In February, the streaming service Spotify announced a milestone: “Wake Me Up,” by the dance artist Avicii, was now its most streamed song ever at more than 200 million plays. Aloe Blacc didn’t just perform the vocals of “Wake Me Up” — he also wrote the lyrics, well befor e the collaboration with Avicii began.

Blacc began writing rap lyrics at age nine, put out his first hip-hop mixtape in 1996, and released his soul/R&B-laced debut album Shine Through in 2006. A Southern California native born to Panamanian parents, Blacc is also well-schooled in salsa music, and has closely studied everything from psychedelic rock and funk to reggae and dancehall!