Zedd Says He 'Would Have Never Been Able to Make the Music I Make If It Wasn't for AI' (Exclusive)
"It can be really inspiring when you're stuck," Zedd, who's partnering with Intel for an AI experience tied to his new 'Telos' album, tells PEOPLE
Kirby Gladstein
ZeddArtificial intelligence helps Zedd reach his full potential.
Before releasing his upcoming album Telos on Aug. 30, the German DJ/producer, 34, is partnering with Intel for an AI experience using the company's Core Ultra Processor that allows fans to immerse themselves into the cover artwork and make videos to his latest single, "Lucky" with Remi Wolf.
"I've always been really interested in exploring ways for fans to experience music beyond just them pressing play," Zedd (born Anton Zaslavski) tells PEOPLE of the collaboration, which launched Aug. 16. "Intel gave us the tools to make that happen."
Related: Zedd Reveals His Simple Strategy for Beating Jet Lag While on Tour: 'Sleep It Out' (Exclusive)
Mayda Creative
Zedd and Intel's "Lucky" AI ExperienceFans can now bring the colorful stained glass imagery of the Grammy winner's Telos cover to life, and he's happy to let fans into the album's world in this way — partially because the artwork took quite some time to conceptualize and create.
"I wanted something that is very skilled and very complex that you could look at forever and always find something new. We thought the art craft of stained glass is something so difficult to achieve that requires lifelong learning," says Zedd. "I was really excited to create an experience where people could become a part of that stained glass world themselves."
The intricate nature of stained glass is quite fitting for Telos, as the art form requires lots of patience and precision, much like the forthcoming album, Zedd's first full-length project of new material since 2015's True Colors.
"This album took a painfully long time to make and for a reason. It is a labor of love, and it takes a long time to do things well and meaningful," explains the "Clarity" musician. "Unfortunately for me, it took longer than I wish it did. I wish I could have shared this album with the world sooner, but it just took this long to make."
Zedd's choice to combine music with AI for the release of Telos also makes sense for the EDM performer, who utilizes such technology in his day-to-day work. While AI is a hot topic at the moment with many people nervous about its advancements and capabilities, he's more focused on how to use it for art.
Kirby Gladstein
Zedd"The truth is that we've been using AI forever," he says, citing music softwares that create instrumental sounds from the push of a button. "It's just that we haven't labelled it 'AI.'"
Technology has helped Zedd throughout his career, and he looks forward to continuously finding new ways to utilize it creatively.
"I wouldn't be able, and I would have never been able, to make the music I make if it wasn't for AI," he adds. "I'm excited for AI to get more useful, more applicable so that I can reach the goal of finishing music faster — so I don't have to let people wait another decade for another album."
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