OCT. 1, 2014
React Presents continues the tradition of bringing some of the most innovative and forward thinking artists through Chicago to celebrate the inaugural REACTion New Year’s Eve. With critically acclaimed acts Zedd and Porter Robinson the past two years performing to over a combined 18,000 fans, React Presents is thrilled to welcome bass-heavy innovators ZEDS DEAD back to Chicago for a two night New Year’s Eve Run at the Aragon Ballroom.
The place is Toronto, Canada. Teenagers Zack Rapp-Rovan and Dylan Mamid are introduced – they hit it off immediately over a shared love of classic hip-hop, music production, and digging through crates. It’s 2009 and hip-hop is in a coma. Hooks and DC are about to have an epiphany that will change everything. They want to make people move to their sounds and not just bob their heads, but to grind, heave, shiver, stomp, and dance to their music. They want to capture the camaraderie of house, the heart pummelling thrill of Drum and Bass, the beauty of ambient music, and the heaviness of electro – all in one sound. They want to push boundaries.
In 2013, Zeds Dead have an enormous catalogue that includes remixes for some of the biggest artists out there, and releases with the most credible labels in the game. They’ve accumulated hundreds of millions of views online. They play tours of over 70 dates to hundreds of thousands of people. Fans love their shows, critics love their creativity, and heads love their production. They’re big. Really big.
After a strong string of EPs, singles and mixtapes, Zeds Dead released their Somewhere Else EP July 1st,2014 on Mad Decent. Having already established themselves as one of the most versatile and ambitious acts around, DC and Hooks broke new sonic territory with eight tracks that that cover a wide spectrum of electronic music. Joining the Toronto duo on the record isTwin Shadow for the house anthem “Lost You” which features vocals from D’Angelo Lacy. Jane’s Addiction singer Perry Ferrell made an appearance on closing track “Blink.” Also on the EP are Colorado group Big Gigantic & fellow CanadianOmar LinX for the smooth hip-hop cut “Stoned Capone,” producer and vocalist Bright Lights, New York rapper Sean Price and French DJ/Producer DIrtyphonics. Somewhere Else is their first proper release since l2013’s Hot Sauce EP, which received praise from The New York Times and Billboard among many others, and is another showcase to the diverse yet cohesive sounds that they are capable of producing.
Check out past New Year’s Eve videos with ZEDD and Porter Robinson, below:
Tickets go on sale Friday, October 3rd, at 12 PM CST at www.ReactionNYE.com.