Zedd delivers Telos, a ten-track masterpiece featuring dazzling collaborations and his signature dance-pop sound with a classical twist.
The wait has finally ended for zealous Zedd fans as the famed producer returns after nine years with his third full-length album, Telos. A follow-up to 2015’s True Colors, his latest album leans into his classical background, blending his signature sound with his formal music training for an innovative take on dance music. With ten unique tracks, the album takes listeners through a thoughtfully crafted journey, weaving multiple genres with his esteemed electro-house sound for a completely original work of art.
Telos is the culmination of years of hard work and dedication to his craft. “What I’ve always dreamed of doing is creating an album that I genuinely believe 30 years from today, I will look back and be incredibly proud of, that will be just as amazing then as it is right this moment, because it’s not based on trends or sound design that might fall off,” Zedd shared. “It’s based on music, just like the albums that shaped me growing up that I still adore to this day.”
Telos opens with the lead single, “Out Of Time,” featuring pop vocalist Bea Miller. The melodic track stuns as Zedd embraces his nostalgic electronic sound while providing an outro that gives listeners a taste of the classical influences to come. This blends seamlessly with Miller’s second collaboration on the album, “Tangerine Rays,” which pumps up the dramatics with enchanting vocals and Zedd’s hallmark ticking, which are present throughout his body of work.
“Shanti” delivers a high-energy track with enthralling chanting, while the Irish-influenced “Sona” is an unexpected breath of fresh air where flutes take the driver’s seat for a unique and masterful track. For those looking for Zedd’s dance-pop-forward productions, “Lucky” featuring Remi Wolf gives “The Middle” a run for its money, presenting listeners with an upbeat atmosphere with lovable, sing-a-long lyrics.
True to Zedd’s nature, there’s no shortage of standout collaborations on this album. “Dream Brother” marks the first time an artist has been cleared to use the late Jeff Buckley’s vocals. An interpretation of Buckley’s 1994 release, the track features soaring violins and some classic Zedd elements, including the siren famously used on “Spectrum” and “I Want You To Know.”
The most surprising addition is a collaboration with superstar John Mayer, a chill and groovy track with an insane guitar solo entitled “Automatic Yes.” Closing out the album, Muse lends their talents to the dramatic six-minute masterpiece “1685,” coined after German composer Bach’s birth year. Taking influence from “Prelude in C Major,” the track takes a brief pause before transitioning to a symphony of ethereal strings that perfectly closes out the work of art that is Telos.
On this album, Zedd has delivered forward-thinking soundscapes that pay homage to his classical beginnings while incorporating his beloved electro-house production elements. From taking risks with surprising collaborations to incorporating instruments infrequently heard in today’s popular dance music, his confidence shines through with each track. There’s no doubt Telos will leave a lasting impact on listeners and dance music as we know it.
Head to Spotify or your preferred streaming platform to listen to the album.
Stream Zedd – Telos on Spotify:
Zedd – Telos – Tracklist:
- Out of Time (feat. Bea Miller)
- Tangerine Rays (feat. Bea Miller)
- Shanti
- No Gravity (feat. Bava)
- Sona (feat. the olllam)
- Lucky (feat. Remi Wolf)
- Dream Brother (feat. Jeff Buckley)
- Descensus (feat. Dora Jar)
- Automatic Yes (feat. John Mayer)
- 1685 (feat. Muse)