ComingSoon Editor-in-Chief Tyler Treese spoke with DJ Tiësto and Zenless Zone Zero music producer Wutso Yang about their new collaboration, which resulted in the new song “ZENLESS” and a performance at Creamfields. It samples the video game and was done in collaboration with Lucas & Steve Musical Freedom and Spinnin’ Records. HoYoverse’s free-to-play action role-playing game is now available to play on mobile, PC, and PlayStation 5.
“Zenless Zone Zero is an all-new 3D action game from HoYoverse that takes place in a near future, with the world plagued by a mysterious disaster known as ‘Hollows,” says the official description.
Tyler Treese: How did this collaboration between HoYoverse and Tiësto come about?
Tiesto: They approached me with the idea, and given my love for their previous games, it felt like a perfect fit. We shared a lot of the same creative goals, so it was a natural collaboration.
Yang: This collaboration was formed due to the fact that we have chosen electronic music as one of the main genres we produce. Naturally, the first thing that came to mind when thinking of artists to collaborate with was artists who both produce and perform their music. The factors that motivated us to want to collaborate with Tiësto are twofold: First, I have been a fan of his music since the early 2000s and greatly respect everything he has achieved. Second, after communicating with Tiësto and his team, it became apparent that we share many similarities in our approach to music, and everything just worked out naturally.
While working together, we were met with many challenges along the way, but due to this, we were able to come up with lots of great ideas. For example, in order to better integrate in-game elements into our music, we gave Tiësto samples of Fairy’s in-game voiceover lines. In the end, these samples became a key bridge between the lyrics and narrative of the song “ZENLESS.”
The track “ZENLESS” is incredible. How was it collaborating with Zenless Zone Zero’s music team?
Tiësto: Thank you! It was an honor to collaborate with such an incredibly creative team, and I had the best time doing it! Zenless Zone Zero’s music team brought a lot of fresh ideas to the table, and together we created something really special.
Does your approach change any when doing a branded track like “Zenless”? Did you look to the game for inspiration?
Tiësto: Absolutely. When working on a project like this, I really want to capture the energy of the world they’ve built and reflect that sonically. I was super inspired by the game throughout this process, and that definitely influenced the track.
We’ve seen EDM really at the forefront of these collabs. Can you speak to your own willingness to embrace both games and new technology with your music?
Tiësto: Dance Music is really all about embracing the new and using new tech to keep evolving your sound. Games are another outlet that keep me inspired to stay innovative in the process. I love how the two worlds collide, and I’m always eager to explore what’s next.
What was most rewarding about working with each other?
Tiësto: The most rewarding part was seeing how our visions aligned so perfectly, from making the track to setting up the fun marketing activities to playing on Creamfields on the Zenless Zone Zero stage. Working with HoYoverse was an amazing experience because they’re as passionate about their craft as I am about mine. The end result is something I’m really proud of.
Yang: We have gained a lot of valuable experience from this collaboration that we will use in our music production in the future. We have found a lot of electronic music fans who like Tiesto but are new to HoYoverse games actually find that they enjoy the music in our game. On the other hand, there are a lot of Zenless Zone Zero players who have discovered their interest in electronic music and Tiësto. So for us, one of the most rewarding aspects is the synergy we share that we can use to complement each other and grow.
Another thing that has been especially rewarding is that our producer Zhenyu Li and I went to Creamfields in Shanghai many years ago. That was the first time he’d ever experienced an electronic music festival before. Fast forward to today, and we’ve been able to take our own music in Zenless Zone Zero to Creamfields, performing on the same stage as Tiësto. For us, it’s like a dream come true.
Tiësto, you’re obviously very busy with your music and family, but what’s your relationship with video games? Do you currently play or have any moments where you played a lot?
Tiësto: I’ve always had a soft spot for video games. While I don’t get to play as much as I used to, I still love diving into new games whenever I get the chance. It’s a great way to unwind and get inspired creatively!
