Zhu (musician)
{{Short description|American musician and producer (born 1989)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Zhu
| image = ZHU (29357096668) (cropped).jpg
| caption = ZHU performing in 2018
| birth_name = Steven Zhu
| alias =
| landscape = yes
| birth_date = {{birth-date and age|April 28, 1989}}
| birth_place = San Francisco, California, U.S.
| genre = {{hlist|Electronic{{cite news|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/zhu-teases-tame-impala-collaboration/|title=ZHU Teases Tame Impala Collaboration|work=Pitchfork|last=Blais-Billie|first=Braudie|date=January 31, 2018|access-date=June 3, 2018}}|house{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/dance/7825706/zhu-songs-best-hits-list|title=The 10 Best ZHU Songs (Updated 2017)|magazine=Billboard|last=Rishty|first=David|date=June 9, 2017|access-date=June 3, 2018}}|deep house}}
| occupation = {{hlist|DJ|musician|record producer|singer|songwriter}}
| instrument = {{hlist|Synthesizer|piano|horns|vocals}}
| years_active = 2013–present
| label = {{hlist|Astralwerks|Columbia|Mind of a Genius|Zhumusic, LLC|}}
| website = {{URL|http://www.zhumusic.com/}}
}}
Steven Zhu, known mononymously as Zhu ({{IPAc-en|z|uː|}}; stylized in all caps;{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c64tRauZm-I&t=16s|title=BBC Radio1 AfterHours Mix with Pete Tong|publisher=BBC Radio 1|last=Tong|first=Peter|date=May 19, 2015|access-date=July 14, 2021}} born April 28, 1989), is an American electronic music producer and singer who has been active since the beginning of 2014, signed to Mind of a Genius Records.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/business/6312201/how-dance-pop-act-zhu-scored-a-major-label-deal-using-just-his-logo-and|title=How Dance-Pop Act Zhu Scored a Major-Label Deal Using Just His Logo and His Music|magazine=Billboard|first=Matt|last=Medved|date=November 10, 2014|access-date=December 18, 2014}} Until mid-2014, Zhu remained anonymous, asking to be judged by his music alone. His debut album, Generationwhy, was released on July 29, 2016{{cite web|url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2016/06/zhu-shares-summery-new-single-generationwhy-listen/|title=Zhu shares summery new single "Generationwhy" — listen|publisher=Consequence of Sound|last=Geslani|first=Michelle|date=June 14, 2016|access-date=September 11, 2016}} and first premiered at Coachella during his closing set in the Sahara Tent. Zhu's Coachella performance was praised, with a writer for the New York Observer suggesting that he could be "the next Daft Punk".{{Cite web|date=May 10, 2016|title=Is Zhu the Next Daft Punk?|url=https://observer.com/2016/05/is-zhu-the-next-daft-punk/|access-date=April 30, 2021|website=Observer|language=en-US}}
Early life
Zhu is of Chinese heritage and grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area where he attended St. Ignatius College Preparatory.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefader.com/2016/07/26/zhu-interview-generationwhy|title=Why Zhu Used Anonymity To Put His Music First|work=The Fader|date=July 26, 2016|first=Laurent|last=Fintoni}} He played in jazz bands and orchestral practices at school, and later studied music at the University of Southern California. A member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, he graduated from the USC Thornton School of Music in 2011. That year, he released a remix of experimental electro outfit BluntGuitar's "We Fell Off" on Los Angeles indie label No Ego Records, which was licensed to MTV and appeared in an episode of a Jersey Shore spinoff entitled The Pauly D Project. As part of "52 to Zhu", an ambitious project in which he released a new track every week for a year from summer 2011 to summer 2012, he released "Brute (Bad Bitch)," a progressive electro-house number featuring singer/model Cassie Cardelle. The track led his debut EP, Introducing Zhu, which featured three other tracks: "Radar", also featuring Cardelle, "Back to You" featuring Angela Via, and "Stalemate (Vibe Together)". After EDM trio Krewella, following several years of touring and a radio hit with the song "Alive", debuted in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 with their debut album Get Wet, the group's manager Jake Udell, a friend of Zhu's from high school, immediately sought out Zhu and eventually signed him to his talent management firm Th3rd Brain.{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/mgwajb/the-truth-about-zhu-from-frat-house-outcast-to-grammy-nominee|title=The Truth About Zhu: From Frat House Outcast to Grammy Nominee|work=Vice Media|date=February 6, 2015|first=Jemayel|last= Khawaja}}
Career
