Zedd

Zedd is the stage name of Anton Zaslavski, a Russian-German producer born in 1989 in Saratov, Germany. He is based in Kaiserslautern, Germany, and is known for electronic dance music with links to electro house, bass house, club, complextro, dance, dance-pop and deep house.

Early life and musical background

He grows up in a family of musicians and starts piano lessons at the age of four. After several years focused on piano, he moves on to drums and plays in a band, where he writes and produces rock songs in the group’s own studio.

Move into electronic music

In 2009, he turns to electronic club music and quickly gains attention. After only a few months, he reaches a high standard as a producer and enters Beatport’s Armand Van Helden and Strictly Rhythm remix contest, which he wins. He then wins a second Beatport contest, the Fatboy Slim and Skint remix competition.

Releases, remixes and collaborations

These early wins lead to work with artists including Black Eyed Peas, Lady Gaga, P. Diddy, Skrillex, Fatboy Slim and Armand Van Helden, as well as labels such as mau5trap, Interscope, Atlantic, Strictly Rhythm and Skint Records. His first release, The Anthem, enters the Beatport top 20 and reaches second place on Track It Down’s charts. His remix of Skrillex’s Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites, released through mau5trap recordings, climbs to number four on Beatport and number two on Beatport’s Electro House chart.

OWSLA and style

He releases Shave It through Skrillex’s label OWSLA, making it his first single with that imprint. His work is described through its detailed production, playful character and strong melodic catchiness, with a focus on electro house.

Awards

Zedd is a Grammy Award-winning artist.