All artists must reach two positions in order to become professionals. The first, is in the studio. Tracks made in the studio become the artist's foundation and the value created by those that listen further is how the revolution gets started. Stage two. The artist's fresh, new appeal on stage captures the emotion of those that see the existence of the story unfold.
Canadian dubstep duo Zeds Dead are now looking out at those two positions. Starting in 2010 with roots in hip-hop and rap, they duo started producing electronic music under Diplo's Mad Decent label. This year the've now moved on to form their own label "Deadbeats" and just released their debut album "Northern Lights" this October.
Squeezing out a few precious moments between their busy tour schedule, Hooks was kind enough to answer a few of our questions via email.
(Left Hooks, right DC)
Hooks: after working on this album for so long it’s amazing to see people singing along at shows and showing it so much love online.
2) What was the concept/vision behind this album?
Hooks: Yeah, it’s partially because being from Canada we are considered the up north. Also we liked playing with the beauty in darkness concept.
4) The collaborations in this album are versatile from rappers to vocalists. Your track with Dragonette stands out being very different from the traditional Zeds Dead sound. How did that collaboration happen?
Hooks: Originally before we had any sort of connections at all I was linked up with Dan from Dragonette through his cousin who’s a good friend of mine. He let us do a remix for them back in 2010 I think. We kept in touch and eventually worked on a few songs with Martina before making Neck and Neck which ended up on the album.
5) With ‘Blame’, ‘Too Young’ & ‘Frontlines’ you had very interesting art covers. Where did you draw inspirations for these?
Hooks: All different. Blame was our friend Chris Yee’s interpretation of the song, youth vs. authority. Frontline I just thought it would be cool to have us on an asteroid flying away from a space explosion, I don’t know where that thought came from but again Chris Yee turned out an amazing piece. Too Young art was based on the lyrics about a girl who maybe is trying a bit too hard to be cool.
(From the left, artwork for "Blame," "Too Young," and "Frontlines)
6) Congratulations on your launch with Deadbeats! Any plans on diversifying your Deadbeats platform into events and culture?
Hooks: That’s been a goal for the label. We’d like to branch out into a lot of other creative avenues we’re interested in like the art world and clothing.
Hooks: It was a time where a small scene was growing fast in Toronto. We started the party in a dingy little basement for free and before long it had lineups down the block and it was getting dangerous in there so we moved to a bigger venue. The bookings came shortly after that because it was the party to play when stopping through Toronto.
8) The Smirnoff Short Documentary was a very interesting look into the roots of how ‘Zeds Dead’ was formed. What part of Toronto culture influenced you both to become artists?
Hooks: I got really into wearing button up shirts with pictures on them a few years ago and it became somewhat of an obsession.
10) You both seem to be very tight with graffiti art culture as well. What are some of your favorite artists or art pieces? (or what do you think of the Tokyo art scene?)
Hooks: Some of my favorite writers are Stare, Atlas, Kwest, Askew, Sofles, Revok, Causr, Kwest, Dems, Horfe, Kem5, Totem2.
(The work of graffiti master artist, Sofles)
11) What’s your favorite coffee place?
Hooks: My house! I have a cold brew yama as well as a nespresso machine. But also I’ll shout out Sam James in Toronto, Panther Coffee in Miami, Intellegensia in Venice beach.
12) Spotify has FINALLY launched in Japan and now your Japanese fans can follow your playlists. How do you pick new tracks for your Spotify playlist ‘Zeds Dead’s Coffee Shop’?
Hooks: The coffee shop was meant to be songs that would go well with a cup of coffee. So maybe a bit on the chill side but not always.
13) What’s next for Zeds Dead?
Hooks: We just put out the album so we’re going to be promoting that and getting remixes done. We’re going to remix some of our own songs. Getting our new label Deadbeats off the ground will be a big focus for us moving forward.3
Keep your eye on Zeds Dead for what comes next.
On tour from September to December on their 42-stop debut album tour release for "Northern Lights."
Canadian dubstep duo Zeds Dead are now looking out at those two positions. Starting in 2010 with roots in hip-hop and rap, they duo started producing electronic music under Diplo's Mad Decent label. This year the've now moved on to form their own label "Deadbeats" and just released their debut album "Northern Lights" this October.
Squeezing out a few precious moments between their busy tour schedule, Hooks was kind enough to answer a few of our questions via email.
