Alex Ridha releases first album in five years
The producer and DJ behind Boys Noize details the new record, 7LLVSION, and his recent collaborations with Nine Inch Nails.
By Thiago Kovalenko ·
Alex Ridha, known professionally as Boys Noize, has released his first new album in five years.
The record, titled 7LLVSION, is described by Ridha as twelve tracks designed specifically for his live DJ sets. The project marks a departure from his usual creative method, which often begins with discovering a specific sound in the studio. Instead, Ridha stated that he felt a gap in his current sets and in the wider electronic scene over the past two years, prompting him to create a cohesive group of songs that he could perform with confidence.
Ridha has spent more than two decades producing electronic music and collaborating with major artists. His credits include work with Skrillex, Frank Ocean, and Lady Gaga, for whom he co-wrote the Grammy-winning hit "Rain On Me." He recently joined Trent Reznor's Nine Inch Nails for their "Peel It Back" tour in 2025 and at Coachella in 2026 under the name Nine Inch Noize.
The collaboration with Nine Inch Nails involved producing and mixing the soundtrack for the film "Challengers," as well as co-producing the score for "TRON: Ares." Ridha also produced the track "As Alive As You Need Me To Be" from the latter soundtrack, which won a Grammy. He noted that sharing travel and backstages with the band helped them find a shared groove while splitting up the workload on the film projects.
Ridha describes his music creation as a meditative process that can happen anywhere, including on airplanes. He maintains a large collection of soul, disco, funk, and blues records and shops for new music daily. Running his own label also provides a constant stream of new demos, which he listens to for inspiration.
The interview took place at the Grammy Museum, where Ridha discussed his role in shaping the electronic music scene. He emphasized that his work focuses on club music and that electronic production allows for unconventional approaches to sound design, such as using a microphone as a percussion instrument. The album 7LLVSION is available for purchase now.
