As I sit here trying to write about this album and this tour, it almost feels wrong. It feels as if I need a disclaimer to show my authentic intentions and to excuse myself for any part of this article that seems lacking in substance. It's intimidating to write about a genius; a genuine, passionate, multifaceted, multi-talented human being—it's especially challenging to try and focus on only an album release while this mega superstar has many other compelling things going on.
Approximately seven years ago, in my freshman year of high school, deadmau5 introduced me to my taste for electronic music. As a 14-year old classically-trained viola player, my elitism often manifested itself in the form of grimacing at the sound of non-instrumental music. Getting to understand the Canadian producer's music quickly changed that—his discography was the first discography I collected from an electronic artist. Following 14-year-old fangirl logic, I learned as much as I could about Joel Zimmerman, the award winning, virtual reality making, esport gaming, Meowingtons owning man behind the mau5head.
Over the years, as my electronic palate began to change tastes, I never failed to keep up with his releases and his internet presence never ceased to entertain, educate and amaze me (may his beef with Kanye never be forgotten). As a long-time fan and frequent stream viewer, I think it is safe for me to say that deadmau5 portrays a genuine, I-will-say-whatever-and-do-whatever-I-want-and-you-will-still-love-me personality. I have definitely heard people criticize him and call him an asshole, but most people I know just go along for a ride with his savage tweets that often spark fire in the EDM twitter community. It's hard for me to imagine a celebrity I've held in such high regard for long, let alone any electronic artist with as much global recognition and respect as deadmau5.
Now that you understand where I'm coming from, let's talk about the music.
deadmau5 is known for producing various styles within the progressive house genre. His tracks have always been meticulously polished and well planned—representative of his "unparalleled level of passion for the creation of music." His eighth studio album, W:/2016ALBUM/ (pronounced W drive 2016 album) was his first release as an independent artist via his own label, mau5trap,
The album consists of 11 songs (plus an extended edit) that were written over the past few years. The track that beautifully kicks off the album, "4ware" (pronounced 'aware'), has an old school vibe of his which I felt echoed my all-time favorite track of his, Strobe. The following track, "2448," is actually the new anthem for the Toronto Maple Leafs—who actually requested that deadmau5 write it.
One of the album's featured tracks, "Let Go," incorporates spine-tingling vocals from Grabbitz (the extended edit is also on the album). Among the remaining tracks you will find a variety of dance-able tunes, from "atmospheric to techno to old-school synth" sounds. There is not a song on the album I ever really feel the need to skip.
Along with the album, deadmau5 announced a 2017 tour in the U.S., Lots of Shows in a Row (yes, click the link, I swear that's the name). The tour will feature a new live show and an even bigger cube.
“We’re pushing because we’ve started the mechanicals for the engineering of this new cube thing, it’s pretty cool. It’s like a crazy upgraded version of the last one,” he says. “As I’m working on the visuals of my show I get these kind of cool pulsating effects with geometry and cube mapping.”
Tickets are selling out quickly and many venues have already given deadmau5 extra dates.
