Z-Trip - Biography
Z-Trip, aka Zach Sciacca, is an American DJ and producer and is widely recognized as a pioneer of the "mashup" movement, often referred to as the "godfather of mash-ups." He has performed to sold out crowds around the world including Electric Daisy, Big Day Out, Bonnaroo, and multiple appearances at Coachella. In 2009 he was voted "America's Best DJ" in an annual DJ Times readers poll. He appears as an avatar in the DJ Hero video game series and has contributed production to several other video game projects including EA Sports MMA (2010), Skate (2007) and XIII Soundtrack (2003). In 2012, Z-Trip launched a new mixer with Rane and Serato called the 62-Z.
The Phoenix, Arizona native began his rise to DJ acclaim with the release of the now legendary mixtape, Uneasy Listening (2001), which he compiled alongside Missouri's well known DJ P and featured hip hop songs mashed up against classic rock anthems in one seanless mix. Despite only releasing 1,000 copies, fans decided to share it over the Internet, garnering Z-Trip a burgeoning fanbase. Uneasy Listening went to the top of Album of the Year lists in Spin, Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, Wired and XLR8R. More importantly, it also inadvertently created an entirely new genre of music.
Z-Trip made his major label debut with 2005's Shifting Gears (Hollywood Records). The critcally acclaimed album featured many guest artists including Supernatural, Murs, Lyrics Born, Aceyalone, Mystic, Chester Bennington (Linkin Park), Chuck D (Public Enemy), and Soup and Chali 2na from Jurassic 5. In addition to his solo work, Z-Trip has also produced remixes for Michael Jackson, Daft Punk, Beastie Boys, Nirvana, Kasabian, and Missy Elliot. In 2011, Z-Trip began collaborating with LL Cool J, performing together at South by Southwest and the Hollywood Palladium. They are currently performing on the 2013 Kings of the Mic tour with Ice Cube, Public Enemy, and De La Soul.