It’s Hard Not to Cry Watching Zeds Dead’s Epic Mashup with Nas, Tupac and More: “There’s Something About Nostalgia”

How does Channel Flipping 2: Only You build on the world and ideas you introduced with Return to the Spectrum of Intergalactic Happiness? Why release it now?

It’s essentially the same universe. For a few years we’ve been imagining an old television set drifting through space, picking up fragments of broadcasts from across the last century. The Channel Flipping pieces and the album live in that same concept — they’re an homage to DJ culture and to the collage-based spirit of hip-hop. We released it now because it finally felt finished: it’s the culmination of work that’s been on and off our desks for years.

Eight months after the album’s release, do you feel listeners have connected with the concept? What reactions have stood out?

The reaction’s been great. People don’t need to unpack every idea to enjoy the music, but many listeners do pick up the concept and respond to it. We’ve heard from people who say the record and the visual pieces transported them or unlocked memories — which is always rewarding.

The project leans heavily into nostalgia. What does that say about where you are creatively and personally? Has performing these songs live changed the way they land emotionally?

Nostalgia is a powerful tool. When you manipulate samples, sometimes you conjure a feeling of familiarity for things you never personally experienced — that strange, resonant sensation. We don’t force it every time, but when it surfaces it’s exciting. It adds another emotional layer to the music, and playing that material live amplifies those reactions from the crowd.

Were you disappointed Channel Flipping didn’t receive a dance/electronic Grammy nomination?

We treated it like a long shot but submitted it regardless. We’re pretty underground, so a nomination would have been surprising. Ultimately, we don’t make music for trophies — being able to create and share it with people is reward enough.