BOKO YOUT's Paul Adamah has just returned from a much-needed break, and by the sound of it, it couldn't have come at a better time. It was a "well-needed vacation," he explains. "Tour life is hectic."

That's fair. The Swedish artist recently wrapped a run with Viagra Boys, his first proper string of international shows. "It was amazing," he says. "It's quite special to be on a longer tour since most of our stops usually are spread out. Playing in different venues every night, seeing how different cultures react to our set was a learning experience. Some were easier than others. It felt surreal, and I had to pinch my arm to remember to be present sometimes. The Viagra Boys and their team are very kind and supportive as well, making us feel appreciated during the journey."

If you've seen a BOKO YOUT show, you know the vibe is hard to pin down: somewhere between an art installation and a cosmic freak-out, delivered with wild-eyed intensity and conceptual depth. And yet, at the heart of the project is something tender. Something curious.

Raised in Örebro by a Togolese father and Mozambican mother, Adamah's earliest influences came from home. "My father was a DJ and used to sing in a band before coming to Sweden. My brother produced beats from his bedroom, and my mother loved blasting music and singing her heart out while growing up. Naturally, I gravitated towards free expression, and music became my first love."

His first song? A bet. "My first song started off as a joke. I made a bet with a friend that I could make a whole mixtape on my iPad, and so I did. It's so bad."