New York-based artist ZEHV shares his journey from guitarist to electronic music producer and gives us a taste of what’s to come from him in the future!
If you aren’t the kind of person who arrives early to a show so you can take in the otherwise unknown undercard, I’m here to tell you that you are missing out. So much rising talent is found this way, and it’s precisely how I discovered ZEHV. I was first introduced to ZEHV in 2019 when he played as an opener at an Andrew Bayer show in New York City. I was there at doors, and he blew me away that night with his performance.
ZEHV (real name Will Heyman) didn’t get involved in music to be an electronic producer. Far from it, in fact. He was a blues guitarist who really loved the live music scene. But after chipping away with live gigs, he wasn’t so sure he could make it a career, and perhaps having it as a hobby just wasn’t enough. Then came Ultra Miami, his first dance music festival, and he was hooked. Remixes became his gateway into the production world, and now he’s laser-focused on growing his electronic production and performance portfolio.
In the last five years, ZEHV has released a modest amount of original music and performed plenty of live shows. Most recently, he’s been focused on those gigs, and that got him as far as ADE last year, and again this fall. This year, however, he’s happy to take the gigs but will really be focused on the production side of things. He’s got a few singles and an EP already locked and loaded, with more to come later this year, so there was no better time to catch up with him. Listen to his exclusive guest mix and read on for the full conversation.
Stream EDMID Guest Mix 421 || ZEHV on SoundCloud:
Thanks for chatting with us today ZEHV. You transitioned a decade ago from blues guitarist to electronic producer and DJ. We understand Ultra Miami was a catalyst for this, but that transition doesn’t happen overnight. Tell us more about that.
Great question! I’d always wanted to be in bands, and I was in a couple in college, and we got to a certain point where we just couldn’t break through. We couldn’t always find shows or get everyone to show up for band practice. When I graduated, I left that behind with no real intention of picking up music again. I’ll play a little guitar, but I’ll be working, so I won’t have time to practice, perform, and record.
That was the same year I attended Ultra and I found it so interesting. Because before, as a performer, I was of the mindset that DJs just press play. But being at Ultra opened my mind to how it’s not just about the performer; it’s about the party, the environment, the community, and the connection. In that moment it meant so much to me, that I started getting really into the music because that’s what I was always interested in.
I spent a year digging through SoundCloud, looking through YouTube, finding cool remixes of songs I already knew. I was asking myself, “Where’s the cool remix of this classic rock song I like? Or this 80s song that I like?” A year later I wanted to go back to Ultra to experience it again, but more intentionally than just going to party. And that’s when I saw Eric Prydz who really inspired me. That was the moment I thought, “I want to make that!” I want to create those feelings that he’s creating. I want to give that feeling to a crowd so that was that was the source of the transition for me.
In a 2023 interview, you said that was going to be your biggest year yet. Just over four months into 2024, how do you think this year will compare to last?
Oh, man! Last year was my biggest year. It was epic. I got to play my first music festival and I didn’t even DJ it – I played guitar on the main stage of a music festival in front of Eric Prydz’s HOLO setup! I’m not sure I can top that this year!
However, I’ve always tried to top myself and now I’m at a point where I know there’ll be peaks and valleys in the journey. I’m focused more on getting music out this year and not trying to get as many shows as on my calendar. I’ll still do both but the pendulum is swinging towards the creative side this year. So, I don’t know if this year will top last year regarding performances, but musically and creatively that’s the focus.
Great segue… You have at least one EP on the way, perhaps two? Tell us about these. How do these stack up against your previous style as well?
I have a single coming out called “2×4” with Modern Agenda on May 31st and I’m very excited about that one. It’s a very high-energy, driving, dark, progressive track. This summer I have releases on As You Are and Keep Thinking, Four Candles label, which I’m really looking forward to. Then there are a couple of others coming this fall that don’t have dates yet. So there are a bunch of releases planned for this year and I will be putting work into getting more planned for later this year and into next.
In the bigger picture, every year is the year of some new genre, or the Resurgence of a previous one. Are there any genre trends that you’re following and trying to catch the wave of?
I think about this a lot because I feel like sometimes I don’t have my pulse on what’s going on in the industry. Sometimes I do but I keep a bit of intentional distance. A lot of my inspiration simply comes from what I’m personally listening to now that might inspire something new and different. I also go back to a lot of music I used to listen to, and I acknowledge that this is a trend, but what can be unique is the final selection. A lot of 90s breakbeats and drum and bass are in the mix. Prodigy, Chase & Status, and Pendulum, just to name a few. A lot of this drum and bass and bass-heavy but groovy music has really been inspiring me.
You used the word groovy, and I like that, because there is a comeback of 90s style, but it’s got less acid and more groove and funk.
Totally! I am all for that. I want my music to have as much danceability as possible.
Rumor has it you are going back to ADE this year. Can you confirm this?
Yes, and it’s so huge! I played three shows at ADE last year and then I played at Sisyphos in Berlin the week after. That was a huge milestone for me to be able to go overseas and do that. And here I am making it happen again. I just love ADE. It’s my favorite time of the year to connect. It feels like a business conference where you meet your co-workers from all around the world. I’m on the dance floor meeting these producers whose music I play all year long and who inspire me. And I get to have a beer with them and talk about the scene. It doesn’t matter what direction you turn, you can talk about production and not feel like you’re the biggest nerd in the room.
And just to mix it up, you just finished an overnight show in Brooklyn. Where do you go for that late-night snack or meal before heading home?
Oh, great question! I’ll use last night as an example because I went out to support SunrYse opening for Maxim Lany at SILO. I had one or two drinks and afterward decided to stumble into Artichoke Pizza and get a slice of white pizza and a Margarita as well. Their artichoke slice is great but it’s just way too much for me. I love a slice of white pizza. In New York, pizza is the easy choice for me. I’m not from here so I’ll take any chance I can get to eat a hot bagel or a hot slice of pizza. I’m all for that.
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