Illenium

Biography

Nicholas Daniel Miller (born December 26, 1990), professionally known as Illenium (stylized in all caps), is an American musician, DJ, music producer, and songwriter. He has released six studio albums, his most recent being Odyssey×ODYSSEY6 February 2026 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 19 tracks1Odyssey0:372Into the Dark4:213Forever2:514With Your Love3:025Feels Like You3:326In My Arms3:287Don’t Want Your Love3:128Slave to the Rithm4:299War3:0510I’ll Come Runnin3:4211Take Me Back3:0312Love Is a Chemical3:3813Feel Alive2:4814Monster2:4015Refuge3:2216Not Ordinary2:3417Paris2:5018To the Moon4:2919Ur Alive3:30, released in February 2026. Illenium earned his first Grammy nomination following the release of his fourth studio album, Fallen Embers×Fallen Embers16 July 2021 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Blame Myself3:512Heavenly Side4:043Fragments3:304Sideways4:125First Time2:466U & Me3:347Nightlight3:428Hearts on Fire3:569Lay It Down4:2510Losing Patience3:5111In My Mind5:0012Paper Thin3:1713Crazy Times3:5014Brave Soul4:37, released in July 2021. One of Illenium's more notable albums, Ascend×ASCEND16 August 2019 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1I Care (intro)0:332Hold On3:553Good Things Fall Apart3:374That’s Why4:135Blood4:086Take You Down3:417All Together3:598Crashing3:509Broken Ones3:1810Every Piece of Me3:4311Takeaway3:3012Sad Songs3:3013Pray4:5614In Your Arms3:4115Gorgeous4:3716Angel (Lonely prelude)0:4117Lonely4:31, was released in August 2019 on Astralwerks. The album was Illenium's first to top the Billboard Dance/Electronic Albums chart and also reached his highest peak on the Billboard 200 at number 14.
A total of 57 of Illenium's songs have appeared on the Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart, including two singles in 2019 that peaked at number 3: "Good Things Fall Apart" with Jon Bellion and "Takeaway" with the Chainsmokers (featuring Lennon Stella). Illenium has also worked on numerous notable remixes, including those for The Chainsmokers' "Don't Let Me Down", Taylor Swift's "Anti-Hero" and Flume's "Say It", the latter of which won the award for "Remix of the Year" at the inaugural Electronic Music Awards in 2017. He was included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 music list in 2020. His music has collectively accumulated over 1 billion streams on various platforms.

Early life and education

Nicholas Daniel Miller was born in Downers Grove, Illinois on December 26, 1990. He lived in Seattle and France, eventually settling with his parents in San Francisco, where he would attend St. Ignatius College Preparatory.
In 2008, Miller began producing electronic music. In the summer of 2012, he saw Bassnectar perform at Red Rocks Amphitheatre and decided to focus more earnestly on music. In 2013, Miller moved to Denver, where he continues to reside. He also attended the University of Colorado Denver. During this period, he completed his first EP. He also coached lacrosse at Aspen High School and delivered sushi to support himself.

2013–2015: Early career, two EPs, and collaborations

Illenium released his first self-titled EP in May 2013 on Prep School Recordings. That year, he also released a remix of Florence and the Machine's "Over the Love". In January 2014, he independently released his follow-up EP, Risen×Risen14 January 2014 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Up3:262For Truth3:133Souls4:214Drop Our Hearts4:36, which contained the song "Drop Our Hearts" featuring Sirma. He also continued releasing remixes, including those for Lana Del Rey's "Flipside" and Odesza's "Always This Late".
In 2015, Illenium released several singles, including "Chosen You×Chosen You2 October 2014 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Chosen You3:40", "Painted White×Painted White21 July 2015 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Painted White5:452Painted White (Au5 & Fractal remix)6:123Painted White (Clockvice remix)3:48" (with Said the Sky and Christina Soto), and "I'll Be Your Reason" (featuring Eden). The latter song was released on Skrillex's Nest HQ platform. Illenium's remixes that year included those for Galantis' "Gold Dust", Kill Paris' "Operate" featuring Royal, and Kaskade's "Disarm You" (featuring Ilsey).

