During the mid-2010s, Joel Zimmerman became a pioneer of studio transparency, frequently live-streaming his production sessions on platforms like Twitch and his own subscription service. Fans watched in real-time as he layered complex synth patches, tinkered with percussion beds, and assembled chord progressions from scratch.
In the world of deadmau5, you can never say never. Zimmerman has occasionally dipped into his vault to surprise fans—most notably releasing the long-requested "hr 8938 cephei" and various older edits in compilation albums. With his ongoing project KX5 (alongside Kaskade) and continuous solo studio upgrades, there is always a slim chance that "Hit Save" could be reworked, polished, and given the global release it rightfully deserves.
In the clip, deadmau5 is building a complex progressive house groove. The bassline is locked. The arpeggiator is singing. The atmosphere is thick. He stops playing, looks at the camera, and says:
The deadmau5 Reddit community and dedicated YouTube archivists have painstakingly stitched together the highest-quality audio clips from various streams to create "clean" extended edits. These fan-made renders have garnered millions of views, proving that the demand for the track has not waned over the years. It remains a staple request whenever deadmau5 does a Reddit AMA or interacts with fans online. Will We Ever Get an Official Release?
In the early to mid-2010s, deadmau5 revolutionized how music producers interacted with their audience. By livestreaming his studio sessions on platforms like Twitch and his proprietary subscription service, fans were granted an unfiltered look into his creative process. deadmau5 hit save
The story behind offers a rare glimpse into the unique production process of deadmau5. It highlights how a casual, late-night live stream evolution can birth a legendary piece of music, morphing through various identities before finding its official place in his discography.
Now load up your DAW, set BPM to , and let the sidechain breathe.
: In 2022, the distinct chords and melodies of “Hit Save” were officially given a polished, commercial release under the title “XYZ” on the mau5trap We Are Friends, Vol. 11 compilation . Musical Analysis: Why It Captivated Fans
"Hit Save" is an instrumental track by electronic music producer deadmau5 (Joel Zimmerman). It appears on his 2020 album "w:/2016Album/" (sometimes listed under titles reflecting his 2016–2020 production period) as a moody, melodic progressive-house/ambient piece featuring layered synth arpeggios, sustained pads, and a melancholic lead motif. The track emphasizes atmosphere and texture over vocals, showcasing deadmau5’s trademark blend of precision sound design and emotive composition. During the mid-2010s, Joel Zimmerman became a pioneer
For nearly a decade, "Hit Save" has represented the pinnacle of deadmau5’s progressive house mastery. It serves as a bridge between his classic Random Album Title era and his modern, modular synthesizer-driven sound. This is the deep dive into the history, structure, and legacy of deadmau5’s ultimate unreleased masterpiece. The Genesis: Born on a Twitch Stream
, which Joel uses) and share it as a playable, interactive "snapshot" for others to explore.
This volume helped launch the careers of several notable artists, including REZZ, who has since become a global electronic music sensation. The handwritten tracklist posted on Twitter by mau5trap added a personal, grassroots touch to the announcement.
: Many fans consider it the spiritual successor to "Strobe" because of its 10+ minute length and similar emotional arc. Zimmerman has occasionally dipped into his vault to
In an unexpected move, an alternate version of the progression—stripped down and slightly altered—was quietly uploaded by Zimmerman to his official profile on the Web3 music platform Audius under the title "Unlucky" .
An interactive visual timeline showing the "DNA" of the track. Includes nodes for the original "Hit Save" (16-minute version) , the vocal edits featuring "I See Fire" vocals , and the final released version,
Over the years, several versions surfaced, including a 16-minute "stream rip," a vocal edit featuring Ellie Goulding’s "I See Fire" vocals, and a version titled "Unlucky" released on Audius.