Los Angeles-based producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist ARLO returns with “Where Have I Been,” a new single that expands his songwriting beyond relationships and toward bigger questions about existence, purpose, and our connection to the natural world. Built around the idea of stepping away from everyday distractions, the track reflects a growing shift in ARLO’s creative approach, embracing the beauty of the present moment rather than searching for answers to everything.
“‘Where Have I Been’ is about taking a moment to step away,” says ARLO. “Life can be really busy, and sometimes you need to step away and think about why you’re here. The song starts from that place of trying to understand, but by the chorus it becomes more about realizing that maybe it’s okay not to know. You can feel the sunlight on your skin and appreciate being here. In that way, it’s really a celebration of life.”
That perspective has become increasingly important to ARLO, born Dillon Scheel, whose musical foundation reaches beyond electronic production. Growing up in Palo Alto, California, he developed an early appreciation for artists such as Stevie Wonder and Earth, Wind & Fire before studying jazz guitar at Berklee College of Music. His path toward electronic music took a defining turn after seeing Kaytranada perform at Outside Lands shortly after high school. Hearing jazz-influenced chords and melodies translated into a dancefloor setting helped him recognize how different musical worlds could come together.
Nature has also played a central role in shaping his outlook. Scheel regularly visits the California coast to clear his head, while his interest in Eastern philosophy, particularly Taoism and Buddhism, has influenced how he approaches both life and songwriting. Rather than forcing ideas or trying to predict what listeners might respond to, he has increasingly learned to let the creative process unfold naturally.
That change began during a writing session with his friend and collaborator Kier, who had recently returned from Yosemite. Their conversation turned to the shared experience of getting away from daily life and spending time alone in nature. As they explored those ideas, they began treating the Earth almost like another presence in the room. The session opened a new direction for ARLO, encouraging him to move beyond relationship-focused material and explore the wider experience of being alive.
“I’ve always wanted to express nature’s beauty through music, but in the past it felt almost preachy when I tried,” ARLO explains. “Something finally clicked. I realized that part of why I’m doing this is to share the world’s beauty with people. I want the music to capture the feeling you get when you’re outside, on a mountain, snowboarding or driving somewhere incredible.”
That intention became especially clear during a recent trip to Lake Tahoe, where ARLO listened back to the new music and recognized how closely it aligned with the feeling he had been trying to capture.
“I almost shed a tear,” he recalls. “For the first time, I felt like I’d accomplished what I’d always wanted to do with music. When I hear ‘Where Have I Been,’ I feel like I’m on top of a mountain watching the sunset. Nature feels so grand and epic, and I finally feel like I’m achieving some of that feeling in the music.”
The evolution of ARLO’s sound is also reflected in his live performances. In the early stages of the project, opening slots often meant relying on remixes of familiar tracks to connect with audiences who were less familiar with his original music. More recently, his headline shows have brought a different experience, with fans singing along to his own songs and asking for more. He has also begun expanding beyond the traditional DJ format, incorporating vocalists onstage and occasionally stepping behind the microphone himself.
Following recent headline performances, including a show at Bowery Ballroom in New York City, ARLO is preparing for another major stretch on the road. In March and April 2027, he will join Elderbrook for an 11-date North American tour, with stops in Montréal, Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. The run will conclude on April 3 at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado.
“Where Have I Been” follows September’s “You and I” as ARLO continues releasing new music through the end of the year. With a renewed focus on nature, personal reflection, and the beauty of simply being present, the single signals an evolving creative direction for an artist finding new ways to translate the world around him into music.
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