Learn About Deadmau5’s Life and Work

Joel Zimmerman was born in 1981 and raised in Ontario, Canada. A creative and technical youth, Joel took an early interest in the piano and computers, which impelled him to create music. He started composing electronic music with the program “Impulse Tracker,” inspired largely by video game soundtracks, and co-produced a dance music program at a Niagara Falls radio station. In 2005, Joel created the alias deadmau5, and released his first full-length album Get Scraped. He has subsequently released eight studio albums and headlined Lollapalooza, Outside Lands, Sonar, Ultra, Electric Daisy Carnival, and the Bonnaroo music festivals. He has his own music label, Mau5trap, and scored the soundtrack for the Netflix film Polar (2019). To date, deadmau5 has topped the Billboard Dance Chart three times, earned three Juno awards, and six Grammy nominations.

Deadmau5 has a number of popular tracks that have earned airplay and critical acclaim over the years.

1. 1. “Faxing Berlin” (2008): “Faxing Berlin” is the first single released by deadmau5’s record label, Mau5trap. It is a quick-paced song at 128 beats per minute, and clocks in at nearly nine minutes long.
2. 2. "I Remember” (2008): This collaboration with DJ Kaskade hit number one on Billboard’s Hot Dance Airplay chart. The track became one of the most popular dance tracks at London clubs during the time, earning certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).
3. 3. “Strobe” (2009): “Strobe” is ranked as one of deadmau5’s best tracks of all time by Billboard.com. There have been 100 re-releases of this particular track, including an orchestral version for the album Where Is the Drop?
4. 4. “Ghosts N Stuff” (2009): “Ghosts N Stuff” debuted in 2008 on BBC Radio’s Essential Selection Show. In 2009, the music video for the track debuted, which has garnered over 50 million views on YouTube.
5. 5. "Sofi Needs A Ladder" (2010). German singer Sofia Toufa, known more commonly as SOFI, lent her voice to “Sofi Needs a Ladder.” It has been featured in television shows and films like Entourage and The Hangover: Part II, and won the 2011 Juno Award for Best Dance Recording.
6. 6. “Some Chords” (2010). “Some Chords” is the first single from deadmau5’s fifth studio album 4×4=12, ranking at number 13 on the U.S. Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales chart. A 2014 remix of the song by Dillon Francis also landed on Billboard’s Dance/Electronic Songs chart.
7. 7. “The Veldt” (2012). “The Veldt” is based on a 1950s Ray Bradbury sci-fi story of the same name. The track became one of deadmau5’s most popular, landing on Rolling Stone’s top 50 songs in 2012.
8. 8. “Professional Griefers” (2012). “Professional Griefers” is a track from deadmau5’s sixth studio album Album Title Goes Here. Gerard Way, the frontman of the popular musical group My Chemical Romance, lends his voice to this track.

Deadmau5 has an impressive discography that has helped greatly expand the range and sound of electronic dance music (EDM). Here are deadmau5’s studio albums:

1. 1. Get Scraped (2005): Get Scraped is deadmau5’s debut studio album, released by independent label Zoolook. This album contains elements of ambient noise, trip-hop, and noise pop, all of which contribute to deadmau5’s signature groovy and eclectic sound.
2. 2. Vexillology (2006): The tracks on Vexillology have a techno-electric sound that is slightly different from his later works. In 2015, the album was re-released as a double-disc along with his first EP Full Circle (2007).
3. 3. Random Album Title (2008): The tracks on Random Album Title are mostly instrumental ones with dance-heavy and tribal beats. The album boasts tracks like “Arguru,” “Not Exactly,” and “Alone With You.”
4. 4. For Lack of a Better Name (2009): For Lack of a Better Name is full of upbeat, synthesized compositions with thrilling and creative melodies. Tracks on this album include “Strobe,” “Soma,” and “Hi Friend!” featuring MC Flipside.
5. 5. 4x4=12 (2010): 4x4=12 features songs like “Raise Your Weapon” and “Animal Rights.” It was deadmau5’s first studio album to chart on the Billboard Top 200 and received a nomination for Best Dance/Electronica Album at the Grammy Awards in 2012.
6. 6. >Album Title Goes Here< (2012): >Album Title Goes Here< debuted at number one on the Dance/Electronic Albums chart, and at number six on the Billboard 200. It was also nominated for the Grammy for Best Dance/ Electronic Album in 2013. Deadmau5 joined the United Kingdom’s Albums Chart at number nine in sales and remains his highest-charting album in the U.K. The album contains tracks like “Channel 42” and “Professional Griefers.”
7. 7. While(1<2) (2014): While(1<2)—pronounced “while one is less than two”—is deadmau5’s seventh studio album. It earned deadmau5 his third nomination for Best Dance/ Electronica Album at the Grammys in 2015. This album experiments with downtempo and ambient elements, moving away from his traditional heavy bass sound.
8. 8. W:/2016Album/ (2016): W:/2016Album/ is deadmau5’s first album to be released exclusively through his own independent label Mau5trap. It features tracks “Let Go” and “Snowcone,” marking a slight departure from the standard, commercial EDM flair.

Become a better musician with the MasterClass Annual Membership. Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by the world’s best, including Armin van Buuren, St. Vincent, deadmau5, Usher, Timbaland, Sheila E., Tom Morello, and more.