IN CONVERSATION WITH ZEDD
interview by JANA LETONJA
Grammy Award-winning artist Zedd is releasing a new album, ‘Telos’, this September, which will be his first album in almost a decade. He is also working on his Las Vegas residency in partnership with Tao Group.
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This September, you’re releasing your new album ‘Telos’, your first one in almost a decade. How excited are you for it being out there?
I’m very excited for everyone to hear it. ‘Telos’ is the culmination of many years of effort with the initial ideas for ‘Out of Time’ and ‘Dream Brother’ dating back to 2015. I always knew I wanted to make a third album, but needed for the moment to feel right. ‘Telos’ is a very personal album that I truly made for myself. It reminds me of some of my favorite albums I listened to growing up, and I created it with some of my best friends, artists who inspire me, and my musical idols. For me to embark on a journey of creating an album that feels this meaningful, I had to be in the right creative mindset and it took nearly a decade for me to feel the real urge to create something with this much substance.
How have you as an artist and your music evolved over these years?
My creativity and musical process is always evolving, and I’m definitely not the same artist you’ve heard on my previous albums. With ‘Telos’, I tried not to restrict myself in ways that I had before. Whether it was 7/4 time signatures or tempo changes, this time around I let the music fully guide me without any compromises.
Tell us more about what can we expect from the album, and what inspired it.
‘Telos’ is inspired by the albums I grew up listening to, ones that felt like a complete idea, and were meant to be continuously heard in one sitting. I challenged myself to build in certain transitions, connected songs in compatible keys, added hints of foreshadowing and flashbacks, and I included string arrangements across the entire album to tie it all together musically while giving me the freedom to freely explore a wide range of genres.
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What will your fans be most surprised about when they hear the tracks on ‘Telos’?
I think they will be most surprised by how diverse it is. I think they’ll also be surprised by the artists that I collaborated with, the many musical styles I pulled from, and how they all fit together in one cohesive album. ‘Telos’ has a good amount of the Zedd DNA my fans recognize, but at the same time it feels very fresh and different. I’m incredibly excited for everyone to hear it finally.
The album also includes some collaborations. Which one was the most special one to work on and why?
Every collaborator on the project is genuinely special to me for different reasons, though if I had to name one, having the honor of collaborating with MUSE is a dream come true. My very first concert with my band back in the day was a cover of a MUSE song. To now be able to make a song with the band is beyond my wildest dreams.
Which track from the album has the deepest meaning for you personally?
I think ‘Out of Time’ has always been a song I have connected with deeply. I started working on it in 2015 and at the time, it felt too theatrical for what I was releasing at the time. I always knew one day I would create a canvas for music like this to exist in the right context and get the needed spotlight. I could not be more proud of how it turned out and I am so thankful Bea Miller lent me her angelic voice to achieve a level of emotion I didn’t know the song could ever reach.
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Over your career, you’ve performed at multiple sold-out festivals worldwide. Which one was your favorite so far, and why?
A personal favorite of mine has always been Outside Lands in San Francisco. I remember playing the festival quite some time back and receiving so much love and a massive crowd. It forever stuck with me as one of the festivals that I can’t wait to come back to.
You even created your own festival, Zedd in the park, back in 2018, which will return for its fourth edition this year. What is new at the festival this time, and what can fans expect from it?
The most exciting part of this year's festival is the 2nd day for the first time ever. After taking a year off in 2023, we were eager to bring it back for 2024, but didn’t know what to expect. The fans immediately let us know by selling out the first day and I’m so grateful for them. Fans who’ve attended before will see lots of familiar favorites with many new things in store too, including food, activations and exclusive merch. I am also proud to say I have some of my best friends on the lineup, Madeon, San Holo, Ellis, Grey, Mesto and more. I think fans will really love what we have planned.
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You’re also working on a Las Vegas residency in partnership with Tao Group. What can you share with us about it, and what are you most excited about it?
Vegas has become a big part of my career and life. The production at OMNIA is like nothing you have ever seen before. To me, it’s the best club in the world. The new addition of Tao Beach Club is now adding what I consider the best day club in the world. I sometimes struggle to play day shows because they lack the level of production and lights you get when you play nightclubs, but the energy and vibe at Tao Beach Club is unmatched. I can’t wait to play more dates there next year.
When you’re not performing or working on new music, how do you enjoy spending your days off?
I truly get the most joy out of the simplest things. Spending a day just laying on the couch and playing games is about as good as a day off gets for me. Good coffee, some video games and good food with good people is all I ever crave.
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TEAM CREDITS:
talent ZEDD
creative direction RYAN LUCCA
photography AUSTIN HARGRAVE
styling JASON BOLDEN
grooming NICOLE DEL RIO
editor TIMI LETONJA
interview JANA LETONJA
cover design ARTHUR ROELOFFZEN
