Skip to content

Zedd – The Genius Producer Behind Some of Pop Music‘s Biggest Hits

Full Name Anton Zaslavski
Age 34
Birthday September 2, 1989
Birthplace Saratov, Russia
Relationship Status Single
Height 5‘9"
Net Worth $35 million
Social Media Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube

I still remember the first time I heard Zedd‘s music back in 2012. I was immediately drawn to his unique style – the way he blended undeniably catchy melodies with futuristic, enervating beats. Over the years, I‘ve been amazed at his artistic evolution as he‘s crossed over from the EDM scene into crafting some of the biggest recent pop hits. As a longtime fan who‘s seen him perform live multiple times, I wanted to provide an in-depth perspective on Anton Zaslavski‘s remarkable career so far.

Discovering His Early EDM Work

Zedd first caught my attention with his breakthrough hit "Clarity" featuring Foxes. The emotional lyrics paired with the thumping build-up and synth-filled drop was so refreshing compared to other EDM artists at the time. I listened to his 2012 debut album of the same name on repeat. Songs like "Codec" and "Stache" showed off his prowess with intricate electro house production.

When Zedd came to play a festival near me in 2013, I knew I had to see his energy live. He absolutely lit up the stage with his infectious attitude, charming the audience as he jumped around behind the turntables. His performance of "Clarity" gave me chills.

The Leap into Mainstream Pop

While I loved his early EDM work, I was still shocked when Zedd began collaborating with some of the biggest pop stars around 2014. But he managed to bring his electro style to their sound in a way that remained true to his roots. I vividly remember hearing "Stay" with Selena Gomez for the first time – the dreamy chords and pulsing beat was so unmistakably Zedd.

The Ariana Grande collab "Break Free" took his sound in an even poppier direction, but still kept his signature slick production style. He even gave Lady Gaga‘s ARTPOP era a needed boost with the spacey, glitchy track "G.U.Y."

Hit After Hit

Zedd has only continued his hot streak throughout the 2010s. Who could forget the tropical, steel drum-infused "I Want You to Know" with Selena Gomez? Or when he brought his EDM talent to Katy Perry‘s Witness on "365"? I‘ll never get tired of singing along to the ridiculously catchy "The Middle" with Maren Morris. Even his songs with newer artists like Alessia Cara ("Stay") and Kehlani ("Good Thing") gave me that nostalgic Zedd feeling.

After following his work for so many years, I‘m still constantly impressed by his versatility as an artist. He knows how to craft the perfect radio-friendly pop hit without losing his identity.

The Zedd Sound

What makes Zedd‘s music so distinctive? For me, it comes down to:

  • Layered synths that build energy throughout a track
  • Driving beats that fuse EDM and pop seamlessly
  • Catchy melodies that get stuck in your head instantly
  • Emotive vocals from talented feature artists
  • Intricate touches that reveal new details on each listen

He‘s a master of incorporating tiny flourishes – a vocal clip, a pitch change, a subtle rhythmic variation – that make his tracks leap out of the speakers. The clean yet hard-hitting production quality gives his music such a rich, textured feel.

His Infectious Personality

One thing I love about Zedd is that he doesn‘t take himself too seriously. He posts hilarious videos on social media and his live shows are filled with endearing chatter between songs.

Once at a meet and greet, I told him how much his music motivated me while training for a marathon. In his sweet German accent, he laughed and said "Well I‘m glad I could power you through all those miles!" It was such a simple moment but showed his warm personality.

Legacy & Future Impact

For being just 34 years old, Zedd has already carved out an impressive legacy as one of EDM‘s most successful crossover artists. He‘s shown that it‘s possible to make wildly popular pop hits without compromising artistic vision. I can‘t wait to hear what he comes out with next and I have no doubt he will continue to shape the landscape of electronic music. Zedd proves that creative integrity matters – thanks for inspiring a generation of producers and fans like myself!

Tags:

Join the conversation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *