Steve Aoki builds a universe on ‘HiROQUEST 2: Double Helix.’ He also plans to go to the moon

By MARIA SHERMAN
AP Music Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) — EDM DJ Steve Aoki will release the second album in his “HiROQUEST” series of concept albums on Friday. Titled “HiROQUEST 2: Double Helix,” it detours from the pop-punk of 2022″s “HiROQUEST: Genesis” and instead leans into dance club bangers and Latin rhythms, courtesy collaborations with CNCO, Danna Paola, Tini, La Joaqui and Ángela Aguilar. Aoki told The Associated Press that this album was influenced by his exhaustive, global touring schedule. And when he’s not performing one of his 200 shows a year, he’s gearing up to join the dearMOON Project, the first civilian mission to the moon.