deadmau5

Real Name: Joel Zimmerman

Hometown: Toronto, Canada

Genre: Progressive House, Electro House, Dubstep

Record Label: mau5trap

Best known for: Wearing a massive mouse head on stage...

About: deadmau5’s production career started as a bit of a joke, releasing a track titled ‘This Is The Hook’ with pal Steve Duda under alias B.S.O.D (blue screen of death). Joel & Duda considered the track a hilarious parody of the formulaic extreme of dance music. What they weren’t expecting was to reach #1 on beatport in '06!

B.S.O.D produced and album, remixed Christina Aguilera, but ran out of cash. Steve moved back to L.A. & Joel continued making tracks. His next production came in the form of ‘Faxing Berlin’; the debut release under the deadmau5 moniker.

The name deadmau5 comes from Joel’s 1 man web development business, which itself was named after a dead mouse he found in his computer…

deadmau5 in now an international phenomenon. Not just an incredible music producer & performer, but a brand. The infamous mau5head, maybe the most recognisable symbol in EDM.

In 2008, deadmau5 was the biggest selling artist on Beatport & received awards for ‘Best Electro House Artist’, ‘Best Progressive House Artist’ & ‘Best Single’.

In 2009, he cracked the UK single chart with ‘I Remember’ reaching #14 & ‘Ghosts N Stuff’, feat. Rob Swire, reaching #12. He won ‘Dance Recording Of The Year’ at the Juno Awards with his 3rd solo album ‘Random Album Title’. He also retained beatport awards ‘Best Electro House Artist’, ‘Best Progressive House Artist’ & scooped the newly introduced ‘Most Influential Person’ award.

In 2010, he won three International Dance Music Awards including Best Artist (Solo), Best Electro Track’ (Ghosts N Stuff), and Best American DJ. He won ‘Dance Recording of the Year’ with his 4th studio album ‘For Lack of a Better Name’ at the Juno Awards. deadmau5 won ‘Best Electro House Artist’, ‘Best Progressive House Artist’, and ‘Best Progressive House Track’ (Calvin Harris – I’m Not Alone (deadmau5 Remix) at the Beatport Music Awards. deadmau5 also became a playable avatar within the DJ Hero 2 video game!

Last year Joel hit new heights. His 5th solo album ‘4x4=12’ went platinum. He was nominated for 3 grammy awards. He claimed 3 at the IDMA’s including ‘Best Dubstep Track’ (Raise Your Weapon), ‘Best American DJ’, & ‘Best Solo Artist’. He won ‘Best Electro Track’ (Animal Rights) & ‘Artist Of The Year’ at the Beatport Awards.

deadmau5 also featured in Sony Playstation’s latest advert (wearing non-other than Dirty Smart’s High-Tops tee)…

All this while sneaking up DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs despite not campaigning whatsoever (and moaning on Twitter about others who did).
2008 – 11th Place
2009 – 6th Place
2010 – 4th Place
2011 – 4th place

What is next for deadmau5?.. Dunno, but one things for sure, Joel Zimmerman has no ceiling...

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Love deadmau5? We do!
Check out his back catalogue of tracks on iTunes HERE
Dirty Smart recommends deadmau5 - Reward Is More Cheese 
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www.deadmau5.com
www.myspace.com/deadmau5
www.twitter.com/deadmau5