The Masterpiece of Imperfection: The Legend of Deadmau5’s "Hit Save"
In the world of electronic music, few "unreleased" tracks carry as much weight as deadmau5’s "Hit Save." To the casual listener, it’s a sixteen-minute progressive house loop; to the "Horde," it is a quintessential example of Joel Zimmerman’s creative process—a sprawling, cosmic, and eerie journey that somehow feels complete precisely because it’s "unfinished". A Living Artifact of the Stream
Unlike a standard studio release, "Hit Save" wasn't born in a vacuum. It is a living artifact from deadmau5's legendary Twitch livestreams. The most famous 16-minute version isn't actually a "song" in the traditional sense; it’s a rip of a Work-in-Progress (WIP) session where Joel was actively messing with synths and shifting elements in real-time.
The Rawness: At the 9:50 mark of the 16-minute version, you can actually hear him switching through different synths, trying to find the right texture.
The Progression: It represents a bridge between his classic progressive house roots (like "Strobe" or "HR 8938 Cephei") and the darker, more atmospheric textures he explored in later years. The Evolution: From "Hit Save" to "XYZ"
The track has lived many lives under different names, illustrating Zimmerman's habit of cannibalizing his own unreleased ideas to build something new:
Hit Save (Demo/16-min Version): The original stream-ripped masterpiece loved for its "cosmically eerie" loop.
Resaved / Unlucky: Later iterations where the project was polished and reworked. One version even included vocals sampled from an underground Twitch artist (sometimes referred to as the "I See Fire" vocals). deadmau5 hit save
XYZ: Officially released in 2022, this is the "final" evolution that uses the same synth and a similar note pattern, though many purists still prefer the "rawness" of the original unmastered 16-minute rip.
"Hit Save" is a fan-favorite unreleased track by (Joel Zimmerman) that has achieved legendary status within the electronic music community, despite never receiving an official studio release in its original form. Overview and Evolution The Original (V1): Most fans recognize the 16-minute version
, which is essentially a high-quality stream rip from Zimmerman’s Twitch sessions. It is characterized by its "cosmically eerie" underlying loop and atmospheric, dark progressive house sound. Successors and Revisions:
The track has evolved through various iterations, including: "Resaved" / "Unlucky":
A more polished version with vocals by WAX/WANE (also known as the "I See Fire" vocals).
An officially released track (2022) that uses the same main arpeggiated melody as "Hit Save," though many fans feel it is a more "minimal" or "tame" version compared to the raw energy of the original ID. Key Distinction: It is often confused with an officially released track from the We Are Friends, Vol. 5
compilation (2016), which is a separate 10-minute progressive house piece. Critical and Fan Reception Fans frequently describe "Hit Save" as Zimmerman’s magnum opus , with some even claiming it surpasses his iconic 2009 hit in terms of emotional depth and technical mastery. Deadmau5: Inside the Signature Sound That Redefined a Genre The Masterpiece of Imperfection: The Legend of Deadmau5’s
"Hit Save" is a fan-favorite, 16-minute unreleased progressive house track by deadmau5 (Joel Zimmerman) that first emerged during his production livestreams. It is widely considered by his fanbase, "The Horde," to be a modern masterpiece on par with his legendary track "Strobe". Track Evolution & Variants
The song has undergone several iterations over the years, leading to confusion about its official status:
"Hit Save" (The 16-Minute WIP): The original work-in-progress (WIP) from a 2017 livestream. It features a long, atmospheric build with "cosmically eerie" loops and subtle melodic shifts.
"Unlucky": A version uploaded by deadmau5 to the Audius platform.
"Resaved" / "I See Fire": A vocal version often played live, featuring lyrics like "fire spinning out of control" (vocals by WAX/WANE).
"XYZ": Released officially in 2022 on the mau5trap label, this track uses the same synth melody and core riff but is a more concise, "polished" evolution. Many fans still prefer the raw 16-minute "Hit Save" version for its immersive length. Critical & Fan Reception
While "Hit Save" lacks a formal studio review due to its unreleased status, fan consensus from platforms like Reddit's deadmau5 community is overwhelmingly positive: Production focus
Masterpiece Status: Fans frequently describe it as "perfection" and "criminally underrated".
Atmosphere: It is praised for its "darker," "atmospheric," and "epic" sound.
Production Quality: Even as a livestream rip, listeners note its technical complexity and the emotional weight of its chord progressions. Current Status (April 2026)
As of early 2026, the full 16-minute version has not received a standalone official release. However, deadmau5 continues to tour, and fans remain hopeful for a high-quality master to appear on his upcoming projects, such as the rumored 2026 album.
Nice choice — "Hit Save" is a solid Deadmau5 track.
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"Hit Save" is a highly regarded, unreleased progressive synth track by deadmau5 that originated from 2017 livestreams and evolved through various versions, including "Resaved" and "Unlucky," before influencing the 2022 official release "XYZ". The track is known for its atmospheric 16-minute work-in-progress version, which remains popular among fans on platforms like SoundCloud.