Zhu's first track, "Moves Like Ms Jackson",{{cite web|url=http://hypetrak.com/2014/02/z-moves-like-ms-jackson-outkast-cover/|title=ZHU – Moves Like Ms. Jackson (OutKast Remix)|website=Hypetrak|access-date=July 29, 2014| date=February 11, 2014 |first=Zahra |last=Jamshed}} a mashup of several songs by Outkast, was released anonymously in February 2014 and was positively received by blogs and reviewers covering electronic music.{{cite web|url=http://doandroidsdance.com/audio/moves-like-ms-jackson/|title=Moves Like Ms. Jackson {{pipe}} Do Androids Dance|publisher=doandroidsdance.com|access-date=July 29, 2014}} Other tracks appeared on the music streaming site SoundCloud throughout February and March,{{cite web|url=https://soundcloud.com/zhu|title=SoundCloud – Hear the world's sounds|publisher=soundcloud.com|access-date=July 29, 2014}} followed by an EP titled The Nightday in April 2014,{{cite web|url=http://hypetrak.com/2014/04/zhu-nightday-full/|title=Zhu – Nightday (Full EP Stream)|website=Hypetrak|access-date=July 29, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.beatport.com/release/the-nightday/1286598|title=The Nightday [Mind of A Genius] :: Beatport|publisher=beatport.com|access-date=July 29, 2014}} which earned a number 1 play of the week on Triple J.{{cite web|url=http://www.dancingastronaut.com/2014/04/zhus-paradise-awaits-drops-nightday-ep-pre-order/|title=Zhu's 'Paradise Awaits.' drops with NightDay EP Pre-order|date=April 9, 2014 |publisher=www.dancingastronaut.com|access-date=June 28, 2016}}
The first single from The Nightday, titled "Faded", drew support from Pete Tong, who named it an "Essential New Tune" on his radio show on BBC Radio 1.{{cite web|url=http://billboard.com/articles/business/6312201/how-dance-pop-act-zhu-scored-a-major-label-deal-using-just-his-logo-and|title=How Dance-Pop Act Zhu Scored a Major-Label Deal Using Just His Logo and His Music|publisher=billboard.com|access-date=June 27, 2016}} "Faded" was released in March 2014, and quickly climbed the global charts, peaking at number 3 in Australia and the UK, and number 12 on the US Dance/Electronic chart.{{citation needed|date=December 2021}} "Faded" was certified platinum in Australia in 2014{{Cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.aupagesaria-charts-accreditations-singles-2014.htm |title=ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2014 Singles |website=www.aria.com.au |access-date=June 29, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808111800/http://aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.aupagesaria-charts-accreditations-singles-2014.htm |archive-date=August 8, 2014}} and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards.{{cite web|last=Brown |first=August |url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-grammys-zhu-profile-20150206-story.html#page=1 |title=Zhu, the mystery man behind 'Faded,' opens up (a little) pre-Grammys |work=Los Angeles Times |date=February 5, 2015 |access-date=November 15, 2015}}
In a November 2014 interview, Zhu's manager Jake Udell described the current music climate as "very black and white" and acknowledged that Zhu's race played a role in the decision to release and market his music anonymously, saying: "Some of us don't even know the limitations of our own prejudice. Rather than put those limitations to the test, we've created an engaging way for fans to focus on the music rather than who's behind it." Zhu stated in a February 2015 interview that "the project [Zhu] is all about art, and we try to make it about the songs and the response."
On May 15, 2015, Zhu appeared on Pete Tong's "After Hours" show and performed a 40-minute DJ mix, mostly consisting of unreleased remixes, and also announced the Nightday Collection clothing line.{{cite web|url=http://www.youredm.com/2015/05/10/zhu-teases-new-music-announces-bbc-radio-1-mix/ |title=Zhu Teases New Music, Announces BBC Radio 1 Mix |website=Your EDM |date=May 10, 2015 |access-date=November 15, 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://www.nightdaycollection.com/ |title=Nightday Collection |publisher=Nightday Collection |access-date=November 15, 2015 |archive-date=November 13, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151113010831/http://www.nightdaycollection.com/ |url-status=dead }} On November 6, 2015, Zhu released a collaborative EP titled Genesis Series.{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/dance/6693066/zhu-genesis-series-skrillex-alunageorge-bone-thugs-n-harmony|title=Zhu Reveals 'Genesis Series' Featuring Skrillex, AlunaGeorge, Bone Thugs N Harmony & More|magazine=Billboard |access-date=June 29, 2016}} It featured appearances from Skrillex, AlunaGeorge, A-Trak, and Bone Thugs N Harmony, among others. The EP received critical acclaim for its diverse sound and diverse range of talent. "Working for It", the lead collaboration with Skrillex and They.,{{cite web|title=Zhu x Skrillex x They. – Working For It (Zane Lowe World Premiere)|url=https://soundcloud.com/mindofageniusrecords/zhu-x-skrillex-x-they-working-for-it-zane-lowe-world-premiere|access-date=June 29, 2016}} reached the top 40 and was certified platinum in Australia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BGzZU56uqYL/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/BGzZU56uqYL |archive-date=December 24, 2021 |url-access=registration|title=Instagram photo by Zhu • Jun 18, 2016 at 4:47pm UTC|via=Instagram|access-date=June 29, 2016}}{{cbignore}} It also charted on the US Dance/Electronic chart.