2016: Ashes and notable remixes

In February 2016, Illenium released his debut studio album, Ashes×Ashes15 February 2016 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Reverie5:002Fortress3:243With You3:064Sleepwalker4:115It’s All on U3:246Spirals6:027Without You3:528Only One4:129I’ll Be Your Reason3:4010Afterlife6:0411Jester3:0212Bring Forth the Pressure2:45, as a free download on Seeking Blue Records and his own recently established imprint, Kasaya Records. The album featured 10 songs (12 on the bonus version) including "Reverie" (featuring King Deco), "With You" (featuring Quinn XCII), and "Fortress×Fortress1 February 2016 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Fortress3:24" (featuring Joni Fatora). The album peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart and at number 19 on the Heatseekers Albums chart. An album of Ashes remixes was released in December 2016, at which time Illenium embarked on the "Ashes Tour" in select cities across the United States.
Illenium also released two notable remixes in 2016: The Chainsmokers' "Don't Let Me Down" and Flume's "Say It" (featuring Tove Lo). His remix of "Don't Let Me Down" premiered in March 2016. Although the release was initially unofficial, it was later included in The Chainsmokers' official remix collection. By the end of the year, the song had accumulated over 60 million streams on SoundCloud and was still the most played remix on the platform in 2018 with over 101 million streams. Illenium's remix of "Say It" was released in September 2016. That remix would go on to win the award for "Remix of the Year" at the first Electronic Music Awards in September 2017. In October 2016, Illenium also released a collaboration with Said the Sky and Seven Lions entitled "Rush Over Me×Rush Over Me10 October 2016 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Rush Over Me4:19" (featuring Haliene). That song charted at number 50 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart.

2017–2018: Awake and numerous appearances on Billboard charts

In February 2017, Illenium released the song "Fractures×Fractures6 February 2017 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Fractures4:05" featuring Nevve. He followed that with the collaborative single, "Feel Good", with Gryffin and featuring Daya in March 2017. Both songs charted on the Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart (at number 42 and 17, respectively). In July 2017, Illenium collaborated with EDM duo, Zeds Dead, to produce the track "Where The Wild Things Are×Where the Wild Things Are24 July 2017 · SingleSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track1Where the Wild Things Are4:59". The following month, he released the single, "Crawl Outta Love×Crawl Outta Love7 August 2017 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Crawl Outta Love4:02" featuring Annika Wells. The song would peak at number 35 on the Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart and also won Illenium (and his writing partners) the top prize of the International Songwriting Competition the following year.
In September 2017, Illenium released his sophomore album, Awake×Awake21 September 2017 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Needed You5:062Crawl Outta Love4:023No Time Like Now2:044Free Fall3:265Where’d U Go3:056Fractures4:067Leaving3:558Lost3:209Sound of Walking Away4:1410Taking Me Higher2:4511Feel Good4:0812Beautiful Creatures4:0113Let You Go3:04, on Seeking Blue Records and Kasaya Records. The album featured 13 tracks including the aforementioned "Fractures", "Feel Good", and "Crawl Outta Love". It became Illenium's first album to chart on the Billboard 200, peaking at number 106. It also peaked at number 3 on the Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart. Beginning in November 2017, Illenium embarked on the "Awake Tour" across the country in support of the album. Throughout the tour, he was joined on stage by frequent collaborators Said the Sky and Dabin. In December 2017, an EP of official Awake piano covers was released, and, in June 2018, an album of Awake remixes dropped.
In 2018, Illenium released three collaborations that charted on the Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart: "Don't Give Up on Me" with Kill the Noise and Mako at number 35, "Gold (Stupid Love)×Gold (Stupid Love)17 July 2018 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Gold (Stupid Love)4:55" with Excision and Shallows at number 19, and "God Damnit×God Damnit9 November 2018 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1God Damnit3:36" with Call Me Karizma at number 33. He also released a remix of Halsey's "Without Me" in November 2018. That remix won the award for "Best Remix" at the International Dance Music Awards in March 2019.

