Zedd
A metalcore drummer from Kaiserslautern who won Beatport remix contests, then a Grammy for “Clarity”: the route Anton Zaslavski took to become Zedd.
- Born Anton Zaslavski on 2 September 1989 in Saratov; raised in Kaiserslautern, Germany.
- “Clarity” won the Grammy for Best Dance Recording in 2014.
- Albums Clarity (2012), True Colors (2015) and Telos (2024).
Before he was Zedd, Anton Zaslavski played drums in a German metalcore band. Two Beatport remix contests changed his direction. Within four years he had a Grammy for “Clarity”, and soon a string of US top-ten pop hits, from “Break Free” to “The Middle”.
Kaiserslautern and Dioramic
Zaslavski was born on 2 September 1989 in Saratov, in the Soviet Union. When he was three, his family moved to Dansenberg, a district of Kaiserslautern in Germany. In 2002 he joined Dioramic, a metalcore band co-founded by his brother Arkadi, as its drummer. The band signed to Lifeforce Records; he stayed until March 2012. His stage name comes from “zed”, the English way of saying the letter Z.
Beatport, Owsla and the first remixes
In 2010 he won two Beatport remix contests. His first original release, “The Anthem”, reached the top 20 of Beatport’s electro house chart. A remix of Skrillex’s “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites” followed, then his first release on Owsla, “Shave It” (2011), later known as “Shave It Up”, and the singles “Slam the Door” and “Shotgun”. His remix of Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” appeared on the album’s special edition in 2011, and remixes for Justin Bieber and deadmau5 followed. In 2012 he signed with Interscope.
Clarity and the Grammy
His debut album, Clarity, came out on 12 October 2012. “Spectrum”, with Matthew Koma, topped Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Songs chart. The title track, with the singer Foxes, reached the US top ten, sold more than two million copies and won Best Dance Recording at the 56th Grammy Awards in 2014. “Stay the Night”, with Hayley Williams, went top 20 in the US.
From clubs to pop radio
Next came collaborations with pop singers. “Break Free” with Ariana Grande (2014) peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. His second album, True Colors, followed on 15 May 2015, two days after the single “Beautiful Now”; “I Want You to Know” with Selena Gomez reached No. 17. “Stay” with Alessia Cara (2017) climbed to No. 7 and earned a Grammy nomination. “The Middle” (2018), with Maren Morris and Grey, reached No. 5 and was nominated for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
Telos and where to go next
His third album, Telos, arrived on 30 August 2024, with posthumous vocals from Jeff Buckley among its guests. It was nominated for Best Dance/Electronic Album at the 67th Grammy Awards. Over the years his guest list has also taken in Katy Perry, Kehlani, Liam Payne, Hailee Steinfeld, Shawn Mendes, John Mayer and Muse.
Zedd belongs to the generation that carried festival EDM onto pop radio in the early 2010s. Keep digging with Alesso, Martin Garrix and Calvin Harris.
FAQ
What is Zedd’s real name?
Anton Zaslavski. He was born on 2 September 1989 in Saratov and grew up in Kaiserslautern, Germany.
Why is he called Zedd?
The name comes from “zed”, the English pronunciation of the letter Z.
Has Zedd won a Grammy?
Yes. “Clarity”, featuring Foxes, won Best Dance Recording at the 56th Grammy Awards in 2014.
Who sings on The Middle?
Maren Morris. The 2018 single is credited to Zedd, Maren Morris and Grey, and peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100.
