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Music

Dressing room DJ

Dele Alli discusses his favourite tunes and artists before putting paid to the myth that Harry Kane chooses the music in the Spurs changing room

INTERVIEW Andy Brassell | PHOTOGRAPHY Lucas Schulze

Dele Alli is running a few minutes late but there's no fluster, just an amiable apology for any inconvenience and he's in place, ready to go. In person he moves with the same lithe efficiency as he does on the field, where he looks to create chances by invoking chaos in opposition defences; in the dressing room, by contrast, the 23-year-old is a connecting hub for a multinational squad, taking charge as the team DJ. He gives us the inside track on his favourite artists and, just as importantly, the identity of those team-mates who like to have a boogie every now and then.

How big a part does music play within the squad?

Music’s a massive part of it. It can change moods. Obviously, if you win, it can increase the mood and give it a bit of a party atmosphere. If you lose you probably don’t play it out loud; it’s more in the headphones. But yeah, we have a lot of people who have different tastes in music, so it’s good.

As a team, who decides what gets played and when?

I am actually the DJ but sometimes the French boys – Serge [Aurier], mainly –will try and put his music on by connecting to the Bluetooth. But, most of the time, it is me.

You’ve got a multinational audience to satisfy. Do you take care of that?

Yes, I try to. I try my hardest but it’s difficult, because obviously I have my own tastes. With the different ages and different generations – and then obviously different nationalities and stuff – everyone likes different kinds of music. I try to keep it as mixed as I can and think about everyone.

Dele Alli is running a few minutes late but there's no fluster, just an amiable apology for any inconvenience and he's in place, ready to go. In person he moves with the same lithe efficiency as he does on the field, where he looks to create chances by invoking chaos in opposition defences; in the dressing room, by contrast, the 23-year-old is a connecting hub for a multinational squad, taking charge as the team DJ. He gives us the inside track on his favourite artists and, just as importantly, the identity of those team-mates who like to have a boogie every now and then.

How big a part does music play within the squad?

Music’s a massive part of it. It can change moods. Obviously, if you win, it can increase the mood and give it a bit of a party atmosphere. If you lose you probably don’t play it out loud; it’s more in the headphones. But yeah, we have a lot of people who have different tastes in music, so it’s good.

As a team, who decides what gets played and when?

I am actually the DJ but sometimes the French boys – Serge [Aurier], mainly –will try and put his music on by connecting to the Bluetooth. But, most of the time, it is me.

You’ve got a multinational audience to satisfy. Do you take care of that?

Yes, I try to. I try my hardest but it’s difficult, because obviously I have my own tastes. With the different ages and different generations – and then obviously different nationalities and stuff – everyone likes different kinds of music. I try to keep it as mixed as I can and think about everyone.

Read the full story
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“AS SOON AS A SONG HE KNOWS COMES ON, SERGE IS STRAIGHT UP. SONNY AS WELL; THEY BOTH LIKE A LITTLE DANCE”


Does any player fancy himself as a bit of a singer?

I don’t know about singing but definitely dancing. There are a lot of dancers – Serge mainly. As soon as a song he knows comes on, he’s straight up. Sonny [Heung-Min Son] as well; they both like to have a little dance. And Lucas [Moura], to be fair.

You’re into hip-hop – who are your favourite artists?

Drake has always been one of my favourites. Then, more recently, Lil Tjay, Lil Durk and Lil Baby. All ‘Lils’! A Boogie wit da Hoodie as well. They’re probably my top five.

You were name-checked in the Cadet and Deno song Advice. Was hat a high point?

It’s nice – the song was good as well, that’s why. When they first started putting it out, I saw it on Instagram and they tagged me in it, so I started messaging them. It went massive, especially in England. But I like to think English music – London grime, stuff like that – can be brought up a bit more: with the platform that we have as footballers, showing that we're into it is important.

Dele Alli is running a few minutes late but there's no fluster, just an amiable apology for any inconvenience and he's in place, ready to go. In person he moves with the same lithe efficiency as he does on the field, where he looks to create chances by invoking chaos in opposition defences; in the dressing room, by contrast, the 23-year-old is a connecting hub for a multinational squad, taking charge as the team DJ. He gives us the inside track on his favourite artists and, just as importantly, the identity of those team-mates who like to have a boogie every now and then.

