With sleek synth melodies, billowing basslines, and undeniable hooks, GRAMMY-nominated artist ZHU has long crafted music that feels equal parts seductive and sinister. For his next chapter, he’s returning to where it all began. BLACK MIDAS, a full-length album built for the dancefloor, is set for release on March 20, 2026. Leading the project is its title track, “BLACK MIDAS,” out today, January 16.
The album marks a homecoming for ZHU, whose early career was defined by dark, club-forward records that blurred the lines between house, techno, and pop. Throughout 2025, that return to roots began to take shape as he immersed himself deeper into the global dance music community. As his breakout hit “Faded” found new life through a remix from HNTR, ZHU focused heavily on DJ-driven performances, expanding his BLACKLIZT nightlife concept and laying the groundwork for what would ultimately become BLACK MIDAS.
That journey unfolded across a series of high-profile and intimate moments alike. ZHU shared stages with Mathame in Bogotá and deadmau5 on Coachella’s Quazar Stage, hosted surprise pop-up sets following the Bonnaroo weather shutdown in Nashville, and performed at Brooklyn Storehouse in New York City and Lightning in a Bottle. Additional appearances alongside Paul Kalkbrenner and Mahmut Orhan further reinforced his connection to the underground and global scenes. Internationally, he delivered a headlining set at Istanbul’s VW Arena and brought his sound to London’s Drumsheds, one of the world’s most iconic warehouse venues.
Designed to transport listeners into a nocturnal world of late-night energy, BLACK MIDAS draws directly from those experiences. The album’s tracks are shaped by the sounds, emotions, and fleeting narratives that emerge after dark, with production spanning deep house, melodic techno, and club-focused hybrids. Collaborations throughout the record spotlight a range of underground and emerging artists, reinforcing the album’s connection to contemporary dance culture.
“In the beginning my music was intended for the dancefloor, and was the clubby part of my sound,” ZHU explains. “For me, BLACK MIDAS is a return to why I first made music. Obviously, I’ve experimented and gone into different genres throughout my career, but I thought it was important for my new fans, my contemporaries, and also the new dance community, to understand that I came from that world from the beginning and am still a part of it. That’s why I made this record. What I’m doing now speaks to my core fans, but also to the core dance fans of today.”
In support of BLACK MIDAS, ZHU is set to appear at select DJ-focused events in 2026, including Sundance and Ultra Music Festival, continuing his renewed focus on club culture and dancefloor connection. With BLACK MIDAS, ZHU doesn’t just revisit his roots—he refines them, reaffirming his place within the global dance music continuum while ushering in a darker, more immersive era.