Zedd | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Zedd in 2014 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Anton Zaslavski (1989-09-02)2 September 1989 (age 36) |
| Origin | Kaiserslautern, Germany |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Labels | |
| Website | zedd |
Anton Zaslavski[a] (born 2 September 1989), known professionally asZedd (/zɛd/), is a German record producer and DJ. His stage name was derived fromzed, theEnglish pronunciation for the first letter of his surname.[1] Raised inKaiserslautern,[2] Zedd rose to mainstream success with his 2012 single "Clarity" (featuringFoxes), which peaked at number eight on theBillboard Hot 100 and wonBest Dance Recording at the56th Grammy Awards.[3] It served as the third single for hisdebut studio album of the same name (2012), of which its deluxe edition spawned the US top 20 single "Stay the Night" (featuringHayley Williams).
Zedd's second studio album,True Colors (2015), was supported by his thirdBillboard Hot 100-top 20 single, "I Want You to Know" (featuringSelena Gomez). His 2017 single, "Stay" (withAlessia Cara), peaked at number seven on the chart, while his 2018 single, "The Middle" (withMaren Morris andGrey) peaked at number five. Zedd guest appeared onAriana Grande's 2014 single "Break Free", which peaked at number four. He released his third studio album,Telos, on 30 August 2024.
Anton Zaslavski[4] was born on 2 September 1989 inSaratov,USSR, to aJewish family.[5] He grew up inDansenberg,Kaiserslautern, Germany,[6] after his family moved there when Anton was three years old.[7] He reportedly is a classically trained musician, the son of two musicians. His father, Igor Zaslavski, is a guitarist and schoolteacher, and his mother is a piano teacher.[7][8] He began playing the piano at the age of four and drums at twelve years old.[9][10] He has an older brother, Arkadi, and a younger half-brother, Daniel.[8] In 2002, Zaslavski began playing for the Germandeathcore band Dioramic, signed byLifeforce Records. Zaslavski's interest in producing electronic music was piqued after hearingCross by the French electronic duoJustice.[11]
After leaving Dioramic in 2010, Zedd won twoBeatport remix contests in 2010;[12] his first original release, "The Anthem", entered the Beatport Electro house chart in the top 20.[13]
He also remixedSkrillex's "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites". He has since produced remixes of well-known artists, includingJustin Bieber,Lady Gaga,the Black-Eyed Peas,Enhypen,Twice,Madeon,Porter Robinson,Krewella,Galantis,Deadmau5,Blackpink,Periphery and others.[14] Zaslavski creates his music using theCubase suite of music production applications, and uses plug-ins such as the Sylenth1, Nexus, SynthMaster 2.6, and Omnisphere synthesizers, and the Kontakt sampler.[15]
Zedd's remix of Lady Gaga's track "Born This Way" appeared on the special edition of her third studio album,Born This Way (2011).[16] In 2011, his single "Shave It Up" (then known as "Shave It") became Zedd's first release onOwsla. Zedd went on to release "Slam the Door" and "Shotgun" with OWSLA before departing to release his debut album in 2013.[citation needed]
In 2012, Zedd signed withInterscope Records and released his debut single from the label, "Spectrum", with lyrics and vocals byMatthew Koma.[17] It shot to the top ofBillboard's Hot Dance Club Songs.[18] He then produced theEva Simons song, "I Don't Like You", which was also released on Interscope. He also produced and co-wrote the third single "Beauty and a Beat" withMax Martin for Justin Bieber's third studio album,Believe.[19]
On 12 October 2012, Zedd released his debut studio albumClarity, with "Shave It" as the album's first single and "Spectrum" as its second single. The album'stitle track, featuring British singer-songwriterFoxes, was released on 1 February 2013 as its third single. It charted in the top 10 ofBillboard Hot 100, sold 2,238,000 copies, and wascertified platinum, making it Zedd's most successful single to date. The song also became the No. 1 most played on American radio on 10 September 2013.[20] Zedd concluded 2013 with his first worldwide tour, selling out venues across 5 continents.[21] Years later,Matthew Koma claimed that he was not given proper credit for his contributions to the songs "Clarity" and "Spectrum". Koma alleged that his role was downplayed, particularly by Zedd, who he described as "toxic." Koma also said he brought Foxes to the project.[22]
Zedd worked with Japanese singerNamie Amuro and produced her promotional single, "Heaven" for her albumFeel.[23] Zedd would later work with her again in 2015 for her album,genic, although none of his songs were actually featured on the album.[24]
