ZHU

For seeking to ply his trade in one of the most “cult of personality” genres in dance music, producer, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist Steven Zhu might be the hardest working electronic musician trying to stay out of the limelight. Whether this is a ploy to propel him further into the mainstream or not, remains to be seen. ZHU, who goes with the stylized all caps of his last name, is certainly keeping up appearances. With a Grammy nomination for his 2014 future house hit “Faded,” creating more media interest, ZHU has managed to remain elusive and short, looking to keep the focus on his work and not himself.

And while this does indeed stink of a ploy in the reverse-psychology, self-aggrandizing variety, there are a few facts pointing to the veracity of what could very well be an agoraphobic fear of fame. A 2011 graduate of the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music, Zhu leaves behind an academic record pointed for his outcast status in the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity and for shying away from EDM. Hiding his identity didn’t hurt him none when he released “Moves Like Ms. Jackson” in early 2014, to high praise from the blogosphere.

He’s been busy at work, collaborating with Skrillex and THEY, setting himself release goals like the “52 to ZHU” project, and releasing his first proper album on Columbia Records, last year’s Genesis Series. There might be something prophetic there too, with the Judeo-Christian tradition seeing “genesis” as the beginning. ZHU might be onto something, certainly not the beginning of something new, but something familiar done better.

This is a refreshing entry into the world of button pushers and knob twisters who’ve come to rely more on who they are to sell tickets than what they’ve produced. ZHU could, with time, become one of those types of dance music personalities, though it is unlikely that it would happen any time soon. For now, ZHU remains deeply committed to his craft, and as such, continues to play the hermit when the media comes a ’calling. For an artist who wants to be judged by his work, he’s got the bravura set for a favorable verdict.

ZHU’s Neon City Tour with special guest Gallant closes out in Miami at 9pm on Saturday, May 21 at the Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater, 1700 Washington Ave, Miami Beach. Tickets cost $32-$45 plus fees. Call 305.673.7300 or visit fillmoremb.com.
~ Abel Folgar