2019: Continued collaborations and Ascend

In January 2019, Illenium collaborated with electronic music duo, Bahari, on the track "Crashing×Crashing25 January 2019 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Crashing3:50". He followed that with a March 2019 collaboration with Kameron Alexander on the track "Pray". On March 31, 2019, EDM duo, The Chainsmokers, debuted a collaboration with Illenium ("Takeaway") during their set at the Ultra Music Festival. In May 2019, Illenium released a track with Jon Bellion called "Good Things Fall Apart". As of September 2019, both singles maintain Illenium's highest placement on the Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart at number 3.
Later in May 2019, Illenium and Ekali debuted a collaborative track ("Hard to Say Goodbye×Hard to Say Goodbye22 November 2019 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Hard to Say Goodbye3:17") during a set at the Electric Daisy Carnival in Las Vegas. In June 2019, Illenium announced that his upcoming album, Ascend×ASCEND16 August 2019 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1I Care (intro)0:332Hold On3:553Good Things Fall Apart3:374That’s Why4:135Blood4:086Take You Down3:417All Together3:598Crashing3:509Broken Ones3:1810Every Piece of Me3:4311Takeaway3:3012Sad Songs3:3013Pray4:5614In Your Arms3:4115Gorgeous4:3716Angel (Lonely prelude)0:4117Lonely4:31, would be released on August 16 through Astralwerks. He also announced a 30-city North American tour in support of the album. On July 24, 2019, after many months of playing at festivals, his collaboration with The Chainsmokers and Lennon Stella titled "Takeaway," along with the official music video, were officially released. The video garnered over 6 million views in the first 3 days after its release. "Takeaway" also quickly entered the top 10 on the US iTunes Sales Chart. On August 16, 2019, Illenium released his third studio album, Ascend, on Astralwerks. The album consists of 17 tracks, including the aforementioned "Take You Down×Take You Down3 August 2018 · SingleSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track1Take You Down3:41", "Crashing," "Pray," "Good Things Fall Apart," and "Takeaway." The album became his first to reach number one on the Billboard Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart and also reached his highest peak on the Billboard 200 at number 14. In December 2019, Illenium was named in the Forbes 30 Under 30 2020 Music list.

2020–2022: Fallen Embers

In the early months of 2020, Illenium released his second collaboration with Excision called "Feel Something×Feel Something3 April 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Feel Something3:41", featuring I Prevail.
In late August, Illenium announced his debut at a new music label, 12Tone, and released his first single with the label a few weeks later, titled "Nightlight×Nightlight28 August 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Nightlight3:42", the lead single from his upcoming fourth studio album Fallen Embers×Fallen Embers16 July 2021 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Blame Myself3:512Heavenly Side4:043Fragments3:304Sideways4:125First Time2:466U & Me3:347Nightlight3:428Hearts on Fire3:569Lay It Down4:2510Losing Patience3:5111In My Mind5:0012Paper Thin3:1713Crazy Times3:5014Brave Soul4:37. In late October, Illenium released his second song on the 12Tone label called "Paper Thin" with Tom DeLonge and his band, Angels & Airwaves. On Christmas Day, Illenium released "Hearts On Fire×Hearts on Fire25 December 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Hearts on Fire3:562Paper Thin3:173Nightlight3:42" as part of a collaboration with Dabin.
On April 25, 2021, Illenium debuted three new singles during his live performance at the Ubbi Dubbi Music Festival. An unreleased collaboration with producers Slander and Krewella titled "Lay It Down" was the first to be debuted that night. A collaboration with Excision and Haliene called "In My Mind" was the next to be debuted during the performance. The song's official title was revealed originally by a tweet from Haliene. Finally, "Sideways×Sideways7 May 2021 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Sideways4:122First Time2:463Hearts on Fire3:564Paper Thin3:175Nightlight3:42" is a collaboration with fellow producer Nurko which also debuted that night and was released on May 6, 2021.
On May 14, 2021, it was revealed via a tweet from Illenium that Fallen Embers is scheduled to release on July 16, 2021.
During Said the Sky's set on May 29, 2021, at the Sunset Music Festival, Trevor Christensen debuted a new collaboration between him and Illenium called "Crazy Times" with vocals from Tim James (who also provided vocals for "Take You Down×Take You Down3 August 2018 · SingleSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track1Take You Down3:41"). It was later confirmed by Illenium on Twitter that the song was the final product of a live stream he and Trevor conducted in 2020, and that it would appear on Fallen Embers.
On July 3, Illenium performed Trilogy at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas as the venue's inaugural music concert, and online live with sets from his first three primary albums – Ashes×Ashes15 February 2016 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Reverie5:002Fortress3:243With You3:064Sleepwalker4:115It’s All on U3:246Spirals6:027Without You3:528Only One4:129I’ll Be Your Reason3:4010Afterlife6:0411Jester3:0212Bring Forth the Pressure2:45, Awake×Awake21 September 2017 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Needed You5:062Crawl Outta Love4:023No Time Like Now2:044Free Fall3:265Where’d U Go3:056Fractures4:067Leaving3:558Lost3:209Sound of Walking Away4:1410Taking Me Higher2:4511Feel Good4:0812Beautiful Creatures4:0113Let You Go3:04, Ascend×ASCEND16 August 2019 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1I Care (intro)0:332Hold On3:553Good Things Fall Apart3:374That’s Why4:135Blood4:086Take You Down3:417All Together3:598Crashing3:509Broken Ones3:1810Every Piece of Me3:4311Takeaway3:3012Sad Songs3:3013Pray4:5614In Your Arms3:4115Gorgeous4:3716Angel (Lonely prelude)0:4117Lonely4:31, and a preview of his fourth album, Fallen Embers, which he played four unreleased songs from the album.
On July 16, Illenium released his fourth album, Fallen Embers, with 14 songs, including the aforementioned singles "Nightlight", "Paper Thin", "Hearts on Fire", "First Time", "Sideways", "Heavenly Side×Heavenly Side2 July 2021 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Heavenly Side4:042First Time2:463Sideways4:124Nightlight3:425Hearts on Fire3:566Paper Thin3:17". A remix of "Blame Myself" produced with Virtual Riot was released as part of the deluxe version of Fallen Embers on October 22, alongside several other unreleased collaborations. The album garnered Illenium his first Grammy Award nomination, in the category Best Dance/Electronic Album. It also has over 400 million streams on Spotify as of December 2021.
In December 2021, Illenium hosted the inaugural Ember Shores Festival in Cancún, Mexico. The event was sold out months in advance and featured acts like Big Gigantic, 3lau, Cosmic Gate, and others. A second edition of the event took place in December 2022, with acts like Dillon Francis, Said the Sky, and Nurko. The third Ember Shores Festival is due to take place in December 2023.