"Stay the Night", featuringHayley Williams, was released as a single on 10 September 2013, as part of the deluxe version of Zedd's album. The song met similar success, although it was criticized for its lack of uniqueness and less powerful lyrics compared to "Clarity".[25] It ranked inBillboard Hot 100's top 20, and certified platinum as well.[26] In 2013, Zedd produced "Aura", "G.U.Y.", and "Donatella" on Lady Gaga's 2013 album,Artpop.[27] On 26 January 2014, he released the single "Find You" featuring Matthew Koma andMiriam Bryant, which is included onthe soundtrack for the filmDivergent.[28]
On 3 July 2014,Ariana Grande released a song with Zedd entitled "Break Free",[29] which peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at No. 1 on theHot Dance/Electronic Songs.[30] The song was nominated at theTeen Choice Awards in the category of "Break-Up Song".[31] On 18 December 2014,Moment of Clarity, a documentary about Zedd and his 2013 world tour, was released through his YouTube channel, withSandra Bullock,Rachel Weisz andJulia Roberts.[32]
After taking a six-month break, Zedd announced the release of his second studio album,True Colors. On 23 February 2015, Zedd released his collaboration featuringSelena Gomez, "I Want You to Know".[33] The song was co-written by Zedd,Ryan Tedder ofOneRepublic, andKevin Drew, and produced by the former.[34][35] The song was nominated for "Choice Party Song" at theTeen Choice Awards and made it to No. 1 onBillboard'sDance/Electronic Songs and peaked at number 17 onBillboard Hot 100.[36] The song was certified platinum in the US for selling over one million copies.
Zedd released his second single, "Beautiful Now" featuringJon Bellion, on 13 May 2015. The album,True Colors, was released two days later.[37] The album peaked at number 1 onBillboard'sDance/Electronic Albums, and has ranked at other various international charts.[38] The third single from the album, "Papercut", featuringTroye Sivan, was released on 17 July 2015.[39] On 22–23 May, he headlined the Counter Point Music and Arts Festival along withThe Roots andWidespread Panic.[40] Along withEric Prydz, Zedd headlined the first day of 2015Spring Awakening Festival.[41]
Zedd performed at the 2015CMT Music Awards withLady Antebellum. Together, they performed mashup of their songs "Long Stretch of Love" and "Beautiful Now."[42] His second world tour, theTrue Colors Tour, ran from August to November 2015 and visited Asia, North America and Europe.[43] Zedd was included in the line-up forCoachella 2016.[44] On 26 February 2016, Zedd released the single "Candyman" alongsideAloe Blacc.[45] On 15 July 2016, singerHailee Steinfeld and producer duoGrey released a song featuring Zedd titled "Starving",[46] which peaked at No. 5 on theBillboard Mainstream Top 40[47] and No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart.[48]
Zedd released a collaboration withRiot Games for the 2016League of Legends eSports championship,Worlds, titled "Ignite" on 26 September 2016.[49] He followed up the release of the song with a "Finals Remix" a month later.[50][51] On 15 December 2016, Zedd released a remix of DJ Snake's hit song "Let Me Love You".[citation needed]
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In 2017, he organized a benefit concert for the American Civil Liberties Union, prompted in response to US President Donald Trump's executive order to "suspended all refugee admissions for 120 days and blocked citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries, refugees or otherwise".[52][53][54] The line-up includedDaya,Halsey,Macklemore,Tinashe andSkrillex. On 23 February 2017, Zedd released his collaboration along withAlessia Cara, "Stay" which debuted at number 28 on theBillboard Hot 100 and 33 on the UK Singles Chart.[55] On 6 July 2017, Zedd released his single withLiam Payne, "Get Low".[56]
On 23 January 2018, Zedd released his single withMaren Morris andGrey, "The Middle", which rose to No. 1 on theBillboardPop Songs radio chart and peaked at No. 5 spot on theBillboard Hot 100.[57] In March 2018,Billboard named Zedd as number seven on their 2018 ranking of dance musicians titled Billboard Dance 100.[58][59]
Zedd was tapped by National Geographic to make a song inspired by the documentary seriesOne Strange Rock and released a video to the song, also titled "One Strange Rock" on his YouTube channel on 9 April 2018.[60] On 17 July 2018, Zedd released his single withElley Duhé, "Happy Now". The accompanying music video was later released 23 August 2018.
On 27 September 2018, Zedd released his remix of theShawn Mendes single "Lost in Japan".[61] This single quickly rose onto the Top 40 charts and was the first collaboration between the two artists. They performed this song at the 2018 American Music Awards on 10 October 2018 and then performed it again at theVictoria's Secret Fashion Show on 8 November 2018. The accompanying music video was released following both performances on 9 November 2018.
