Zeds Dead, the Canadian electronic music duo composed of Dylan Mamid (DC) and Zach Rapp-Rovan (Hooks), has rescheduled their New York City show at Forest Hills Stadium to Friday, Aug. 14. The original performance was postponed due to thunderstorms.

"It was a tough call," Mamid told the New York Post. "We were going back and forth all day long, but it seems like all the major events in New York got canceled tonight." Despite the postponement, the duo expressed their continued affection for the city, with Rapp-Rovan stating he recently moved to New York.

The rescheduled show is part of their ongoing 'Journey of a Lifetime Tour,' which spans over 15 years of their career. The tour features a focus on outdoor venues and amphitheaters, aiming to create a cinematic atmosphere that blends music with visual storytelling.

"We thought we’d try to go to the next level with this tour and do these outdoor amphitheaters," Rapp-Rovan said. "The visual component of the show just kept getting bigger and bigger, and this sort of feels like the natural evolution. It’s almost like a movie and a music show in one."

The tour's concept is tied to their recent albums, "Return to the Spectrum of Intergalactic Happiness" and its follow-up, "Return to the Return (of the Spectrum of Intergalactic Happiness)." Mamid described the show's build as involving the creation of a laboratory and a satellite dish to hone in on a signal, the "spectrum of intergalactic happiness," pulling clips and samples to tune into a specific wavelength.

Rapp-Rovan explained the concept is interpreted through "scientific instruments" and sent back to the crowd as static, aiming for a dreamlike quality, comparing it to "falling asleep while you are watching television."

While the tour highlights newer music, fans can expect to hear tracks from throughout Zeds Dead's catalog. The tour's name itself is derived from one of their first tracks released in 2009.

"In a lot of ways, in our sets, we’re always trying to represent many different eras of our catalog," Rapp-Rovan said. They also incorporate fan favorites, noting that "One of These Mornings" consistently resonates with audiences, and they have created a new live version that has received positive reactions.

Album Creation and Hiatus

The duo's approach to creating music, particularly their recent albums, involved a deliberate process of sampling old broadcasts, educational videos, and documentaries. Rapp-Rovan described this as "collage making," where they experiment with various sounds until something clicks.

"We like to throw a lot of darts at the board, and we try a lot of different stuff in the interim. And then it just kind of felt right when we decided to lock on this project," Mamid added.

Both "Return to the Spectrum of Intergalactic Happiness" and its follow-up album offered a sense of creative freedom for the duo. The second album, in particular, was created without initial constraints tied to the live show. Mamid described it as following a thread and exploring where inspiration leads, feeling like they were constantly breaking new ground.

This intensive creative process is also a reason Zeds Dead plans to take a break from touring in 2027. They aim to step back from the road to focus more on the type of music they want to create.

"It’s hard to make [these] projects when you’re always on the road and always putting stuff together for the live show," Rapp-Rovan stated. "We really think we like to make those kind of projects. So maybe there’ll be a fruitful time." Mamid lightheartedly suggested that after a break, fans might receive "an instrumental jazz album."

Deadbeats Records and Electronic Music's Future

Zeds Dead also draws inspiration from artists on their record label, Deadbeats, which serves as a hub for electronic and bass music. "They give us ammo for our sets," Rapp-Rovan said. "We play all the Deadbeats stuff, and then we give them exposure by playing it."

Regarding the future of electronic music, Rapp-Rovan believes dance music will remain popular because "people always want to dance." Mamid sees the scene evolving in cycles, with sounds shifting, becoming harder or softer over time.

Upcoming Tour Dates and Festivals

Zeds Dead's 'Journey of a Lifetime Tour' includes the following dates:

  • July 24: Jacobs Pavilion in Cleveland, OH
  • July 25: Ascend Amphitheater in Nashville, TN
  • Aug. 1: Factory Town in Miami, FL
  • Aug. 2: Seminole Hard Rock in Tampa, FL
  • Aug. 14: Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, NY
  • Sept. 5-6: Bridge City Block Party in Portland, OR
  • Sept. 11-13: Dancefestopia in LaCygne, KS
  • Sept. 11: Germania Insurance Amphitheater in Austin, TX
  • Sept. 12: Dos Equis Pavilion in Dallas, TX
  • Sept. 18 & 19: Mesa Amphitheatre in Mesa, AZ
  • Sept. 26: Freedom Mobile Arch in Vancouver, BC, CA
  • Oct. 2 & 3: Grand Park in Los Angeles, CA

The duo is also scheduled to perform at several festivals:

  • Bridge City Block Party (Sept. 5-6, Portland, OR) with Subtronics, Zingara, Whethan, Dr. Fresch, and Eprom.
  • Dancefestopia (Sept. 11-13, LaCygne, KS) with Griz, Excision, LSDREAM, Ray Volpe, and Sullivan King.

In addition to Zeds Dead, other notable EDM artists touring in 2026 include John Summit, Rüfüs Du Sol, Lost Frequencies, Subtronics, and Elderbrook.