Zeds Dead

Dylan Mamid (DC) and Zach Rapp-Rovan (Hooks) began their musical collaboration as Mass Productions, a project which championed the hip-hop tradition of crate-digging for samples, culminating in their first and only album release, "Fresh Beetz" in 2007, a hip-hop influenced record produced by the pair.

In 2009, they begun their next musical project, under the name of Zeds Dead, which looked towards drum & bass, dubstep and electro house for inspiration. Their name references a scene in Quentin Tarantino's film, "Pulp Fiction." They established a weekly night at Toronto's '751' venue, called Bassmentality, which went on to host some of the biggest names in bass music, including Borgore, Plastician, Netsky and Nero.

Following their success as promoters, Zeds Dead have gained the respect of artists worldwide through their own music, which manages to successfully blend many disparate genres into their own, unique sound. Their first single, "Rudeboy" was realised on Kissy Sell Out's label San City High in 2010, featuring vocals from regular collaborator, Omar LinX, a rapper from Toronto.Since this first release, Zeds Dead have gone to achieve significant success, with many of their releases topping the charts on Beatport and gaining the support of many top DJs.

Through offering free downloads of much of their early tracks, they managed to develop a growing popularity and support of many fans, who were eager to snap up these free releases.

Zeds Dead signed to Mad Decent, Diplo's record label, releasing "Rumble in the Jungle" which reached number one on the breakbeat chart on Beatport. They have gone on to release several EPs on Mad Decent, achieving moderate success in the US charts, with "Hot Sauce" peaking at number 13 in the US Dance Chart and number six in the US Heat chart.

Baauer has been producing music since the young age of 13 and is influenced by a wide array of genres ranging from hip-hop to house music. Over the years his music seemed to focus on trap and bass music as well as dubstep. Baauer’s college career took him to City College in New York City where he studied audio technology that would later help him in produce his high fidelity dance music.

After releasing the singles “Iced Up” and “Samurai” in 2011, Baauer was signed to the UK based record label, LuckyMe, in 2012. Through LuckyME Baauer released a three-track 12-inch EP titled “Dum Dum”. The EP featured a strong feel of Southern hip-hop and showcased Baauer’s skill as an adept composer and producer.

Baauer’s career really launched into the mainstream with the release of his hit single “Harlem Shake”. The single was released in 2012 under Diplo’s record label, Mad Decent, and really took off as a success when a YouTube video that featured the song developed into an internet meme in 2013. After the single spread through YouTube it soon topped the US Billboard Hot 100 charts and reached the No. 3 position in the UK. The song is contagiously catchy with prominent synth lines, danceable bass grooves, and innovative samples of different sounds such as growling-lion noises. Critics such as Pitchfork and the Los Angeles Times have praised the song for its uniqueness and catchy qualities, and due to its success as an internet meme it has been looked at as the biggest viral sensation since “Gangnam Style”.

Since the release of “Harlem Shake” Baauer has teamed up with hip-hop music producer Just Blaze, known for his production work with Jay-Z, to release the song “Higher” in 2013. Later that year both producers went on tour together playing their catchy dance beats to excited audiences across the world. Baauer also made a stop at the 2013 South by Southwest music festival where he was one of the most anticipated acts there. Baauer has also made guest appearances on other artists’ singles such as Major Lazer’s track “Talk Bout Me” as well as released several remixes by bands like No Doubt and Disclosure. Baauer’s music is also well respected within the music industry. In 2013 he won Dance Song of the Year and EDM Song of the Year at the Billboard Music Awards for the song “Harlem Shake”.