ZHU performing at the Fox Theater in Oakland, CA on April 29, 2016. Photo: Jared Stossel.
ZHU is an artist that should be watched. His music is not music that I immediately run to or go OHSHITTHISHASTOBETHEGREATTHINGEVER, but his live performance is certainly one that is entertaining, mysterious, and thought-provoking at the same time. The producer’s face is shrouded in darkness. If you’re lucky enough to get close, you can only see a black hoodie and the outline of black sunglasses. The secrecy of his identity is something that intrigues and draws fans towards both his music and his live show. ZHU does what producers like Deadmau5 and Marshmello have done: protect their identity in an effort to put emphasis on the music itself. Ironically, this act of covering up tends to lead to fans developing even more of an infatuation with learning about the man or woman behind the mask.
The producer brought his highly anticipated show to the Fox Theater in Oakland, CA on April 29, 2016. ZHU’s music has a much more laid back tone to it than most of the modern acts in today’s electronic music atmosphere, and this provides a nice break from the nightclub atmosphere and festival bangers that fans of this scene have become so accustomed to (and I’m not knocking that music - it’s my favorite). With a show like ZHU’s, you can still dance to it, but you get more of a chance to take in the music and the story that is being presented, both through the tracks and the accompanying, stunning visuals.
This show was incredibly similar to the one that ZHU dominated Coachella with the weekend prior, and it seems that the hype from that performance didn’t fall on false ears: the show was sold out and the crowd was ridiculous for an event of this size. It looks like next time ZHU comes through on another tour, he’ll be trading theaters for arenas. Just you wait.
ZHU
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This has been another Shameless Promotion.