How big a part does music play within the squad?

Music’s a massive part of it. It can change moods. Obviously, if you win, it can increase the mood and give it a bit of a party atmosphere. If you lose you probably don’t play it out loud; it’s more in the headphones. But yeah, we have a lot of people who have different tastes in music, so it’s good.

As a team, who decides what gets played and when?

I am actually the DJ but sometimes the French boys – Serge [Aurier], mainly –will try and put his music on by connecting to the Bluetooth. But, most of the time, it is me.

You’ve got a multinational audience to satisfy. Do you take care of that?

Yes, I try to. I try my hardest but it’s difficult, because obviously I have my own tastes. With the different ages and different generations – and then obviously different nationalities and stuff – everyone likes different kinds of music. I try to keep it as mixed as I can and think about everyone.

Dressing room DJ
Music

Dressing room DJ

Dele Alli discusses his favourite tunes and artists before putting paid to the myth that Harry Kane chooses the music in the Spurs changing room

INTERVIEW Andy Brassell | PHOTOGRAPHY Lucas Schulze

Dele Alli is running a few minutes late but there's no fluster, just an amiable apology for any inconvenience and he's in place, ready to go. In person he moves with the same lithe efficiency as he does on the field, where he looks to create chances by invoking chaos in opposition defences; in the dressing room, by contrast, the 23-year-old is a connecting hub for a multinational squad, taking charge as the team DJ. He gives us the inside track on his favourite artists and, just as importantly, the identity of those team-mates who like to have a boogie every now and then.

How big a part does music play within the squad?

Music’s a massive part of it. It can change moods. Obviously, if you win, it can increase the mood and give it a bit of a party atmosphere. If you lose you probably don’t play it out loud; it’s more in the headphones. But yeah, we have a lot of people who have different tastes in music, so it’s good.

As a team, who decides what gets played and when?

I am actually the DJ but sometimes the French boys – Serge [Aurier], mainly –will try and put his music on by connecting to the Bluetooth. But, most of the time, it is me.

You’ve got a multinational audience to satisfy. Do you take care of that?

Yes, I try to. I try my hardest but it’s difficult, because obviously I have my own tastes. With the different ages and different generations – and then obviously different nationalities and stuff – everyone likes different kinds of music. I try to keep it as mixed as I can and think about everyone.

Penalty Pedigree

Etiam erat velit scelerisque in dictum non. Dictum non consectetur a erat nam at. Scelerisque felis imperdiet proin fermentum leo. Nibh tortor id aliquet lectus proin nibh nisl. Nulla at volutpat diam ut venenatis. At urna condimentum mattis pellentesque id nibh tortor id aliquet. Leo a diam sollicitudin tempor id eu nisl nunc mi. Dui vivamus arcu felis bibendum ut. Pharetra convallis posuere morbi leo urna molestie. Adipiscing at in tellus integer feugiat scelerisque. In arcu cursus euismod quis. Dictum non consectetur a erat nam at lectus urna duis. Facilisi nullam vehicula ipsum a arcu cursus. At tempor commodo ullamcorper a lacus vestibulum sed arcu non. Ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit pellentesque habitant. Vitae sapien pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus. Eget nullam non nisi est sit amet facilisis. Ipsum consequat nisl vel pretium lectus quam. Elit sed vulputate mi sit amet mauris commodo quis. Pretium fusce id velit ut tortor pretium viverra suspendisse potenti.

Dele Alli is running a few minutes late but there's no fluster, just an amiable apology for any inconvenience and he's in place, ready to go. In person he moves with the same lithe efficiency as he does on the field, where he looks to create chances by invoking chaos in opposition defences; in the dressing room, by contrast, the 23-year-old is a connecting hub for a multinational squad, taking charge as the team DJ. He gives us the inside track on his favourite artists and, just as importantly, the identity of those team-mates who like to have a boogie every now and then.

How big a part does music play within the squad?

Music’s a massive part of it. It can change moods. Obviously, if you win, it can increase the mood and give it a bit of a party atmosphere. If you lose you probably don’t play it out loud; it’s more in the headphones. But yeah, we have a lot of people who have different tastes in music, so it’s good.

