Telos (Zedd album)

2024 studio album by Zedd

Telos is the third studio album by Russian-German electronic music producer Zedd, released on 30 August 2024 through Interscope Records. It features collaborations and guest appearances from Bea Miller, Ellis, Grey, Bava, the Olllam, Remi Wolf, the late Jeff Buckley, Mesto, Dora Jar, John Mayer, and Muse. Production was handled by Zedd himself alongside Ellis, Grey, and Mesto. Preceded by the singles "Out of Time" and "Lucky", it marks Zedd's first album in nine years since True Colors (2015).^[1]

Background and promotion

In a 2023 recap video uploaded to Instagram, Zedd announced that he was working on a new album, calling the project "the most genuine and deeply personal album I've ever made".^[2] In May 2024, during a performance at the EDC Las Vegas music festival, Zedd announced the album's release date using skywriting. The album title and cover art were revealed in an Instagram post uploaded shortly after EDC.^[3]

On 21 June 2024, the album's lead single "Out of Time" was released, featuring vocals from Bea Miller.^[4] Two weeks later, Zedd announced a partnership with 5 Gum to produce an exclusive one-off show in an undisclosed New York City bodega. The show would include previously unheard songs from Telos. Fans were invited to compete for the event's free tickets by participating in a scavenger hunt, with clues posted by Zedd and 5 Gum's social media accounts every day until the scheduled event on August 22. Only the first 25 people to visit the bodega ahead of the show would receive free tickets.^[5][6]

The album's second single, "Lucky" (with Remi Wolf), was released on 9 August 2024.^[7][8]

Track listing

Notes

• ^{^[a]} signifies a co-producer
• ^{^[b]} signifies an additional producer

Sample credits

• "Dream Brother" is a remix of the song of the same name as performed by Jeff Buckley, and written by Buckley, Mick Grøndahl, and Matt Johnson.
• "1685" interpolates Johann Sebastian Bach's Prelude and Fugue in C major, BWV 846.

Personnel

Musicians

• Zedd – programming (all tracks), background vocals (tracks 1, 2, 4, 9), vocals (1)
• Jeremy Kittel – viola, violin (all tracks); conductor (track 10)
• Nathaniel Smith – cello (tracks 1–3, 5, 7, 8)
• Bea Miller – vocals (tracks 1, 2)
• Mark Dover – clarinet (track 1)
• Ellis – bass guitar (tracks 2, 6), guitar (6)
• Jacob Collier – background vocals (track 2)
• B. C. Manjunath – percussion (track 3)
• Grey – programming (track 3)
• Michelle Packman – strings (track 3)
• Kyle Trewartha – vocals (track 3)
• Priya Darshini – vocals (track 3)
• Adita Prabhudesai – choir (track 3)
• Arohi Mhatre – choir (track 3)
• Darshana Menon – choir (track 3)
• Janardan Dhatrak – choir (track 3)
• Latesh Puujari – choir (track 3)
• Madhura Paranjape – choir (track 3)
• Savni Bhatt – choir (track 3)
• Sharmishtha Bhatkar – choir (track 3)
• Shrikant Krishna – choir (track 3)
• Shripad Lele – choir (track 3)
• Sudhir Yaduvanshi – choir (track 3)
• Swapna Gothiwrekar – choir (track 3)
• Umesh Joshi – choir (track 3)
• Vijay Dhuri – choir (track 3)
• Vivek Naik – choir (track 3)
• Yashika Sikka – choir (track 3)
• Bava – vocals (track 4)
• The Olllam – low whistle, uilleann pipes (track 5)
• Celina Sharma – background vocals (track 6)
• Charles Redick – background vocals (track 6)
• Chenee Campbell – background vocals (track 6)
• Katrice "Binki" Walker – background vocals (track 6)
• Remi Wolf – vocals (track 6)
• Jeff Buckley – vocals, dulcimer, guitar, harmonium, organ, tabla (track 7)
• Matthew Bellamy – guitar (track 8), vocals (10)
• Emmi – background vocals (track 8)
• Mesto – programming (track 8)
• Dora Jar – vocals (track 8)
• John Mayer – vocals, guitar (track 9)
• Chris Wolstenholme – bass guitar (track 10)
• Jacob Warren – bass guitar (track 10)
• Dominic Howard – drums (track 10)

Technical

• Zedd – mixing
• Mike Marsh – mastering
• Ryan Shanahan – engineering, mixing assistance
• Dónal O'Connor – engineering (track 5)
• Ellis – vocal engineering (track 8)
• Jeremy Kittel – string arrangements
• Ben Kane – additional mixing (track 3)

Cover Art

• Roseanna Lane – art direction, visual artist

Charts

References

1. Heffler, Jason (20 May 2024). "Zedd Announces Release Date of First Album in 9 Years, "Telos"". EDM.com. Archived from the original on 21 May 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
2. Hernandez, Victoria. "Zedd continues sports journey with Final Four performance, speaks on new album promised in 2024". USA TODAY. Archived from the original on 10 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
3. Boyd, Marissa (21 May 2024). "Zedd's Third Album, 'Telos,' Is Finally On the Horizon". edmidentity.com. Archived from the original on 10 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
4. "Zedd Shares Dreamy New Single "Out Of Time" Featuring Bea Miller -". mxdwn Music. 22 June 2024. Archived from the original on 19 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
5. Rahmanan, Anna (7 August 2024). "Zedd is performing a free secret concert inside a NYC bodega". Time Out.
6. Dresdale, Andrea (6 August 2024). "Zedd to play free rave in NYC bodega". Q92nepa.com. Archived from the original on 11 August 2024. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
7. Paul, Larisha (9 August 2024). "Zedd and Remi Wolf Search for Silver Linings on New Single 'Lucky'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 9 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
8. Sharpe, Josh. "Zedd Releases New Single 'Lucky' Featuring Remi Wolf". BroadwayWorld. Archived from the original on 10 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
9. "Oricon Top 50 Digital Albums: September 9, 2024" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
10. "Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of September 4, 2024". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 September 2024.
11. "Official Dance Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
12. "Zedd Chart History (Top Dance/Electronic Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 September 2024.