14 FAKTS INTERVIEW WITHMALCOLM ZELLER

Backed by heavyweights such as Marco Carola, Jamie Jones and Joseph Capriati, New York's Malcolm Zeller carries his current momentum into his Sound D’Elite debut with the funk-fuelled ‘Lose Control’ EP. With performances at major venues including Club Space, Hï Ibiza and UNVRS, Zeller’s growing presence extends beyond the booth, with releases on respected imprints including NUSONIDO, Deeperfect, WHYNOTUS, and South Of Saturn further adding to his status as a hotly tipped and promising ‘young gun’. The two-tracker showcases his ability to move between raw club energy and more textured, groove-driven productions, built with the same tasteful, dancefloor-first instincts laced throughout his DJ sets.

‘Lose Control’ sets the tone with vibrant energy, blending disco-infused grooves with an undeniably catchy bassline and infectious vocal hooks. On the flip, ‘High Roller’ takes a deeper, more percussive route, driven by a snaking groove that steadily propels the track forward and takes the energy to a deeper level.

Q: Please introduce yourself

Hey. I’m Malcolm Zeller, DJ/Producer from NYC. 

Q: One person you'd dream to have a coffee with?

I would love to have a coffee with Antonio Carbonaro, the founder of Circoloco. His curation style and the brand he has created strikes a perfect balance of clean and grunge. Artistic, authentic and down-to-earth while feeling polished and upscale in certain ways. Would love to ask him about his approach to creating this genre of carefully handcrafted lifestyle brand. 

Q: If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

The ability to walk into any Starbucks and exit from any other Starbucks in the world. 

Q: If you would have been given the chance to do a film score, what movie would you choose and why?

Not sure on a specific one but I would choose a Christopher Nolan film for sure. I love the seriousness and multi-layer meaning to his films. He frequently leaves things intentionally ambiguous for the audience to create their own conclusions. 

Q: Who has been the most influential in your music career? And why?

Hard to point out a specific person but my trips to ADE and Ibiza were hugely influential on pushing my music more towards the underground and groovy styles.  

Q: Tell us about your journey, what got you to where you are today?

As a kid I trained professionally outside of school as a dancer at Alvin Ailey. This experience introduced me to many musical styles (including House) and gave me a deep understanding of rhythm and groove in music.

At around 10 or 11 years old I became curious about making music and began to produce using software on the family desktop computer. I kept at it and improved.

When I was 15 years old the pandemic hit and I had no school or dance. This shifted my focus fully on the music path and I began to make viable records and self release them. From then on I built the career bit by bit, improving my skills, putting out records, showing up at events to meet key industry people and bigger artists, getting support and eventually landing some shows and a strong team. I have made sure to show up consistently every year at Miami Music Week, Art Basel, ADE, Ibiza during the summer - anywhere and everywhere I can to keep this thing growing.

At the beginning I would sneak into the backstages when the security guards weren’t looking before I knew anyone in the scene. I live with my parents still and I reinvest almost all of the money I make into the travel and release expenses.

I’m 22 now and as of this year I’m playing all over the US and internationally in places like Ibiza, Paris, Saint Tropez, Amsterdam. I want to take this as far as I can.

Long road ahead to achieve the goals I’ve set out for myself but we’re getting there bit by bit. 

Q: What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone just starting out their career in music?

There’s three massive pieces: learn to make undeniably good music within a specific lane/alignment, learn to access the real industry players and events in person consistently (key word consistently), and learn to curate a brand and communicate it on social media. If you do these three things for a very, very long time you’ll make it happen. 

Q: Can you recall a DJ set or performance of yours that remains unforgettable to you? Where did it take place, and what makes it stand out among all others?

Yes. My debut show in Ibiza this past May. I was playing in the Wild Corner of Hi for Konflict Records. The room was packed, everyone had so much energy and I really felt a part of something and in tune with the crowd. Unforgettable. 

Q: How has your music style evolved over the years?

When I first got into electronic music as a young kid it was of course through the EDM/commercial styles which were popular at the time. Over the years, as I was going out more, I fell in love with proper House music and the underground. It felt right with my background as a dancer. A modern take on the classic house styles I had heard in dance classes my whole childhood. Music that makes you dance. 

Q: If you were to venture into another music genre, which one would you choose and why?

I love traditional music from different countries. It almost always is oriented for dancing and social events no matter the culture it comes from. My saved songs on spotify are all House with some world music thrown in there every so often lol. 

Q: Could you name 3 tracks that got you into electronic music and why?

1- River Ocean - Love & Happiness (Yemaya Y Ochun).

2- Dennis Ferrer - Hey Hey.

3- Aril Brikha - Groove La Chord.

I heard these groove-oriented tracks as a young kid training as a dancer and they led to my appreciation for the style. 

Q: Can you recommend a hidden gem in your home country that would be perfect for a rave?

Industrial areas in Brooklyn. Perfect. Grungy, underground and true to the vibe. 

Q: Could you tell us about your upcoming releases and plans for the year?

Today I’m putting out my two-track Lose Control EP with Ilario Alicante’s Sound D’Elite label. A very exciting one as Ilario shaped my progression into the style. I saw him play after sneaking onto the stage at Elrow ADE in 2022 and it was a set that made me fall in love with the underground.

Upcoming I have a release on Supernova’s Lapsus Music and another one coming on Konflict - a label which I’m quickly becoming very close with. Very exciting end to 2026, and I have some even more exciting ones lining up for 2027.

Q: Can you share a fun fact about yourself that most of your listeners are probably unaware of?

I love to study languages and learn about different countries and cultures. I’ve learned French to fluency and have studied various amounts of Spanish, Turkish, Italian, Arabic and many other languages over time. The ability to use and understand different languages allows me to look through the lenses of other cultures and has expanded my world view enormously. Also helps me musically to curate different sets depending on where I’m playing.