As a team, who decides what gets played and when?

I am actually the DJ but sometimes the French boys – Serge [Aurier], mainly –will try and put his music on by connecting to the Bluetooth. But, most of the time, it is me.

You’ve got a multinational audience to satisfy. Do you take care of that?

Yes, I try to. I try my hardest but it’s difficult, because obviously I have my own tastes. With the different ages and different generations – and then obviously different nationalities and stuff – everyone likes different kinds of music. I try to keep it as mixed as I can and think about everyone.

Read the full story
Sign up now to get access to this and every premium feature on Champions Journal. You will also get access to member-only competitions and offers. And you get all of that completely free!

“AS SOON AS A SONG HE KNOWS COMES ON, SERGE IS STRAIGHT UP. SONNY AS WELL; THEY BOTH LIKE A LITTLE DANCE”


Does any player fancy himself as a bit of a singer?

I don’t know about singing but definitely dancing. There are a lot of dancers – Serge mainly. As soon as a song he knows comes on, he’s straight up. Sonny [Heung-Min Son] as well; they both like to have a little dance. And Lucas [Moura], to be fair.

You’re into hip-hop – who are your favourite artists?

Drake has always been one of my favourites. Then, more recently, Lil Tjay, Lil Durk and Lil Baby. All ‘Lils’! A Boogie wit da Hoodie as well. They’re probably my top five.

You were name-checked in the Cadet and Deno song Advice. Was hat a high point?

It’s nice – the song was good as well, that’s why. When they first started putting it out, I saw it on Instagram and they tagged me in it, so I started messaging them. It went massive, especially in England. But I like to think English music – London grime, stuff like that – can be brought up a bit more: with the platform that we have as footballers, showing that we're into it is important.

Dele Alli is running a few minutes late but there's no fluster, just an amiable apology for any inconvenience and he's in place, ready to go. In person he moves with the same lithe efficiency as he does on the field, where he looks to create chances by invoking chaos in opposition defences; in the dressing room, by contrast, the 23-year-old is a connecting hub for a multinational squad, taking charge as the team DJ. He gives us the inside track on his favourite artists and, just as importantly, the identity of those team-mates who like to have a boogie every now and then.

How big a part does music play within the squad?

Music’s a massive part of it. It can change moods. Obviously, if you win, it can increase the mood and give it a bit of a party atmosphere. If you lose you probably don’t play it out loud; it’s more in the headphones. But yeah, we have a lot of people who have different tastes in music, so it’s good.

As a team, who decides what gets played and when?

I am actually the DJ but sometimes the French boys – Serge [Aurier], mainly –will try and put his music on by connecting to the Bluetooth. But, most of the time, it is me.

You’ve got a multinational audience to satisfy. Do you take care of that?

Yes, I try to. I try my hardest but it’s difficult, because obviously I have my own tastes. With the different ages and different generations – and then obviously different nationalities and stuff – everyone likes different kinds of music. I try to keep it as mixed as I can and think about everyone.

Penalty Pedigree

Etiam erat velit scelerisque in dictum non. Dictum non consectetur a erat nam at. Scelerisque felis imperdiet proin fermentum leo. Nibh tortor id aliquet lectus proin nibh nisl. Nulla at volutpat diam ut venenatis. At urna condimentum mattis pellentesque id nibh tortor id aliquet. Leo a diam sollicitudin tempor id eu nisl nunc mi. Dui vivamus arcu felis bibendum ut. Pharetra convallis posuere morbi leo urna molestie. Adipiscing at in tellus integer feugiat scelerisque. In arcu cursus euismod quis. Dictum non consectetur a erat nam at lectus urna duis. Facilisi nullam vehicula ipsum a arcu cursus. At tempor commodo ullamcorper a lacus vestibulum sed arcu non. Ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit pellentesque habitant. Vitae sapien pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus. Eget nullam non nisi est sit amet facilisis. Ipsum consequat nisl vel pretium lectus quam. Elit sed vulputate mi sit amet mauris commodo quis. Pretium fusce id velit ut tortor pretium viverra suspendisse potenti.

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