Telos (Zedd album) explained

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 Bava, Bea Miller, Ellis, Grey, 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 22 August. 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

• signifies a co-producer
• 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)

Creative Direction

• Roseanna Lane – creative direction, art direction, artist

Charts

Chart (2024)! scope="col"

Peak position
Japanese Digital Albums (Oricon)[9]	18
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[10]	49

Notes and References

1. Web site: Heffler . Jason . 2024-05-20 . Zedd Announces Release Date of First Album in 9 Years, "Telos" . 2024-08-10 . EDM.com . en . 2024-05-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240521214408/https://edm.com/news/zedd-announces-new-album-telos-release-date . live.
2. Web site: Hernandez . Victoria . Zedd continues sports journey with Final Four performance, speaks on new album promised in 2024 . 2024-08-10 . USA TODAY . en-US . 2024-08-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240810043004/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2024/03/06/zedd-to-perform-at-mens-final-four-promises-new-album/72833848007/ . live .
3. Web site: Boyd . Marissa . 2024-05-21 . Zedd's Third Album, 'Telos,' Is Finally On the Horizon . 2024-08-10 . edmidentity.com . en-US . 2024-08-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240810044316/https://edmidentity.com/2024/05/21/zedd-annoucned-third-album-telos/ . live .
4. Web site: 2024-06-22 . Zedd Shares Dreamy New Single "Out Of Time" Featuring Bea Miller - . 2024-08-10 . mxdwn Music . en-US . 2024-08-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240819071518/https://music.mxdwn.com/2024/06/22/news/zedd-shares-dreamy-new-single-out-of-time-featuring-bea-miller/ . live .
5. Web site: Rahmanan . Anna . 7 August 2024 . Zedd is performing a free secret concert inside a NYC bodega . Time Out.
6. Web site: Dresdale . Andrea . 2024-08-06 . Zedd to play free rave in NYC bodega . 2024-08-11 . Q92nepa.com . en . 2024-08-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240811020138/https://www.qfmnow.com/news/zedd-to-play-free-rave-in-nyc-bodega/article_21985fcd-b3e0-56cb-9973-ff253ec4e22f.html . live .
7. Paul . Larisha . 2024-08-09 . Zedd and Remi Wolf Search for Silver Linings on New Single 'Lucky' . 2024-08-10 . Rolling Stone . en-US . 2024-08-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240809214049/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/zedd-remi-wolf-lucky-single-1235076904/ . live .
8. Web site: Sharpe . Josh . Zedd Releases New Single 'Lucky' Featuring Remi Wolf . 2024-08-10 . . en . 2024-08-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240810050831/https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Zedd-Releases-New-Single-Lucky-Featuring-Remi-Wolf-20240809 . live .
9. Web site: Oricon Top 50 Digital Albums: September 9, 2024. Oricon. ja. 4 September 2024.
10. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of September 4, 2024. Billboard Japan. ja. 4 September 2024.