Contributing Writer
New York City-based DJ and producer Malcolm Zeller may be a new kid on the block but has already garnered a long list of supporters, from VintageCulture to JamieJones and Wade to Mau P. Following his South Of Saturn debut earlier this year, Zeller makes a quick return to Foss’ label with a bustling new cut, ‘Takes Two’. We caught up with Zeller to tell us more about his influences, productions and what the future holds.
Hi Malcolm, Welcome to Music Is 4 Lovers! How are things?
Thanks for having me! Things are good. I’ve been using the past few weeks to get a head start on planning for a strong 2025. Between that and the current releases, it’s an exciting time to say the least.
You have a rich and distinct style, often stripped-back yet vibrant and bubbly. Has growing up in New York influenced your sound in any way?
It definitely has. Growing up one of my favourite activities was exploring the different neighbourhoods around the city. There are so many different cultures in NYC (especially in the outer boroughs like Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx), and I loved learning about the world from right at home. Whether it was the food, the music, or the various languages heard, I got wide exposure to many walks of life at a very young age, and that’s been a huge influence on my perspective as an artist – both when listening to music for inspiration and when making it. I think you can also feel the pulse of the city a bit when listening to my tracks or sets.
Are there any specific artists or genres that have significantly influenced your musical style and production techniques?
Recently the Martinez Brothers have been a huge influence, inspiring me to shift to a sound that feels more true to myself and my upbringing. They’re also from NYC, and you can hear it in their sets – they’re able to keep a driving and gritty feeling while maintaining a detailed and danceable groove, which is a tricky balance to achieve. The influence of jazz, hip hop and salsa in the music they choose to play also really draws me in as it reminds me of what I heard growing up.
Congratulations on your latest single ‘Takes Two’ on South Of Saturn. Can you tell us about your production process for this one? Any key instruments or plugins?
Thanks! This one is quite drum-heavy; I think I layered 10+ percussion loops to achieve the busy feeling it has. The bass and main synth are both from Serum, but I additionally used an effect plugin called Thermal to add a nice distorted feel to the square lead that comes in on the drops.
When it comes to DJing, do you prefer performing in large spaces with huge crowds or small intimate venues? And how does your preparation for either vary?
I have a slightly different opinion than most artists I’ve spoken to about this topic. Both settings are great in their own ways, but I’m partial to the large crowds because I feel like I can really put on a performance. I trained pretty seriously in dance growing up, and I like to embody that when I play sets (after all, it is dance music, and if the DJ himself isn’t dancing, it’s much harder to get the crowd into it!). It’s a little harder for me to have creative freedom when playing in a super intimate venue because there’s less room for intentional moments in the set. Bigger venues allow you to create greater ebbs and flows in the energy without risking people leaving the dancefloor to get a drink whenever there’s a downtime moment. Also, the ceilings are sometimes low in small venues, and that can prevent me from dancing fully out in the way I like to. That being said, I like the intimate venues, too, as they provide a challenge and help improve my crowd-reading skills.
What advice would you give to any up-and-coming DJs looking to make their break?
A break doesn’t happen overnight. I’m 5+ years into what I consider the professional part of my career so far, and all the progress I’ve made has been in small steps over time. Luckily a DJ career can be built through solid goals and consistency. Anyone can do it, but it takes a lot longer than you initially think and comes with many mental hurdles to get over, so it can become very hard for most people to stick with it. I still haven’t even come close to achieving my goals, but I’ve made significant progress and I know now that I’ll eventually get there. As far as specific advice, I think it’s really important to start building community as soon as you can. Get out to events and meet people. Connect with other artists and industry professionals (both small and large) in order to develop a support network around yourself as you grow. If your goal is to share the lineups with certain acts or labels, go out and try to meet them and their teams. Send music around and integrate yourself into the framework as much as possible. Careers don’t grow in a vacuum, and it really does take a village. The more you can create your own community, the faster you’ll make progress. Also just be genuine, kind and down-to-earth.
Looking ahead, what are some of your future goals and projects that you’re excited about? How do you see your sound evolving in the coming years?
I’m really excited to emerge into this newfound sound that I have been working on over the past year or two. I’m finally at a point where I have a stack of good music and extremely specific goals for show brands and artists I want to align with, so 2025 is going to be about executing said goals and building a stronger brand than ever before. Further down the line, I plan to open up more lanes of opportunity for curation. Starting a record label and festival brand is one of the bigger goals, but it most likely won’t come to fruition for another couple of years as I’m still establishing myself as an artist first. Sound-wise, I want to continue embodying the energy of New York and the cultural influences it has given me, as well as the specific sound and alignment I’ve set out to achieve. However, there’s a broad spectrum within that, so we’ll see where it goes!
Malcolm Zeller ‘Takes Two’ drops via South Of Saturn on 20th September 2024. BUY HERE
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