(Left Hooks, right DC)
On Album & Label
1) Thank you for sharing your time with iFLYER. First of all congratulations with the LP album! How have you been reacting to your album success so far?Hooks: after working on this album for so long it’s amazing to see people singing along at shows and showing it so much love online.
2) What was the concept/vision behind this album?
Hooks: We just wanted to make something that really represented our taste and styles while also being a cohesive album that you could listen to front to back.
3) Why did you decide to name it ‘Northern Lights’? Was there an episode or hometown influence to making that final vision?Hooks: Yeah, it’s partially because being from Canada we are considered the up north. Also we liked playing with the beauty in darkness concept.
4) The collaborations in this album are versatile from rappers to vocalists. Your track with Dragonette stands out being very different from the traditional Zeds Dead sound. How did that collaboration happen?
Hooks: Originally before we had any sort of connections at all I was linked up with Dan from Dragonette through his cousin who’s a good friend of mine. He let us do a remix for them back in 2010 I think. We kept in touch and eventually worked on a few songs with Martina before making Neck and Neck which ended up on the album.
5) With ‘Blame’, ‘Too Young’ & ‘Frontlines’ you had very interesting art covers. Where did you draw inspirations for these?
Hooks: All different. Blame was our friend Chris Yee’s interpretation of the song, youth vs. authority. Frontline I just thought it would be cool to have us on an asteroid flying away from a space explosion, I don’t know where that thought came from but again Chris Yee turned out an amazing piece. Too Young art was based on the lyrics about a girl who maybe is trying a bit too hard to be cool.
(From the left, artwork for "Blame," "Too Young," and "Frontlines)
6) Congratulations on your launch with Deadbeats! Any plans on diversifying your Deadbeats platform into events and culture?
Hooks: That’s been a goal for the label. We’d like to branch out into a lot of other creative avenues we’re interested in like the art world and clothing.
Roots
7) Take us back into the times of ‘Bassmentality’. How did that evolve into a weekly party series that hosted early performances for some artists that are widely known now?Hooks: It was a time where a small scene was growing fast in Toronto. We started the party in a dingy little basement for free and before long it had lineups down the block and it was getting dangerous in there so we moved to a bigger venue. The bookings came shortly after that because it was the party to play when stopping through Toronto.
8) The Smirnoff Short Documentary was a very interesting look into the roots of how ‘Zeds Dead’ was formed. What part of Toronto culture influenced you both to become artists?
Hooks: I don’t know, I’ve always been into art in some way or another. When I was a kid I used to draw a lot. My friend and I used to imagine new movies and then draw the posters for them. I think everything is just a natural progression of finding ways to express ourselves. I can’t say where it came from but the hip-hop scene in Toronto, people freestyling probably had something to do with wanting to be part of that and make a contribution.
Lifestyle & Arts
9) In terms of fashion, what are some brands or pieces you guys like to wear on stage or while on tour?Hooks: I got really into wearing button up shirts with pictures on them a few years ago and it became somewhat of an obsession.
10) You both seem to be very tight with graffiti art culture as well. What are some of your favorite artists or art pieces? (or what do you think of the Tokyo art scene?)
Hooks: Some of my favorite writers are Stare, Atlas, Kwest, Askew, Sofles, Revok, Causr, Kwest, Dems, Horfe, Kem5, Totem2.
(The work of graffiti master artist, Sofles)
11) What’s your favorite coffee place?
Hooks: My house! I have a cold brew yama as well as a nespresso machine. But also I’ll shout out Sam James in Toronto, Panther Coffee in Miami, Intellegensia in Venice beach.
12) Spotify has FINALLY launched in Japan and now your Japanese fans can follow your playlists. How do you pick new tracks for your Spotify playlist ‘Zeds Dead’s Coffee Shop’?
Hooks: The coffee shop was meant to be songs that would go well with a cup of coffee. So maybe a bit on the chill side but not always.
13) What’s next for Zeds Dead?
Hooks: We just put out the album so we’re going to be promoting that and getting remixes done. We’re going to remix some of our own songs. Getting our new label Deadbeats off the ground will be a big focus for us moving forward.3
Keep your eye on Zeds Dead for what comes next.
On tour from September to December on their 42-stop debut album tour release for "Northern Lights."
