On Tour
Ultra Artists.
Ultra Artist.
deadmau5
In this world of ever evolving genres, sounds and trends, the word phenomenon is rarely if ever used, unless of course you are one of the hottest talents in the world of electronic music. His name may conjure up images of a lifeless rodent, but the Canadian born self- confessed techno geek otherwise known as deadmau5 (pronounced ‘dead mouse’) punches like a heavyweight. On September 22, the Grammy-nominated, Juno Award-winning electronic music sensation who has racked up more than 5,000,000 hits on MySpace will unleash his second album for ULTRA Records--titled FOR LACK OF A BETTER NAME.
deadmau5—born Joel Zimmerman--is a new breed of electronic dance music star. He has managed to break rank in an industry where most of the major players have at least a decade (sometimes two) of stardom behind them. Having had a meteoric rise in the last 18 months, he has gone from near obscurity to becoming an in demand producer, innovative electronic live performer and the number one selling artist on Beatport (the world's leading online dance music store).
Now he commences the next chapter in his world domination. On For Lack Of A Better Name, the follow-up to his critically acclaimed 2008 debut Random Album Title, deadmau5 takes a different turn by incorporating various styles of music into multi-blocks of songs. The album includes a new and improved version of his club favorite “Ghosts ‘N’ Stuff” featuring added vocals by Pendulum’s Rob Swire. There is also the charismatic “Hi Friend!” and a downtempo block of tracks “Lack Of A Better Name,” “The 16th Hour” and “Strobe.” His sound transcends various genres of music, flirting with techno and minimal beats while hinting at tech house, trance and electro, showcasing his diverse tastes and talents presented throughout the album’s ten songs. This true long player swings between a hard drum line cadence of the arena styled opening techno driven track of “FML” and manipulates the listener through till the end where it signs off with a multi-layered, beautifully sweeping soft synth, kick drum and movie score production of the final track “Strobe”.
His live stage show pushes the envelope of dance music performances as we know it. Often erroneously referred to as a DJ, technically deadmau5 does not actually mix two records together. For his live show he uses Ableton Live (a creative software sequencer/composition tool) and a Lemur, the futuristic touch screen controller. Using these tools he fuses loops and elements recreating his productions in the live environment. Not to be forgotten is his trademark tailor made giant Mau5head. Complete with powerful strobe lighting eyes it sends his fans into a frenzy during his spellbinding sets.
The deadmau5 name, which came from an incident where a mouse crawled into Joel's computer (Dead Mouse was too long for a site login name so he abbreviated it to be “deadmau5”), is also fast becoming a recognized global brand. In development is a unique, cool clothing line collaboration with YO, some in-depth technical work with Pioneer and the innovative deadmau5 iPhone application which brings the Mau5 experience direct to the mobile world.
His Mau5trap label has sold over 50,000 units on Beatport in 2008, with over 110 licenses, three game syncs and 12 exclusives. His single “Not Exactly” hit Beatport’s top spot for six weeks and still retains its status at the biggest ever selling release on the site. Overall his productions have hit #1 on Beatport no less than 14 occasions.
His productions are a regular feature with Pete Tong on the Radio One Essential Selection. His Essential Mix was one of the most popular in its history. Debuting on Radio One his singles “Hi Friend,” “Brazil” and “I Remember” with Kaskade have gone on to become huge hits, while his remix of Energy 52’s “Café Del Mar” on AATW has become one of the biggest remixes of the year. “Ghosts N Stuff” – written especially for Pete’s show –hit the Beatport top spot after a world exclusive on Radio One.
This accomplished young artist has managed to earn himself an impressive string of awards in a very short space of time. The list is long is still growing...
Grammy
2009 Nomination for Best Remix, "The Longest Road" (Deadmau5 Remix) by Morgan Page
Juno
2008 Dance Recording of the Year, "All U Ever Want" with Billy Newton-Davis.
2009 Dance Recording of the Year, "Random Album Title"
DJ Magazine
2008 Top 100 DJs Poll, Highest New Entry, voted 11th
I.D.M.A.
2009 Miami Winter Music Conference
International Dance Music Awards Best Breakthrough
Beatport Awards
2009 Best Best Electro House Artist.
2009 Best Progressive House Artist
2008 Producer of the Year.
2008 Best Electro House Artist.
2008 Best Progressive House Artist.
2008 Best Single of for "Not Exactly".
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