2023–present: Illenium and Odyssey

On January 17, 2023, Illenium announced his self-titled fifth studio album, Illenium, which was released on April 28 and reached number 42 on the Billboard 200 chart. One single off the album, "Luv Me A Little" (featuring Nina Nesbitt), reached number 1 on the Billboard Dance/Mix Show Airplay chart. The album also featured the single "Eyes Wide Shut," a collaboration with Avril Lavigne and Travis Barker that reached number 9 on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Songs chart. Other guest appearances on the album included All Time Low, Teddy Swims, jxdn, Skylar Grey, Max, and others. In support of the album, Illenium embarked on the 37-date "ILLENIUM LIVE" tour in May 2023. The tour will have stops in North America, Europe, and Australia. The North American leg of the tour will have 27 shows, 13 of which will be held at open-air venues. On June 17, Illenium played a show dubbed "Trilogy: Colorado" at Denver's Empower Field at Mile High, a stadium with a capacity of over 76,000. It was his largest concert to date and the largest EDM headliner event in US history.
In April 2023, Illenium partnered with End Overdose, a non-profit organization that offers education on properly identifying drug-related overdoses and administering naloxone (a drug that reduces the effects of overdose). Volunteers from the organization will offer live training sessions at select stops on Illenium's 2023 tour.
On September 17, 2025, Illenium announced his sixth studio album Odyssey×ODYSSEY6 February 2026 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 19 tracks1Odyssey0:372Into the Dark4:213Forever2:514With Your Love3:025Feels Like You3:326In My Arms3:287Don’t Want Your Love3:128Slave to the Rithm4:299War3:0510I’ll Come Runnin3:4211Take Me Back3:0312Love Is a Chemical3:3813Feel Alive2:4814Monster2:4015Refuge3:2216Not Ordinary2:3417Paris2:5018To the Moon4:2919Ur Alive3:30, along with a nine-show residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas to promote the album. It was released through Republic Records on February 6, 2026.

Personal life

In 2012, Illenium suffered a heroin overdose; which he publicly talked about in 2018 and on his song "Take You Down×Take You Down3 August 2018 · SingleSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track1Take You Down3:41", also released in 2018. During his Ember Shores festival in Cancun, Mexico in December 2021, Illenium attracted criticism for playing a Bassnectar song as the latter was accused of sexual abuse in July 2020. Illenium subsequently issued an apology on his Twitter account. He proposed to his long-time girlfriend Lara McWhorter on June 3, 2022. They married on October 2, 2023.