FOR the first time in a long time, Eric Prydz found himself in the US in 2012, embarking on his first proper tour since 2007. His long-standing aversion to flying made this an extra feat, but it sounds like his strength of mind was appreciated. “It was absolutely amazing. We were in an old school tour bus. It was hard, but it was really worth it,” he says from a villa in the hills in Ibiza, where he’s getting some well-earned R&R. “There’s a new generation of kids now and they’re all into dance music. It’s almost like it’s as big as R&B and hip-hop. That blew me away. It reminded me of the UK 15 years ago, like a new movement.”
Prydz joins a chorus of producers and DJs, particularly this year, saying the
If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be? “I would be able to fly.” Should you play for the crowd or for yourself? “If you are DJing at the local pub every Friday then I would say play for the crowd. But I’m pretty sure that if asked, John Digweed wouldn’t play ‘Gangnam Style’.” What does EDM mean to you? “Whenever I hear the term EDM I think of American 16-year-olds with glow- sticks and t-shirts with prints saying ‘Let’s RAGE’.” Should celebrities be DJs? “Anyone who wants to DJ is more than welcome to.” Have you ever been thrown off the decks? “Haha. No. But I’ve heard about people who have. Clueless clubs booking underground DJs, expecting top 40 music. It’s wrong on all levels.” Are you a DJ if you don’t beat match? “Yes. Anyone can beat match but few can pro- gramme a set properly.” Where’s the next dance music capital? “Bagarmossen in Sweden.”
DESPITE his huge prominence on the US EDM scene this year, Zedd is actually Anton Zaslavski, a German DJ and producer from Kasierslauten. It’s his polished big room electro-house sound that has won him many fans across the pond, though, including Porter Robinson with whom he is heading out on tour in late 2012.
This year has seen the 23-year-old breakthrough onto a whole new level, having been involved in the music game since 2002. Branching out from his early sound, Zedd is now at home referencing dubstep, prog and even complextro in his latest releases. Evidence came in the form of the massive ‘Spectrum’ this year, his first release since signing to Interscope Records, whilst Zedd has also produced pop songs for Eva Simons (namely ‘I Don’t Like You’).
It’s no surprise he has continued to collaborate with some of the biggest names in pop, having first remixed Lady Gaga’s ‘Born This Way’ and ‘Marry The Night’ tracks to great acclaim back in 2011. As such, 2012 has seen him work in the studio with Max Martin on productions
Style: “House progressive.” Best known for: “‘Pjanoo’.” Tune of 2012: “Todd Terje ‘Inspector Norse’.” Breakthrough DJ/producer of 2012: “Fehrplay.”
same thing. He also unleashed his long- awaited album ‘Pryda’, after signing to Virgin Records, and now his even more anticipated artist album may be tantalisingly close. Though Pryda featured a disc of previously unreleased tracks, this will be his first album proper, released under his own name. “I’m two thirds done,” he says. “It’s in the process. I don’t have a release date or plan yet. I hate deadlines. They ruin creativity. But it will be finished when it’s finished.” Well, maybe we’ll just have to wait that little bit longer. BEN ARNOLD
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for tween sensation Justin Beiber’s third album, ‘Believe’.
A classically-trained musician, Zedd spent his formative years playing in a German band, Dioramic, with some success, but was converted to dance music upon hearing French punksters Justice. It’s proved a wise move, as 2012 saw him play every big event in the dance calendar from Dream Valley in Brazil to Creamfields in the UK and Electric Zoo Festival in New York.
So, too, has this year been monumental in production terms, because October saw the release of the German’s debut LP, ‘Clarity’. Full of foot-stomping beats, vocals from the likes of Ellie Goulding and dubstep-like breaks, it has proved a resounding success with his legion of fans. KRISTAN J CARYL