In 2016, the single "In the Morning" was released. After his Neon City Tour, he announced that his debut album, Generationwhy, would be released on July 29, 2016, and that "In the Morning" was the first single from the album.
On June 13, 2016, Zhu released the title track, "Generationwhy", as the second single from the album.
Zhu's success carried over into 2017, where he was a featured performer in Ultra Music Festival 2017 in Miami on the live stage on March 24, 2017. His performance was positively received. Also in March, he released the single "Nightcrawler", which was followed by a second single "Intoxicate". Additionally, Zhu provided remixes of "Andromeda" by Gorillaz,{{cite web|title=Andromeda (feat. Dram) [Zhu Remix] – Single by Gorillaz on Apple Music|website=iTunes |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/andromeda-feat-dram-zhu-remix-single/1226536002|access-date=October 8, 2017}} "Bad and Boujee" by Migos,{{cite web|title=Zhu x MIGOS – Bad and Boujee.|url=https://soundcloud.com/zhu/zhu-x-migos-bad-and-boujee|access-date=October 8, 2017}} and "Feel It Still" by Portugal. The Man.{{cite web|title=Feel It Still (ZHU Remix) – Single by Portugal. The Man on Apple Music|website=iTunes |url=https://music.apple.com/ca/album/feel-it-still-zhu-remix-single/1270310760|access-date=October 8, 2017}} That same year, he released his third EP, titled Stardustexhalemarrakechdreams, on August 18.{{cite web|title=stardustexhalemarrakechdreams – EP by Zhu on Apple Music|website=iTunes |date=August 18, 2017|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/stardustexhalemarrakechdreams-ep/1271864088|access-date=October 8, 2017}} The EP's lead single, titled "Dreams", is a collaboration with electronic music trio Nero. The EP's single "Chasing Marrakech" was featured by Apple in an ad for the iPhone XS and XS Max on September 14, 2018.{{cite web|author=Apple|title=iPhone XS — Everything to know in :54 — Apple|date=September 14, 2018|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJkOP1-v9B4|via=YouTube|access-date=September 21, 2018}}
On April 26, 2018, Zhu released the first installment of his second studio album, Ringos Desert, as an extended play. The full album was made available five months later on September 7, comprising 14 tracks featuring Tame Impala, Majid Jordan, and Tokimonsta. An accompanying North American tour was announced in support of the album.
In 2019, Zhu released the song "Came for the Low", the music video for which featured 2020 United States presidential candidate Andrew Yang. The song was also featured in the third episode of the Marvel Cinematic Universe television series, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which was released onto Disney+ on April 2, 2021.
On May 14, 2020, he released the single "Only" in collaboration with Tinashe as the first single from his third studio album Dreamland 2021.
In July 2022, Zhu released his first mixtape, titled Musical Chairs Mixtape (Vol.1). The mixtape consists of seven songs, including a collaboration with the Grammy-nominated artist Elderbrook.{{cite web|author=Zhu|title=Musical Chairs Mixtape (Vol.1) by Zhu|date=July 29, 2022|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/5s6mcniU1EWM3v2rR31FYA?si=m6cKiFHjQhyGqoa1nUsTmw |via=Spotify|access-date=March 17, 2024}}
In June 2023, Zhu embarked on his first headlining tour in five years. The news arrived alongside the announcement of his collaboration with the video game Mortal Kombat 1, for which Zhu produced an original track titled "Fatal".{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Valeska |date=2023-06-15 |title=Grammy®-Nominated Artist Zhu To Embark On The Grace Tour This Fall |url=https://www.livenationentertainment.com/2023/06/grammy-nominated-artist-zhu-to-embark-on-the-grace-tour-this-fall/ |access-date=2023-10-22 |website=Live Nation Entertainment |language=en-US}}
Discography
=Studio albums=
=Extended plays=
=Singles=
==As lead artist==
==As featured artist==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+List of singles released as featured artist ! Title ! Year ! Album |
| scope="row"| "Radar" (Cassie Cardelle featuring Zhu) | 2013 | {{Non-album single}} |
|---|
| scope="row"| "My Blood" (AlunaGeorge featuring Zhu) | 2016 |
| scope="row"| "No More" (DJ Snake featuring Zhu) | 2019 |
| scope="row"| "All On Me" (Tchami featuring Zhu) | 2020 | Year Zero |
Awards and nominations
= Grammy Awards =
References
{{reflist}}
{{Zhu}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zhu}}
Category:American electronic musicians
Category:American dance musicians
Category:American musicians of Chinese descent
Category:Because Music artists
Category:American electronic dance music DJs
Category:21st-century American male singers
Category:21st-century American singers
Category:USC Thornton School of Music alumni