"Telos" is the newly unveiled album that Zedd wanted to make for himself. The EDM trailblazer has garnered a consistent reputation for his chart-soaring collaborations, self-titled music festival and his earned spot in the billion-stream club. Zedd expanded on his latest musical venture during a recent press conference hosted by °1824. Zedd has publicly discussed his creative burnout and was quoted by People Magazine that there's “nothing left to say.” Despite these difficulties, Zedd poured out every last word he could muster through "Telos".
In conversation, he emphasized how finishing this album was an accomplishment and the importance of taking time off to prevent burnout. “If there isn’t a real reason to work yourself to this point, I don’t recommend it,” he said. Many songs off Telos accumulated over a decade before Zedd united each piece into a developed story arc. “Telos became the perfect sort of playground for all of them to live and be themselves and not feel like they have to fit in one way or another,” said Zedd. While Telos expands on the artist’s success in the EDM realm, it branches beyond a singular genre and expresses his eclectic influences. “Dream Brother” by Jeff Buckley – one of Zedd’s favorite songs – appears on the album. “Jeff Buckley was an artist that I grew up listening to and really realizing music can be really, really good. You have to put work in to get that good,” said Zedd. His rendition of Buckley’s hit is mysterious, driving and ethereal. Sonically, the track sounds quintessentially Zedd while keeping Buckley’s initial vision intact.
Telos features collaborations from artists ranging from Remi Wolf to Muse. This sonic distinction creates a diverse and memorable listening experience. Zedd admitted that he generally doesn’t like collaborating. He loves it, however, when it’s done well, which isn’t an easy feat. “It was honestly a huge honor because a lot of the collaborators on this album are artists that have inspired me to be who I am today as a musician,” said Zedd. While most songs off the album are eclectic and genre-crossing, Zedd attested that each song is exactly what it needed to be. “If I had to redo Telos, I never would,” said Zedd. While Zedd’s music translates well through digital recordings, it is meant to be played for an audience. Zedd’s "Telos Tour" is the “most detailed show” he’s put together. “Every single thing you hear you can see, and it’s so diverse and the colors are so well-matched,” said Zedd. The artist intended for every song to exist visually in a “stained glass world.”
“Descensus” was one of the most fun songs for Zedd to bring to life on tour. “There’s a lot of really fun play between video and lighting that’s been really fun to bring to life,” said Zedd. While Zedd intends to keep much of The "Telos Tour" unspoiled for audiences, he emphasized the larger scales of his recent live performances. “It enables me to play wider genres because there’s just more moments that we were able to create with lighting that we weren’t able to do before, where it feels like you’re almost in a theatre and you’re watching a show develop,” he said.
- Madeleine Bradford
