Zedd's "Telos": A Nine-Year Journey to Musical Authenticity

Anton Zaslavski, known professionally as Zedd, has released his third studio album "Telos" after a nine-year hiatus. The Grammy-winning producer and DJ, who began his musical journey at the age of four playing piano, has come a long way since his debut album "Clarity" in 2012.

The German-Russian artist, born on September 2, 1989, in Saratov, Russia, has made a significant impact in the electronic dance music (EDM) scene. His unique blend of electro house, progressive house, and classical influences has earned him recognition at major music festivals like Coachella and Electric Daisy Carnival.

Zedd explains that the long gap between albums was intentional, allowing him to release singles without pressure and develop a meaningful concept for his next full-length project. The pandemic provided an opportunity for focused work, but initial attempts felt disingenuous, leading him to scrap most of the material except for one pivotal track, "Dream Brother."

"The whole inspiration behind 'Dream Brother' was this artist, Jeff Buckley, that was so hugely inspiring to me in my life, and that song that was really meaningful to me and that felt like, 'Well, this is a concept: making things that are genuinely meaningful to me, that have some sort of connection to my musical education or life.'"

This track became the foundation for "Telos," guiding Zedd towards creating music that was deeply personal and reflective of his musical journey. The album features collaborations with established artists like Muse and John Mayer, as well as emerging talents such as Remi Wolf and Bea Miller.

One of the most anticipated collaborations on "Telos" is with Muse on the closing track "1685," which references Bach's "The Well Tempered Clavier." Zedd, who learned to play drums at 12 and was part of a German deathcore band before his EDM career, has long admired Muse's approach to reinterpreting classical pieces.

The album title "Telos" holds multiple meanings for Zedd, representing both accomplishment and exhaustion. He describes the creation process as both fulfilling and challenging, leading to significant weight loss and sleep disturbances due to his intense focus on the project.

Regarding the current state of EDM, Zedd admits to being somewhat disconnected from trends, focusing instead on creating a body of work that transcends genre boundaries. His approach aligns with his history of remixing tracks for artists like Skrillex and the Black Eyed Peas, as well as producing for pop stars such as Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande.

Zedd's commitment to authenticity and musical evolution is evident in "Telos." As an artist with multiple Billboard Music Award nominations and a Las Vegas residency at OMNIA Nightclub, he continues to forge his own path in the ever-changing landscape of electronic music.