Music isn't just about the notes anymore. It's about the collision. When you think back to the late 2010s, the EDM scene was reaching a fever pitch, but it was also getting a bit… predictable. Then came Alan Walker and Sabrina Carpenter. On the surface, it’s a weird pairing. You have the mysterious, mask-wearing Norwegian DJ who basically lives in a dark room with a laptop, and then you have the Disney-alumni-turned-pop-star with a vocal range that can cut through glass.
They made it work.
The track was "On My Way," and honestly, it changed the trajectory for both of them in ways people still don't quite give them credit for. Most critics at the time looked at it as just another "gaming" track—Walker’s specialty—but it was actually a masterclass in cross-genre branding. It wasn't just a song. It was an event.
Why the Alan Walker Sabrina Carpenter Collab Actually Worked
Let’s be real for a second. Most electronic-pop collaborations feel like they were put together in a boardroom by guys in suits who have never actually listened to a rave. They take a generic beat, slap a famous voice on it, and hope for the best.
"On My Way" felt different.
Alan Walker has this very specific, melancholic sound. It’s "Faded" energy. It’s lonely. Sabrina Carpenter, meanwhile, was right on the cusp of transitioning from her Girl Meets World image into the powerhouse she is today. She needed grit. She needed to prove she wasn't just a bubblegum pop act. By jumping on a track with Walker and Farruko, she didn't just sing; she performed. Her voice had this layer of defiance that matched Walker’s minor-key production perfectly.
The song was released in March 2019. If you were playing PUBG Mobile at the time, you couldn't escape it. It became the anthem for a generation of gamers who didn't necessarily care about the Billboard charts but cared deeply about the vibe of their lobby music. That’s where the magic happened. It wasn't just radio play. It was digital immersion.
The Farruko Factor
You can't talk about Alan Walker and Sabrina Carpenter without mentioning Farruko. His addition brought a reggaeton flair that made the song a global monster. It wasn't just a European EDM track or an American pop song. It was a trilanguage, tri-continental project.
The way Sabrina’s high notes blended with Farruko’s gritty Spanish verses created this tension. It felt like a movie. And the music video? It basically was a movie. It followed this whole "Walker World" lore that Alan has been building for years. It gave Sabrina a character to play. She wasn't just a guest feature; she was part of the mythology.
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The Viral Longevity of the Pairing
Most songs die after six months. This one didn't.
Even years later, the live performances of Alan Walker and Sabrina Carpenter together are still some of the most-watched clips on YouTube for both artists. There’s one specific performance from a show in Asia where the chemistry is just undeniable. Not romantic chemistry—just pure, artistic synchronization.
You see Alan behind the decks, hooded up as usual, and Sabrina owning the stage like she was born for stadium crowds. It’s interesting to watch that footage now, knowing where Sabrina’s career went with "Emails I Can't Send" and "Short n' Sweet." You can see the seeds of her superstardom being sown right there. She was learning how to command a crowd that wasn't there to see a "Disney star." They were there to see a vocalist.
- The Stats: "On My Way" has surpassed 1 billion views on YouTube.
- The Impact: It remains one of Walker's top three most-streamed songs on Spotify.
- The Legacy: It set the blueprint for how pop stars can use the gaming industry to find a "sticky" audience.
Breaking Down the Production
Technically speaking, the song is a bit of a marvel.
Walker uses his signature lead synth—that sharp, plucky sound that instantly identifies a song as his—but he leaves plenty of "air" for the vocals. Sabrina’s voice is heavily layered in the chorus, creating a wall of sound that feels massive. It’s a trick used in stadium rock, applied to EDM.
The tempo is 170 BPM, but it’s half-time, so it feels like a slow, deliberate march. It’s powerful. It’s the kind of music you listen to when you want to feel like you’re about to win a fight. Or at least win a match in a battle royale.
Critics sometimes call Walker’s music "formulaic." Maybe it is. But when that formula includes someone with the technical ability of Sabrina Carpenter, it transcends the "formula" label. It becomes a standard.
