Q&A: ZDO
ZDO [pronounced “zy-doe”], is a cyber sonic wave music producer / artist who was born and raised in New Zealand and is currently based in Edinburgh, UK.
Drawing influence from trance, trap and festival dance music, the intoxicating sound of ZDO emanates from his immense euphoric melodies that buries your body in bass and opens the door for your soul to escape on a spiritual experience. ZDO sheds light on the uncharted universe within by blending in sonics from his Indian roots. ZDO is well immersed in the EDM world, already making an exciting disruption to the local scene, playing live shows and working with select local and international artists.
Tell us how you started out creating music as ZDO
Following my move to the UK in 2022, ZDO was born as my new alias. After years of working under an old alias in New Zealand and Australia, I felt it was time to rebrand and establish a new electronic artist; one with a consistent sound, direction and identity. During the pandemic, I rediscovered a lot of the nostalgic 2000s dance music I grew up listening to and I realised how simple it was, yet it had this profound effect on me that seemed was increasingly lost in modern dance music. On the hunt for new music, I managed to find some incredible young artists doing exactly this in tiny pockets across the globe. Having produced several other genres up till this point, this ‘wave’ movement immediately felt the most authentic to me, especially when reflecting on my long intrigue with cyber culture explored through other art mediums growing up. ZDO is my contribution to this culture.
Your latest release with LYFFE was ‘Fall’, and previously you also released ‘Late At Night' together. Could you talk us through any musical/social influences for these and your continued collaboration with LYFFE?
LYFFE is a brilliant producer, collaborator and friend. We met through an online discord community that shares a passion for wave music. We both grew up on 2000’s dance music - trance, hardstyle, electro etc - and this comes through in both tracks, especially melodically. These melodies are rhythmically contrasted with modern trap drum beats that give our tracks a fresh festival aura. A type of beauty and the beast blend that has been distilled down today to be known as ‘hardwave’. We like to say that both those tracks are like siblings, having been made around the same time after a track idea swap that got us started. There is definitely more coming with LYFFE.
What was your favourite musical highlight of 2023? Favourite show to play, any "pinch me" moments?
Playing main stage at YouthBeatz Festival with Alexander Romance (shoutout) was a big highlight. Shortly after meeting last year we joint forces and produced an array of new material together in a very short space of time just for this show. A moment we were both immensely proud of. Towards the end of last year, I also played my own full original electronic dance set at F!N!TE, an hour long of mostly unreleased material which had otherwise been collecting dust on my hard drive. A huge pinch me moment to finally put my new sound in front of people in a live setting and have it resonate with others.
Tell us your three desert island albums.
alt-J - An Awesome Wave
Flume - Hi This Is Flume
Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP2
If you could collaborate with anyone on future music, who would it be?
Flume. Since the day I started writing music, Flume’s production has been an inspiration. The process of endless experimentation to achieve otherworldly sonics keeps artistry fresh and exciting. I think it would be a lot of fun.
You're originally from New Zealand but what advice would you give to aspiring musicians who are looking to establish themselves in the Scottish music industry regardless of where they are from?
In my limited experience here, aspiring musicians could capitalise on the many networking opportunities around and closeness of the local music communities. There are a great bunch of organisations supporting young musicians. Meeting people face to face and having real human relationships leaves a lasting impression that will set you up well for when you are ready to take things to the next level.
Lastly, what can we expect to see from ZDO in 2024?
2024 for me is all about introducing ZDO to the wider world. I have plans to release mini mixes containing my own original music, remixes and include the work of some brilliant artists within the sphere of this sound. I have just put out one already called ‘Hydrogen’ on YouTube and SoundCloud: https://youtu.be/DasJADDnm0o
Follow ZDO here.