On 14 February 2019, Zedd released his collaboration withKaty Perry, "365", along with the song's music video.[62]
Zedd performed atCoachella on the main stage 21 April 2019, bringing outKaty Perry,Alessia Cara, andMaren Morris.[63] On 1 May 2019, Zedd announced the Orbit Tour, which kicks off in the fall of 2019. He will tour along with duoNOTD andJax Jones.[64]
On 31 May 2019,Katy Perry released her single "Never Really Over" in which Zedd is a producer and a songwriter on the track. The song debuted at number 15 on the USBillboard Hot 100.[65]
On 27 September 2019, Zedd released the single "Good Thing" withKehlani.[66]
On 10 October 2019, Zeddtweeted that he had been "permanently banned" from China due to his liking of a tweet related toSouth Park, an Americanadultanimated sitcom which had been banned in the country several days prior as a result of the episode "Band in China".[67][non-primary source needed]This seemingly only applies to live performances, however, as much of his music remains easily accessible within the country.
On 16 July 2020, Zedd released the single "Funny" withJasmine Thompson, along with the song's music video.
On 23 October 2020, Zedd released the single "Inside Out" withGriff.
In April 2021, it was revealed that Zedd would have a residency at the new Las Vegas super clubZouk, along withTiësto, with each receiving US$250,000 per gig. The initial show was set to be on 3 July 2021.[68]
On 13 August 2021, Zedd performed atMusikfest, with the opening actsGabi DeMartino and Dot.[69]
On 7 September 2021,Valorant announced the collaboration between Zedd andValorant to create different cosmetic weapon skins which featured exclusive sound effects, as well as a custom tune on the weapons when inspected.
On 28 January 2022, Zedd released the song "You've Got to Let Go If You Want to Be Free" with the English electronic duoDisclosure.[70]
On 20 May 2022, Zedd played atEDCLas Vegas, which was alsolive streamed.[71]
On 12 August 2022, Zedd started a commercial collaboration with computer peripherals company HyperX (acquired by HP Inc. in 2021) and became its "Global Brand Ambassador".[72][51]
Nine years after releasingTrue Colors, Zedd announced his third album,Telos, which was released on 30 August 2024. Zedd also announced the accompanying Telos Tour. On 21 June, Zedd released "Out of Time", featuringBea Miller, as the first single from the album.
In September 2024, he performed "No Gravity" withBava (musician) to a sold-out audience in Los Angeles.
Zedd collaborated with the Japanese vocal duo C & K to perform "Jaka Jaan" (ジャカ☆ジャ〜ン,Jaka Jān), the opening theme song of the 2024 anime seriesDragon Ball Daima.[73] He was offered the job of composing the song as he is an open fan of theDragon Ball franchise, while the lyrics are written byYukinojo Mori.[73] Zedd also performs the show's ending theme, "Nakama", this time in collaboration with Japanese-American singerAi, who wrote the lyrics.[74]
Zedd briefly dated singer and actressSelena Gomez in 2015. He revealed that he hated the media attention surrounding it.[75]
Zedd is a fan of the German football club1. FC Kaiserslautern.[76]
Zedd said in 2020, "I personally am not on theleft and I’m not on theright. I’m quite straight down the middle. Some of the people I look up to call it 'radical center.'"[77]
Zedd has been critical of PresidentDonald Trump.[77] He stated in February 2016 that he would "move back to Germany" if Trump won the2016 United States presidential election.[78]
Zedd endorsedBernie Sanders in the2020 United States presidential election.[79] He later said, "To me, whileBiden was certainly not my first choice, I am quite happy with him as long as we don’t have to live through four more years of the embarrassment that is Trump. But at the end of the day, I can’t stop but think: We live in a country with 350 million people andthis is what we have to choose between? This is really the top of the crop? Our best options? It is quite a depressing thought to me."[77]
| Year | Recipient | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013[80] | Zedd | Favorite Electronic Dance Music Artist | Nominated |
| 2015 | Favorite Electronic Dance Music Artist | Nominated | |
| 2015 | Favorite Electronic Dance Music Artist | Nominated | |
| 2018 | Favorite Electronic Dance Music Artist | Nominated | |
| "The Middle" (ft.Maren Morris &Grey) | Collaboration of the Year | Nominated |
