ALEN HIT - #1 Problem

Alen Hit opens up about the story behind his latest release, #1 Problem, and his artistry as a whole.

INTERVIEW

Hi Alen, can you take us behind the inspiration for #1 Problem?

That’s a really interesting question. I think it’s actually more about inspiration in general. Since I write songs not only for myself but also for other artists, I’ve developed my own kind of system — both for writing and for finding inspiration. And the truth is, that process never really stops. It’s always there, building up over time. It’s more like a cumulative effect.
I also try not to dedicate songs to one specific person. That happens very rarely. Most of the time, my songs are based on a combination of emotions and experiences — more like a collective image rather than a single story. When those emotions build up enough, that’s when a song is born.
As for this particular track, it came from emotions connected to a relationship where you realize it’s not real love. It’s more like a game, something temporary — something that isn’t going to lead to anything serious.

And now tell us about the day you wrote #1 Problem? How did the song come about?

This song actually has a very interesting story, because I originally wrote it about six years ago. Of course, I don’t remember the exact day anymore or how everything happened back then. But after all this time, I decided to come back to it — to revisit the song, re-release it, and finally create a music video for it.
The reason is simple: I felt that the song still sounds fresh, still feels relevant, and really deserved a cinematic interpretation. So I was genuinely excited to return to it. Usually, artists don’t really do that — music videos are typically made for brand new releases. But in this case, I felt that this song truly deserved to be visualized.

Now can you take us through the thought process of the music video?
The song “#1 Problem” itself actually inspired the concept of the music video. It has this tense atmosphere, a strong sense of movement, emotional shifts, and changes in mood — you can really feel that throughout the track. So we wanted to reflect all of that visually in the video. That’s why we chose a kind of spy-inspired storyline. It turned into a mini-thriller with a clear narrative. One of the key features of the video is that it’s looped. At the very beginning, you actually see the ending of the story. Then we take you through how everything led to that moment, and the video finishes exactly where it began — so you can immediately watch it again from the start. I really love this idea, and I think I’ll definitely explore this kind of storytelling again in my future work.

When it comes to the production - what did that look like?

When it comes to production, I always take it very seriously and try to work with the best musicians, sound producers, and engineers. The creative process always includes moments of rethinking — moments where you want to change something, refine it, and bring it closer to perfection. I’m actually very detail-oriented in this sense. I can literally go back and change even the smallest things — like a breath in the vocal.

I remember a story — not about this particular song, but in general — where I didn’t like the very first breath that opened the track. So we ended up replacing it with a breath from a different take. That’s how precise I can be with my work. I treat every detail very carefully, and honestly, there are always changes happening during the process — but in the end, the listener only hears the final version.

Now can you tell us how your background has inspired your music and artistry?
I do have quite a strong background. I’ve been performing on big stages since 2011. There was a period of about five years where I took a step back — I wasn’t really releasing new music. Instead, I was rethinking everything, preparing, and writing new material. And now I’m coming back, stepping onto the international stage and moving into a global space.
For example, I became the first Belarusian artist to release music videos through the VEVO platform, and I continue to develop myself as an international artist.
My background definitely helps with that. I’m very comfortable in front of the camera, I’ve performed on major TV shows, given interviews, worked with radio stations, and toured across different cities. All of that experience is now something I’m scaling to an international level.
And I think it’s working quite well. From what my listeners tell me, they can really feel that I’ve been doing this for many years — they notice the quality. And I truly believe that this year I’ll be able to make a strong statement on the international music scene.

What artists inspire you?

I’m inspired by a lot of different artists — and honestly, not just artists.
As I mentioned before, inspiration can come from absolutely anything. Even something as simple as the sound of leaves in the wind or birds singing outside. When you write songs, you start noticing details that most people don’t pay attention to. I tend to catch those small moments, and they stay with me and eventually find their way into my music.
The same goes for the music I listen to — and I listen to a very wide range of genres. It all influences my sound in one way or another. I kind of absorb everything like a sponge, process it, learn from great artists, and then transform that experience into my own story.
I never try to copy anyone — I just create in a way that feels right to me.
If I had to name someone, I would say P!nk is one of my favorite artists. My music is very different from hers, but I definitely feel that her artistry has inspired me. And she’s just one of many, because I’m truly a music lover and I listen to all kinds of music.

How has your music evolved over the years?
As I mentioned before, I took a musical break for about five years. During that time, I was rethinking my artistry and preparing myself for the international stage.
So of course, my sound has evolved as well. It’s become more Western, more European in a way. Even my vocal delivery has changed. I’ve worked on shaping it differently.
At the same time, my main goal was not to lose myself — to stay true to who I am and create music that I genuinely enjoy. I’m not always trying to follow trends. Sometimes it’s even the opposite — I prefer to go against them and focus on the sound that feels right to me.
My voice has become richer, fuller, and overall my artistic expression feels more mature now.

What aspect of your music are you most proud of?

What I’m most proud of is that I stay true to myself and create music that I genuinely love.
Yes, some of my music may sound commercial to a certain extent, but it sounds that way because I chose it — not because I’m trying to chase trends or get into TikTok charts. If that were my goal, my music would sound very different.
I’m really focused on keeping soul in my music — conveying real emotions, real moods. And that actually takes strength, because it would be much easier to follow a formula and create something more mass-market that could easily go viral.
But for me, it’s important to show artistry, not just content. And with the resources I have, I try to push that as far as I can. I hope to keep growing, evolving, and sharing more of my stories and my vision of the world through my music.
That’s what I’m truly proud of — staying authentic and being myself.

How does #1 Problem fit into your future plans?

This release — and this music video — is, in a way, a point I wanted to put in my story. Or maybe not even a full stop, but rather an ellipsis… because there was something left unfinished. For a few years, I actually lost access to my music catalog, and as a result, many of my songs were simply not heard. That created this sense of incompleteness.
Now I’m in the process of closing that chapter — making sure that my music is finally heard, seen, and discovered by new listeners. These songs are a big part of me, something I’m truly proud of, and I didn’t want them to just disappear without being heard.
That’s why this release is so important. And to be honest, I also have plans to bring more of my songs to life visually — not just this one. Some of them are already available on Spotify. I won’t reveal which ones just yet… but all of this is part of preparing for a much bigger step forward.

Are there any big goals for the year ahead?

This year, I really have a lot of plans. First of all, I want to finish what I’ve already started — and by the end of the year, I’m ready to tell a completely new story. It’s a story that’s already written, already created, and sitting on my hard drive.
It’s a new album — 10 tracks — and it’s planned for release toward the end of this year. As soon as I finish telling the stories I’ve been working on, I’ll move on to this new chapter. And of course, it will come with new music videos, new songs — but still the same real me.