What This Collab Taught the Industry
Before this, the "gaming song" was a niche.
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After Alan Walker and Sabrina Carpenter teamed up, the industry realized that gamers are the most loyal fans on the planet. If you provide the soundtrack to their late-night sessions, they will carry you for a decade. Sabrina gained a massive international following in Southeast Asia and Latin America specifically because of this track.
It taught labels that you don't need a #1 hit on the radio to have a global phenomenon. You need a community. You need a hook that works in a 30-second TikTok or a 10-minute YouTube vlog.
Where Are They Now?
Alan Walker is still the king of the "Walkers." He’s constantly touring, pushing the boundaries of what a live electronic show can be with augmented reality and deep fan interaction. He hasn't changed his look much, and he hasn't had to. His brand is ironclad.
Sabrina Carpenter, on the other hand, has become a literal icon. She’s the girl of the moment. Her recent albums have seen her lean more into a retro-pop and folk-pop vibe, which is a far cry from the high-energy EDM of "On My Way." But if you listen closely to the way she handles a bridge or the way she delivers a punchy line, you can hear that same confidence she developed while standing on a stage next to a guy in a black mask in front of 50,000 screaming fans.
Common Misconceptions About the Duo
A lot of people think they have multiple songs together.
Surprisingly, they don't. "On My Way" is their only official collaboration. There are dozens of "leaked" tracks and fan-made remixes on YouTube that claim to be new collabs, but most of them are just AI-generated or clever mashups.
The fact that people want more so badly is a testament to how good the first one was. People keep searching for a sequel that doesn't exist. In a world where artists over-saturate their brand by working together every six months, there’s something cool about them just having this one, perfect lightning-in-a-bottle moment.
Also, some fans think Sabrina wrote the whole thing. She didn't. The writing credits are a long list of heavy hitters, including Julia Karlsson and Gunnar Greve. It was a collaborative effort in every sense of the word. Sabrina brought the life to the lyrics, but the architecture was built by a whole team of Norwegian and Swedish hitmakers.
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How to Experience the Walker-Carpenter "Era" Today
If you're just discovering this duo, don't just stream the studio version.
Go find the live acoustic versions. There are recordings where it’s just Sabrina and a piano, or Sabrina with Alan playing a stripped-back synth part. That’s where you really hear the quality of the songwriting. When you strip away the massive drops and the Farruko rap verses, you're left with a really solid song about independence and resilience.
It’s also worth checking out the "Behind the Scenes" footage from the music video shoot. You see a very young, very professional Sabrina navigating a high-budget sci-fi set. It’s a glimpse into the work ethic that eventually led her to "Espresso" and "Please Please Please."
Actionable Steps for Fans and Creators
If you’re a fan or a burgeoning artist looking at this collaboration for inspiration, here’s how to actually apply what made them successful:
1. Focus on "Cross-Pollination" Over Popularity
Don't just look for a collaborator who is famous. Look for one who has an audience you don't have. Walker had the gaming/EDM world; Carpenter had the pop/theatre world. When they met, both audiences doubled.
2. Visual Storytelling is Non-Negotiable
The "On My Way" video wasn't just a performance clip. It was part of a larger narrative. If you’re releasing music, create a world for it to live in. Use consistent colors, themes, and "lore" to keep people coming back.
3. Embrace the "Gaming" Demographic
If you're a creator, realize that the gaming community is the heartbeat of modern internet culture. Music that works in the background of a stream or a montage is music that stays relevant for years, not weeks.
4. Study Vocal Contrast
Notice how Sabrina’s voice stays "small" and intimate in the verses before exploding in the chorus. If you’re a singer, work on that dynamic range. It’s what makes a listener stop scrolling and actually pay attention.
The Alan Walker and Sabrina Carpenter era might feel like a moment frozen in time, but its influence is still everywhere. It proved that pop doesn't have to be "basic" and EDM doesn't have to be "soulless." Sometimes, all it takes is a mask, a powerhouse vocal, and a really good beat to change the game.