GRAMMY-nominated producer and DJ ZHU has released ‘BURN,’ the second single from his upcoming album project BLACK MIDAS, out March 20, 2026 via Broke / Blacklizt Sound Syndicate.
Released today, February 13, ‘BURN’ finds ZHU leaning into a sleek, late-night blend of deep house textures and R&B sensibility, featuring Toronto-based singer, songwriter, and producer Joyia. Built around a smoldering synth melody, billowing low-end, and a sultry vocal hook, the track captures a balance of sensuality and shadow — a defining tone for BLACK MIDAS.
A Track Born From Rebuilding
‘BURN’ carries deeper meaning beyond its dancefloor energy. In 2025, the Southern California Palisades wildfire displaced ZHU. Although the fire did not completely destroy his home and studio, smoke damage rendered both structures uninhabitable. The fire devastated his land and surrounding neighborhood, forcing him into a year of rebuilding — both physically and creatively.
That period of reconstruction became the emotional and sonic catalyst for BLACK MIDAS.
The album takes listeners on a late‑night journey, shaped by the sounds, emotions, and energy ZHU encountered while rebuilding his world. The project spans deep house and melodic techno influences and features collaborations with underground and emerging artists, including Joyia on ‘BURN’
“On ‘Burn’ I found this artist from Toronto. Her name’s Joyia, kind of like an R&B singer. I make R&B music and wanted to make R&B a bit more up tempo so people would be able to dance to it, as opposed to keeping it super slow. So I wrote some stuff. I put it on record, sent it over. She wrote some stuff back and I just naturally wanted to put soulful stuff on dance music. So that’s a track I love on the album.
Zhu
Entering the BLACK MIDAS Era
The release follows a busy 2025 for ZHU. His breakout hit ‘Faded’ saw renewed momentum through a remix from HNTR, while the artist expanded his BLACKLIZT nightlife concept through DJ sets across the globe. Appearances included performances alongside Mathame in Bogotá, deadmau5 at Coachella’s Quasar stage, surprise pop-ups following Bonnaroo’s weather shutdown in Nashville, and shows in New York, London, Turkey, and beyond.
Now, with BLACK MIDAS on the horizon, ZHU is poised for a major festival run in 2026, with confirmed appearances at:
- Ultra Music Festival – Miami (March 29)
- Rabbits Eat Lettuce Festival – Queensland, Australia (April 4)
- Tomorrowland – Boom, Belgium (July 25)
Stream ‘BURN’ on all streaming platforms!
More dates are expected to be announced. Pre-save BLACK MIDAS.
