Introducing: Zeds Dead

Introducing: Zeds Dead

2 February, 2012 | 11.01AM

• Written by: Sean Lewis
• Filed under: Music News: dubstep, introducing, zeds dead

Zeds Dead members Hooks and DC started their journey as the instrumental hip-hop crew Mass Productions. After one album under their former title, the two eventually morphed into one of Canada’s biggest electronic music exports. Tight production and a sense for formulas that work the crowd into frenzy have turned their name into one of the most buzzed-about names on the net. And offline, when Zeds Dead struck out on their 2010 Let There Be Bass tour, they pulled massive crowds of (Zeds) Deadheads, packing feverish fans at shows all over North America.

Celebrating their latest release on Inspected Records, the Adrenaline EP has been a successful highlight of what the group does best, reaching the number one album slot on Beatport after its debut over a week ago. We bring you a special look into the guys that make Zeds Dead such a success.

How you guys get involved with electronic music?

DC: In a way, house music and drum ‘n’ bass were my gateway electronic music genres. I backpacked across Europe when I was 17 and got interested in house music from going to different clubs and raves over there. It was around the time Justice released their album Cross, and guys like Boys Noize and MSTRKRFT were coming out. From house and DnB I moved into electro house and then dubstep. From there on my ears were open to electronic music as a whole and as my tastes started changing so did my productions. 

There’s certainly some fluctuation between the different sounds that you guys have produced; some of it is gritty and urban, and some is aimed directly at the party kids. What’s your stance on straddling or bringing together these differences?

DC: We always just produce what we’re feeling. Today on the plane I made some spaced out 808 hip-hop stuff, tomorrow I might make drum ‘n’ bass tune. A lot of people consider us dubstep producers, but for me dubstep is just a feeling or mood I get into. At the end of the day if you’re making music that’s a reflection of what you listen to and how you feel, then it’s going to be the most genuine, and I think that’s what we strive to do.

When you perform, what’s your preferred set-up and how would you describe your sets?

Hooks: Our sets are very high-energy, but we bring it down here and there so people can last. We like to mix up genres and tempos throughout. 

Did you have any mentors when you were starting out? Who helped you get established?

DC: Yeah, I had some friends who made beats that made me wanna get into it. A lot of it was just trial and error learning; it took a long time to get any where near where I wanted to be. Every artist says that they are their own worst critic, but I think I probably take the cake in that department.

Hooks: I didn’t have any mentors back then, I don’t think anyone would have seen the potential in my first round of beats to take me under that wing. DC had been making beats for a bit longer, and hearing his stuff really made me want to get better back then.

When did you first feel that Zeds Dead had finally discovered its own unique sound?

DC: I don’t know if we have yet. I sort of feel like we’re still just trying stuff out. I think once we sit down and do a real album, we’ll focus a lot more on making a concise piece of work. On the other hand, we do create a lot of our sounds which we have re-used in different ways, which to a certain extent gives our music some uniformity.

Hooks: I think our sound is more of an attitude. I think you can hear the hip-hop feel come through in Zeds Dead stuff.


How do you explain your music to your family members?

Hooks: It can be difficult sometimes especially with the really hard stuff. My mom’s usually into it until the drop, then I see the confusion begin. 

Do you know what kind of track you want to write before you sit down to make it, or do you create music more from a process of experimentation, trial and error?

DC: It’s both. You have to have a starting point, which for me often comes from being inspired by stuff I hear. After I get started its all trial and error though.

When you sit down to make a track, what’s the first thing you typically do? How does the process work between you two? How long does a track typically take you to make?

Hooks: Starting a track is always different. I find going in with nothing and just playing around till you get ideas is more fun than going in with a plan.

Where do you record

Hooks: If we have to record live instruments or vocals, we rent a studio, but for everything else it’s at our houses.

Do you currently have a favorite piece of gear or software?

Hooks: I’ve been playing around with FM8 a lot. It’s amazing and I keep finding new functions.

Early birds or night owls?

Hooks: I’m writing this at 5:30am on a Wednesday. I probably won’t go to bed till 7.

Which one track by another artist do you wish you had made?

Hooks: Dub Phizix’ ”Marka ft. Strategy.” This track sounds like something I’ve wanted to do, really dark reggae vibes.

If you could save one studio item before a fire destroyed it, which would it be?

Hooks: Hard drive.

When you’re not listening to electronic music, what do you listen to?

Hooks: Hip-hop.

DC: Hip-hop, old soul and R&B stuff.

When you’re not making or playing music, what’s your preferred pastime?

Hooks: These days just watching movies and shows. I doodle a lot as well.

DC: Snowboarding .

If you weren’t musicians, what would you be doing with your life?

Hooks: Maybe website design.

DC: Burger King.

Tell us about your upcoming gigs and releases…

Hooks: We’re about to hit the road on the Living Dead tour across Canada and the US, which has us playing over 70 dates including Ultra and Coachella. We’re going to be releasing a mixtape and an EP with Omar Linx that should be out at the beginning of the tour.

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