The Art of the Alias: DJs Who Live Double Lives

Why be one artist when you can be two—or maybe even three? Sometimes one stage name is just not enough. In electronic music, aliases have become a creative escape hatch, enabling artists to shed expectations and reinvent themselves completely. Many feel that once a name is tied to a certain genre, they’re locked in. Fans, promoters, and even streaming platforms start to expect a specific style and vibe from them. An alias or alter-ego breaks that box wide open, giving artists the freedom to experiment without risking their main identity. What starts as a side project can grow into a fully realized world of its own, offering listeners a chance to hear a completely different side of their favorite producers. For DJs and producers, adopting an alias isn’t just about the secrecy behind a new name; it’s their creative passport. An alias permits artists to break free from the sonic and brand expectations that come with their main identity. It’s a way to explore new genres, experiment with different sounds, or even craft a completely separate visual and performance aesthetic. Let’s take a look at some of the most renowned DJs who have mastered the art of living a double life.

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Eric Prydz → Pryda / Cirez D

Eric Prydz is known for his euphoric progressive house anthems, released under his real name, with tracks like “Opus” and “Call On Me” soaring across festival stages. But when he steps into his Pryda persona, things get deeper, more atmospheric, and tailor-made for a marathon club set. Then there’s Cirez D—the dark, techno-oriented side of Prydz. Here, the melodies fade into brooding basslines and hypnotic grooves, often performed in pitch-black rooms with minimal visuals. The differences are stark: Eric Prydz uplifts, Pryda hypnotizes, and Cirez D prowls in the shadows.

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Calvin Harris → Love Regenerator

Known to the mainstream as Calvin Harris, the king of pop-EDM crossovers, Adam Wiles shocked fans in 2020 when he launched Love Regenerator. Under this alias, Calvin traded glittery festival hooks for raw, acid house and rave-inspired cuts that could have been pressed in the ‘90s. Where Calvin Harris is polished, radio-friendly, and vocally driven, Love Regenerator is gritty, underground, and laser-focused on pure dancefloor energy.

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Porter Robinson → Virtual Self

Porter Robinson’s self-titled work is emotional, cinematic, and deeply personal—full of soaring chords and heartfelt lyrics, as heard on Nurture and Worlds. Virtual Self, on the other hand, is an entirely different dimension: a futuristic project steeped in Y2K cyber aesthetics and influenced by trance, drum & bass, and techno. The difference isn’t just sonic; it’s cultural. Porter creates music for emotional release, while Virtual Self exists for raving in a digital dystopia.

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Skrillex → Jack Ü / Dog Blood / Sonny Moore

As Skrillex, Sonny Moore became one of the most iconic dubstep producers of all time. But he’s rarely stayed in one lane. With Diplo, he formed Jack Ü, pushing a more pop-leaning, hip-hop-infused style that brought EDM to the Billboard charts (the era that started it all for many of us). Dog Blood, his collaboration with Boys Noize, dove headfirst into gritty, industrial bass music—pure chaos on wax. And while his early work as Sonny Moore leaned toward emo and alternative rock, these projects show his ability to shapeshift across scenes without losing his core identity.

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Martin Garrix → Ytram / GRX

As one of the youngest superstars in EDM, Martin Garrix built his reputation on big-room anthems like “Animals” and his high-energy festival sets. But when he appeared under the mysterious alias Ytram in 2020, fans saw a different side—one focused on deeper, groovier house music. Ytram’s tracks strip away the mainstage fireworks, leaning into subtle textures and rolling basslines that feel more at home in intimate clubs than massive arenas. While Garrix’s main identity thrives on euphoric peaks, Ytram explores the understated, hypnotic valleys of electronic music.

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deadmau5 → Testpilot

Joel Zimmerman, better known as deadmau5, is famous for his progressive house epics, technical mastery, and iconic LED mouse helmet. Yet under his techno alias Testpilot, he sheds the playful visuals and delivers relentless, dark, warehouse-ready sets. Testpilot’s sound is raw and uncompromising, fueled by long, driving builds and minimal melodies that create a meditative or almost mechanical groove. Where deadmau5 invites you into a surreal, neon-lit universe, Testpilot drags you deep into the underground.

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Armin van Buuren → Gaia

Trance titan Armin van Buuren is synonymous with uplifting melodies and arena-filling euphoria. But when he performs as Gaia (alongside Benno de Goeij), the atmosphere shifts—sets are darker, more spiritual, and less focused on crowd-pleasing drops. Gaia’s sound is stripped-down, almost meditative, tapping into trance’s hypnotic roots. While Armin’s main shows are emotional journeys, Gaia is more like a deep, sacred ritual.

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More DJs Living Double Lives

We’ve covered some of the most famous alter egos in electronic music, but the list runs far deeper than you might think. Some aliases are widely known, while others are surprising deep cuts that even hardcore fans might miss.

Here’s a roundup of some more notable DJs and their alternate identities:

• Green Velvet – Cajmere
• Avicii – Tim Berg
• Alison Wonderland – Whyte Fang
• Dillon Francis – DJ Hanzel
• SIDEPIECE – Nitti & Party Favor
• Armin – Gaia, Rising Star
• Deadmau5 – helcyon441, test pilot, Karma K
• Mat Zo – MRSA, MRZO & unripemelon
• Tydi – Wish I was & Tyson Diorr
• Steve Angelo – Mescal Kid
• RL Grime – Clock Work
• Ghastly – GHENGAR
• Wooli – Stumpi
• Feed Me – Spor
• Arty – Alpha 9
• San Holo – casilofi
• Excision – Destroid
• Steve Aoki – Blue Brains
• KHSMR – Dreamz
• Nicky Romero – Monocule
• Shades – Alix Perez and Eprom
• Jordan Suckley – 3fect
• Paul Van dyk – Aeon
• Carnage – Gordo
• W&W – NYWR
• Eric Prydz – AxEr, A&P Project, Cirez D, Dukes of Sluca, Groove System, Hardform, Pryda, Moo, Sheridan, Tonja Holma, Fiol Lasse
• Rusko – Chris Mercer, Rusko Banton
• Noisia – Nightwatch, Drifter, Hustle Athletics, Frizz, Zonderling, De Huilende Rappers
• Diplo – Diplodocus, Wes Gully
• Martin Garrix – GRX, YTRAM
• Don Diablo – Origin Unknown, 2 Faced
• Ferry Corsten – System F
• Marcus Shulz – Dakota
• Oliver Helden’s – Hi Lo
• Duke Dumont – Blaise Boys Club (alias and label name)
• Alan Walker – Walkzz
• Dannic: Funkadelic, Brainless
• Porter Robinson – Virtual Self, ekowraith.
• Paul Oakenfold – Perfecto, Electra
• Gareth Emery – GTR, Rue DeGar, Runaway
• Orijan Nielsen – DJ Governor, Orion, DJ SL
• Maceo Plex – Maetrik
• Richie Hawtin – Plastikman
• Da Tweekaz – Tweekacore
• Marauda – Moog
• John O’Callaghan – Joint Operations Centre

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The Power of the Alter Ego

For DJs, an alias is more than a side project—it’s freedom. It lets them experiment without fear, explore different genres, and create new worlds for their fans. From Eric Prydz slipping into techno as Cirez D to Martin Garrix diving into groovy house as Ytram, alter egos prove that some of the most exciting music happens when artists break the box their name has built around them.