Neon Future III is the fifth studio album by American DJ and producer Steve Aoki. It was released on November 9, 2018, through Ultra Records and Dim Mak Records, serving as the third chapter of Aoki's Neon Future concept albums. A fourth installment of the series, entitled Neon Future IV, was released in 2020, and features collaborations with Nicky Romero, Play-N-Skillz, TWIIG, Don Diablo and Lush & Simon.

Content

Prior to the album's release, Aoki revealed the meaning of each track in an interview with Billboard magazine. According to him, the album is "really about embracing technology" and "the future of science and ideas, music and humanity. It's just the general overview of a techno future optimist." It includes themes from various genres of music, along with a cameo from Bill Nye on one track, “Noble Gas”. In advance of the album, "Waste It on Me" charted on the Billboard Hot 100.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Neon Future III" (Intro)Steven AokiJulien MarchalSteve Aoki4:16
2."Just Hold On" (featuring Louis Tomlinson)Aoki Alexandra Yatchenko Nolan Lambroza Louis Tomlinson Eric RosseAokiSir Nolan[a]Pryor[a]3:18
3."Waste It On Me" (featuring BTS)Aoki Nathaniel Cyphert Sean Foreman Michael V Gazzo Jeff Halavacs Kim Nam-joon Ryan OgrenAoki3:12
4."Be Somebody" (with Nicky Romero) (featuring Kiiara)Aoki Nicholas Rotteveel van Gotum Gazzo Benjamin Berger Ryan McMahon Simon Wilcox Georgia Overton Kiara SaultersAoki Nicky Romero3:18
5."Pretender" (featuring Lil Yachty and AJR)Aoki Adam Metzger Jack Metzger Ryan Metzger Miles Parks McCollumAoki3:08
6."A Lover And A Memory" (featuring Mike Posner)AokiMichael PosnerThomas BarnesPeter KelleherBenjamin KohnAoki3:28
7."Why Are We So Broken" (featuring Blink-182)Aoki Ian Kirkpatrick Mark Hoppus Travis Barker Matt Skiba John FeldmannAoki3:48
8."Golden Days" (featuring Jim Adkins)AokiMatthew PaulingZakk CerviniTravis BarkerFeldmannHoppusCalum HoodAoki3:23
9."Our Love Glows" (featuring Lady Antebellum)Aoki Hillary Scott-Tyrell Mark Trussell Emily WeisbandAoki2:53
10."Anything More" (featuring Era Istrefi)Aoki Cara Salimando Henry DurhamAoki2:59
11."All Night" (with Lauren Jauregui)Aoki Gazzo Michelle Buzz Lauren Michelle Jauregui Morgado Justin GammellaAokiMike Gazzo[a]3:25
12."Do Not Disturb" (featuring Bella Thorne)Aoki Kara Madden Reid Stefanick Steven ShebbyAoki2:43
13."Lie To Me" (featuring Ina Wroldsen)AokiTrevor DahlMatthew HolmesPhilip LeighBård Mathias BonsaksenIna WroldsenAokiDahlMac & Phil[c]2:59
14."Azukita" (with Play-N-Skillz) (featuring Daddy Yankee and Elvis Crespo)Aoki Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez Juan "Play" Salinas Oscar "Skillz" Salinas David Macias Maribel LagunaAoki Play-N-Skillz Hook n Sling[a]3:46
15."Hoovela" (with TWIIG)AokiMarco AlebricDeni DugandzicJoao SimaeoAoki TWIIG3:27
16."What We Started" (with Don Diablo x Lush & Simon) (featuring BullySongs)AokiDon SchipperAlessandro "Lush" MiselliSimone "Simon" PriviteraJason WalkerAndrew BullimoreJoshua RecordDon Diablo Aoki Lush & Simon3:23
17."Noble Gas" (featuring Bill Nye)AokiMarchalWilliam NyeAoki3:39
Total length:57:05

[c] signifies a co-producer [a] signifies an additional producer

Personnel

Steve Aoki – producer Additional musicians Bill Nye – spoken word in "Noble Gas" Matt Skiba – vocals and guitar in "Why Are We So Broken" Mark Hoppus – vocals and bass guitar in "Why Are We So Broken" Kim Nam-joon, Jeon Jung-kook, Park Jimin - vocals in "Waste it on Me"Other personnel Brian Roettinger – art direction, design Jamie Stuart – art direction, design Brian Ziff – photography

Charts

Album

Chart (2018)Peak position
Canadian Albums (Billboard)69
Japanese Albums (Oricon)132
US Billboard 200153
US Top Dance Albums (Billboard)1
US Independent Albums (Billboard)43

Singles

List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released
TitleYearPeak chart positionsCertifications
USUS DanceAUSBEL (FL) TipBEL (WA) TipCANFRAGERNLDUK
"What We Started" (with Don Diablo and Lush & Simon featuring BullySongs)201613
"Just Hold On" (with Louis Tomlinson)52720253040832272RIAA: Gold ARIA: Gold MC: Gold BPI: Silver
"All Night" (with Lauren Jauregui)20179196
"Azukita" (featuring Daddy Yankee, Play-N-Skillz and Elvis Crespo)201816199
"Pretender" (featuring Lil Yachty and AJR)24
"Lie to Me" (featuring Ina Wroldsen)
"Be Somebody" (with Nicky Romero featuring Kiiara)30
"Hoovela" (with Twiig)
"Waste It on Me" (featuring BTS)89661649857MC: Gold
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Notes