Yes, as a producer-composer. Zedd writes and produces every one of his tracks himself, credited under his legal name Anton Zaslavski, and his instrumental cuts list him as the sole composer. On his vocal songs he collaborates with the featured singers and topline writers, so hits like 'Clarity' and 'Break Free' are co-writes between Zedd and the vocalists who sing them.
By the Numbers
3
Studio Albums
31
Tracks Credited
97%
Self-Written
17
Years Active
87
Collaborators
Authorship Breakdown 30 / 31 self-written
Who wrote the songs?
Across all 31 tracks: how many Zedd wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.
Zedd has a writing credit97%
13%
84%
3%
Sole author4tracks13%
Co-written26tracks84%
Outside writers1tracks3%
Role Fingerprint how they contribute
Zedd's roles across the catalogue
Share of all 31 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.
Lyricist (words)87%
Composer (music)97%
Producer100%
Performer16%
Authorship Over Time writing credit per album
Zedd's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.
avg 97%
100%
100%
90%
2012Clarity
2015True Colors
2024Telos
Early · 100% written
Late · 90% written
Authorship by Decade track-weighted
100%
2010s
Clarity, True Colors
90%
2020s
Telos
Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author
Where Zedd sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.
Zedd
Other artists on the site
Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.
Bubble size = tracks worked on together. AA Antonina Armato · TJ Tim James · EL Ellis Lawrie
The Authorship Story
Data Insight
Zedd's authorship profile is that of a complete producer-composer who writes and produces every track himself while frequently collaborating with outside vocalists and songwriters for lyrical content. His legal name Anton Zaslavski consistently appears in all writing credits across all three albums. On purely instrumental tracks (Clarity's 'Codec', 'Stache', and 'Epos'), he is the sole credited composer with no lyricist credit. On vocal tracks, all writers, whether lyricists or melodic contributors, are listed as both lyricists and composers in the absence of a formal split. His classical training in piano and drums is reflected in Telos, which interpolates Bach and features orchestral arrangements.
Quick Facts
Real nameAnton Zaslavski, Russian-born and German-raised
TrainingClassically trained on piano from age four before turning to production
GrammyBest Dance Recording for 'Clarity' featuring Foxes (2014)
Crossover hits'Break Free' with Ariana Grande and 'The Middle' with Maren Morris and Grey
Studio albumsThree, Clarity (2012), True Colors (2015), and Telos (2024)
Creative Fingerprint
A complete producer-composer: Zedd writes and produces every track himself, credited under his legal name Anton Zaslavski, and brings in featured vocalists to handle the lyrics and topline on his vocal songs.
The Story
Zedd is the stage name of Anton Zaslavski, a Russian-born, German-raised DJ, record producer, and songwriter. Born in Saratov, Russia in 1989, he moved to Kaiserslautern, Germany at age three and trained classically in piano and drums from childhood. After briefly drumming for German metalcore band Dioramic, he pivoted to electronic music production, earning global recognition in 2012 with the Grammy Award-winning single 'Clarity' featuring Foxes. His debut album of the same name established him as a leading figure in progressive house EDM. True Colors (2015) broadened his pop-crossover appeal with collaborators including Selena Gomez, Logic, Troye Sivan, and Echosmith. A nearly decade-long gap preceded his third studio album Telos (2024), a more eclectic and cinematic project featuring John Mayer, Muse, Remi Wolf, and a posthumous Jeff Buckley collaboration.
Awards & Recognition
Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording, 'Clarity' featuring Foxes (2014)
'Clarity' certified multi-platinum by the RIAA
'The Middle' nominated for three Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year (2019)
Frequently Asked Questions Zedd
Does Zedd write his own songs?
Yes, as a producer-composer. Zedd writes and produces every one of his tracks himself, credited under his legal name Anton Zaslavski, and his instrumental cuts list him as the sole composer. On his vocal songs he collaborates with the featured singers and topline writers, so hits like 'Clarity' and 'Break Free' are co-writes between Zedd and the vocalists who sing them.
Who sang 'Clarity' by Zedd?
'Clarity' features vocals by the English singer Foxes. Zedd wrote and produced the 2012 track, which won the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording and became his breakthrough hit, peaking at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100.
Did Zedd work with Ariana Grande and Selena Gomez?
Yes. Zedd produced and co-wrote 'Break Free' with Ariana Grande in 2014 and 'I Want You to Know' with Selena Gomez in 2015. Both were major crossover hits that widened his pop audience.
What is Zedd's biggest hit?
'The Middle,' his 2018 collaboration with Maren Morris and the duo Grey, is among his biggest hits and earned three Grammy nominations including Record of the Year. 'Clarity' and 'Break Free' are his other signature songs.
Did Zedd win a Grammy?
Yes. Zedd won the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording in 2014 for 'Clarity' featuring Foxes. He later received three more nominations for 'The Middle' at the 2019 ceremony.
How many studio albums has Zedd released?
Zedd has released three studio albums: Clarity (2012), True Colors (2015), and Telos (2024). A gap of nearly a decade separated his second and third albums.
What is Zedd's musical background?
Zedd is classically trained, having started piano at age four and drums at twelve, and he briefly drummed in the German metalcore band Dioramic before turning to electronic production. That training shows on Telos, which interpolates Bach and uses orchestral arrangements.
Who is featured on Zedd's album Telos?
Telos (2024) features an eclectic lineup including John Mayer, the band Muse, Remi Wolf, and a posthumous collaboration built around Jeff Buckley. It is a more cinematic, genre-spanning project than his earlier EDM-focused albums.
Zedd