| Year | Recipient | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | "The Middle" (ft. Maren Morris & Grey) | Dance Work of the Year | Won |
| Most Played Australian Work | Won |
| Year | Recipient | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014[81] | "Clarity" (ft. Foxes) | Top Dance/Electronic Song | Nominated[81] |
| Clarity | Top Dance/Electronic Album | Nominated[81] | |
| Zedd | Top Dance/Electronic Artist | Nominated | |
| 2015 | "Break Free" (ft.Ariana Grande) | Top Dance/Electronic Song | Nominated |
| 2016 | True Colors | Top Dance/Electronic Album | Won |
| Zedd | Top Dance/Electronic Artist | Nominated | |
| 2018 | "Stay" (ft.Alessia Cara) | Top Dance/Electronic Song | Nominated |
| 2019 | "The Middle" (ft.Maren Morris &Grey) | Top Radio Song | Nominated |
| Top Dance/Electronic Song | Won |
| Year | Recipient | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Zedd | Best Electro DJ | Nominated[82] |
| Year | Recipient | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | "Clarity" (ft. Foxes) | Best Dance Recording | Won[83] |
| 2017 | "Stay" (ft.Alessia Cara) | Best Pop Duo/Group Performance | Nominated |
| 2018 | "The Middle" (ft.Maren Morris &Grey) | Record of the Year | Nominated |
| Song of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Best Pop Duo/Group Performance | Nominated | ||
| 2025 | "Telos" | Best Dance/Electronic Album | Nominated |
| Year | Recipient | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | "Stay the Night" (ft.Hayley Williams) | EDM Song of the Year | Nominated |
| 2016 | Zedd | Dance Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| 2018 | "Stay" (ft.Alessia Cara) | Dance Song of the Year | Won |
| Best Collaboration | Nominated | ||
| Zedd | Dance Artist of the Year | Nominated | |
| 2019 | "The Middle" (ft.Maren Morris &Grey) | Song of the Year | Won |
| Dance Song of the Year | Won | ||
| Best Collaboration | Nominated | ||
| Zedd | Dance Artist of the Year | Nominated |
iHeartRadio Titanium Awards are awarded to an artist when their song reaches 1 Billion Spins across iHeartRadio Stations.
| Year | Recipient | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | "Stay" (ft Alessia Cara) | 1 Billion Total Audience Spins on iHeartRadio Stations | Won |
| 2018 | "The Middle" (ft Maren Morris & Grey) | Won |
| Year | Recipient | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Zedd | Best Push Act | Nominated[84] |
| Year | Recipient | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013[85] | "Clarity" (ft.Foxes) | Artist To Watch | Nominated |
| 2014[86] | "Stay the Night" (ft.Hayley Williams) | MTV Clubland Award | Won |
| Best Editing | Nominated | ||
| 2017 | "Stay" (ft.Alessia Cara) | Best Dance | Won |
| 2019 | "Get Low" (ft.Liam Payne) | Nominated |
| Year | Recipient | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | "The Middle" (ft.Maren Morris &Grey) | Best Collaboration | Nominated |
| Song of the Summer | Nominated | ||
| Zedd | Best EDM/Dance Artist or Group | Nominated |
| Year | Recipient | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | "Clarity" (ft.Foxes) | Best Musical Collaboration | Nominated |
| 2017 | "Starving" (ft.Hailee Steinfeld &Grey) | Best Crush Song | Nominated |
| 2018 | "The Middle" (ft.Maren Morris & Grey) | Song of the Year | Nominated |
| Best Dance Track | Nominated | ||
| Best Collaboration | Nominated |
| Year | Recipient | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014[87] | Zedd | Choice Music – Electronic Dance Music Artist | Nominated |
| "Break Free" (ft.Ariana Grande) | Choice Music: Break-Up Song | Nominated | |
| 2015 | "I Want You to Know" (ft.Selena Gomez) | Choice Music: Party Song | Nominated |
| Choice Theme Song | Won | ||
| 2017 | "Stay" (ft.Alessia Cara) | Choice Music Collaboration | Nominated |
| Choice Pop Song | Nominated | ||
| Choice Summer Song | Nominated | ||
| Zedd | Choice Electronic/Dance Artist | Nominated | |
| Choice Summer Male Artist | Nominated | ||
| 2018 | "The Middle" (ft.Maren Morris &Grey) | Choice Music Collaboration | Nominated |
| Choice Electronic/Dance Song | Nominated | ||
| Zedd | Choice Electronic/Dance Artist | Nominated | |
| 2019 | "365" (ft.Katy Perry) | Choice Electronic/Dance Song | Nominated |
Zaslavski, who has created skins for Riot Games' "Valorant" and music for "League of Legends," is now deepening his professional involvement and association with the gaming industry by becoming a global brand ambassador for peripheral company HyperX.
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