Are you going to stay the night?
It’s a question that Paramore front-woman Hayley Williams has been roaring on the radio all summer. But it’s not just her undeniable pipes that made the song the earworm that it is — it’s also that rave-ready melody underneath, moulded by the hands of one DJ Zedd.
Born Anton Zaslavski, Zedd is the latest EDM producer sensation. He blends commercial with underground in a way that hits the pop-lover’s sweet spot, and his classical training doesn’t hurt. The 24-year-old only has one album out, but he’s already worked with the likes of Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber. It all started with his 2014 Grammy winner, Clarity (ft. Foxes), off his eponymous debut.
“The moment I saw my name on the [Grammy] screen was very hard to describe. I couldn’t believe it and I just realised what was happening because everyone around me started screaming,” he told tabloid!. “It was a really emotional moment and meant so much to me.”
Ahead of his September 5 show at Zero Gravity in Dubai, the DJ caught us up on working with some of the industry’s biggest names, where he’s going next and the big award show moment that changed it all.
Q: What are you most excited for about coming to Dubai?
A: I’ve never been to Dubai so I can’t wait to see the city. I’ve seen it on TV many times and it’s always looked so amazing. I hear there’s great skydiving there too, so I won’t miss out on that.
Q: At what moment did you realise that you were no longer flying under the radar, and that people knew who you were?
A: I think one big moment for me was the nomination for the Grammy. Even though Clarity was a big hit before I got nominated, it always felt like no one knew about me. It’s really strange. I guess making music for over 10 years without having any success just makes you getting used to the feeling that no one would know about your music. So when I got nominated for a Grammy, I definitely felt like finally everyone knew about me.
Q: Justin Bieber came to Dubai, and Lady Gaga is making her way over here next week. What was it like to work with them?
A: It was a great experience. Justin was very professional and quick and Lady Gaga was great because we’ve spent so much time working and touring together. I feel like we’ve learned a lot from each other.
Q: How was it like working with Ariana Grande on Break Free?
A: Ariana is amazing. For me, it was an honour to get her to do a song that’s a little bit outside of her normal music range. She is a phenomenal singer.
Q: When can we expect a second album? Is it going to pick up where “Clarity” left off, or go a different way?
A: I’m working on my second album as we speak and it’s going great. I’ve written the majority of songs and now am taking my time to produce and mix them. It’s going to be a new chapter for me — a mix of very familiar and new elements.
