal, Music Business Worldwide](https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/kobalt-signs-steve-angello-worldwide-recordings-deal/)
4. [Steve Angello artist page, Insomniac](https://www.insomniac.com/music/artists/steve-angello/)
5. [Steve Angello tells us about his favorite DJ gear and techniques, Pioneer DJ blog](https://blog.pioneerdj.com/djtips/steve-angello-tells-us-about-his-favorite-dj-gear-and-techniques/)
6. [Swedish House Mafia Biography, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/swedish-house-mafia-mn0001714462)
7. [Music Week, September 20, 2014, WorldRadioHistory archive](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/2014/2014-09-20-Music%20Week.pdf)
8. [Billboard, June 20, 2015, WorldRadioHistory archive](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/00s/2015/BB-2015-20-06-20.pdf)
9. [Billboard, January 23, 2016, WorldRadioHistory archive](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/00s/2016/Billboard-2016-01-23.pdf)
10. [Steve Angello Concert Setlists, setlist.fm](https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/steve-angello-53d69b65.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Music scenes › Transnational genre scenes › Electronic dance music (EDM) and rave culture › Artists, groups, and people: Electronic dance music (EDM) and rave culture › Mainstage EDM and dance-pop crossover artists*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license