After teasing fans with a maddeningly short clip of his new track almost two weeks ago, Zedd is finally out with “The Middle,” featuring collaborations with Grey and Maren Morris.
Much like with The Chainsmokers, fans have been hoping for a return to Zedd’s former, more EDM-focused style – unfortunately, that is not the case with “The Middle.” Here, we again get a taste for Zedd’s more pop-influenced production that sounds strikingly close to “Stay,” complete with ticking clock and closely similar percussion. The cadence of Morris’ vocals also bears resemblance to Alessia Cara’s on “Stay.”
All that being said, the song is still objectively enjoyable and fun and poppy, if not perhaps a soulless. You’ll still be singing along when it comes on the radio thanks to the wildly catchy lyrics and melody.
“We worked really hard on this record to get it just right and it feels great to be able to finally share it with everyone,” Zedd says, “It was super fun working with Maren because she is clearly an amazing singer and very talented musician. And, I always love working with Grey because we push ourselves to make the best music possible and the end result is incredible.”
“I’m so excited we’re finally able to share The Middle with the world. Zedd was so great to work with and so easy going, it felt like we’d been working together for years,” Maren shares, “the sound is reflective of my many influences as an artist – a little bit country, little pop, little R&B, relatable, emotional and catchy as hell. There are no limits with this song and I can’t wait to see how the fans react.”
“We love working with Zedd, who’s not only been a great mentor, but a great friend. It’s always exciting to see what we can come up with in the studio together and even more exciting to be able to share this with everyone,” says Grey.
Listen to “The Middle” below.
Photo via Rukes.com