ZHU Essentials

Once anonymous, ZHU got his start with a song as mysterious as his persona: “Faded,” from 2014’s THE NIGHTDAY EP, used sultry deep house and sensually inviting vocals to paint a picture of late nights in dark clubs where anything might happen. The Bay Area native (born Steven Zhu) has since continued to explore the shadows. “Cocaine Model” is a low-lit snapshot of seedy hedonism set to a low-key groove; “Sky Is Crying,” from DREAMLAND 2021, adds hopeful melody while remaining ethereal and subdued. Remixes—like one for Lana Del Rey’s “West Coast” that features ZHU’s signature vocal edits—prove that his dark magic knows no bounds.