A-Trak, Chromeo, Skream, Mark Ronson Remember Cassius' Philippe Zdar

The music world is mourning the loss of one its best today – Philippe Zdar. One half of pioneering French touch duo Cassius, Motorbass and a super producer and engineer for the likes of Phoenix, Cat Power, MC Solar, Franz Ferdinand, Chromeo and more, Zdar’s fingerprints on as much important music as any this century. The music world has reacted with shock and sadness of Zdar’s death. Among those who have offered their condolences and thoughts are those who have worked with him and were inspired by his unmatched discography like Chromeo, A-Trak, Mark Ronson, Skream and many others.

According to his agent, Zdar fell accidentally out of a window from a tall Paris building.

https://twitter.com/davidguetta/status/1141657691791794177 https://twitter.com/digitalism/status/1141672959913971713

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Some people are larger than life. The man standing between myself and Mehdi was Philippe Zdar. 1/2 of @cassius (and of La Funk Mob, for those who know), and one of the most brilliant mix engineers and producers to bless your ears. Cassius changed the world! And Zdar produced and mixed Phoenix’s Wolfgang Amadeus! But for me the connection started when Zdar worked with @chromeo, especially when he mixed the Fancy Footwork album. In those days I’d sometimes make alternate mixes for the band – for example I’d mix the backing tracks for their shows. So Dave & Pee would give me the stems to a song, and I’d have Zdar’s official mix and I would try to match it for the show track. Impossible. You can’t match a Zdar mix. He was a magician. And in a way I learned through him. On top of that came the stories! You know, some people just know how to LIVE. Zdar was more than a musical genius, he was that man whose shirts were always perfectly tailored, who had the perfect watch, the perfect wallet, who knew where to eat in every city… I heard these tales from @dave1 & Mehdi, so by the time I finally met him (around the time of this pic), I felt like I already knew him. Through the years one of my joys in life was when a friend would encounter Zdar and his magic and I’d witness the amazement. Like, “oh you met Zdar! The legend.” Last year I sent Philippe my single with @djtoddterry “DJs Gotta Dance More”, and he and @hubertdeblancfrancard blessed me with a Cassius remix. I felt like a kid, still and forever a fan. It’s important to have heroes. I’m in Paris and I can feel his presence here. Sending so much love to l’équipe. RIP FEELING FOR YOU

A post shared by A-Trak (@atrak) on Jun 20, 2019 at 2:19am PDT

https://twitter.com/I_Skream/status/1141539135024484355 https://twitter.com/I_Skream/status/1141541029008609280 https://twitter.com/blackmadonnachi/status/1141527607751651328

Can’t comprehend the news about Philippe Zdar. An absolute musical genius and one of the nicest chaps you could meet. Such a sad day.

— Alex Metric (@Alexmetric) June 20, 2019

https://twitter.com/flightfac/status/1141538674238087169

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Rest In Peace Philippe Zdar: electronic music pioneer, DJ extraordinaire, decorated producer and the world’s greatest mix engineer. He mixed Needy Girl and Rage for the Euro release of our first album. Then he mixed the entire Fancy Footwork and Business Casual albums. Needless to say, he played a huge role in developing our sound. I spent countless hours with him at Studio Plus XXX and Motorbass in Paris, watching him work on those records, in awe. He taught me so much. Pee and I are still at a loss for words and we’ll post more about this musical genius, this beautiful man, mentor and friend, later this week. For now we send our thoughts to all of Zdar’s family and close ones. He was ADORED. This is a tremendous loss for the music community. Code bro Zdarus, on t’aime. – Dave

A post shared by CHROMEO (@chromeo) on Jun 19, 2019 at 11:53pm PDT

So fucking sad to learn about Philippe Zdar last night. A true, true legend whose influence hangs over not just dance but indie, hip hop, all of it. I remember buying Feeling For You when it first came out and being blown away… My condolences to his family and friends ????????????

— Mark Ronson (@MarkRonson) June 20, 2019

https://twitter.com/Plastician/status/1141583783784787969 https://twitter.com/JagwarMa/status/1141580327841759235 https://twitter.com/matsoR/status/1141568664279195648 https://twitter.com/gillespeterson/status/1141628841036845061 https://twitter.com/CalvinHarris/status/1141575360774987776 https://twitter.com/PurpleDiscoM/status/1141618364185550853

Philippe Zdar was a great inspiration, both as a producer, but particularly as a good man and friend.

His taste was impeccable and is heard on everything he worked on.

He had a huge joy for life, generosity and passion.

I will miss him terribly.

— Alex Kapranos (@alkapranos) June 20, 2019

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1 month ago I was honoured to meet a hero of mine. Philippe Zdar, half of the legendary Cassius, mixing extraordinaire & just a wonderful person. We’d been working on a remix & I got the train to Paris to finish the arrangement in person half because it made sense & half to meet a hero of mine ( ). We’d been speaking before this & his love & enthusiasm for music was beyond evident & infectious. In person, doubly so. It was a wonderful & inspiring trip & we’d spoken daily since. This mornings news of his untimely passing is a total gut punch. I’m devastated, his work made a huge impression on me for 20 years, the person made a bigger impact in just a month. My heart goes out to his family & friends & of course @hubertdeblancfrancard and @edbanger #RIPZdar

A post shared by Andy Daniell (@andydaniell) on Jun 19, 2019 at 11:28pm PDT