King Ed produces ‘mad world’ reimagination by Au/Ra

Fast Friends producer King Ed is behind the boards on Au/Ra's haunting new reimagination of "Mad World" — the first release of 2026 from the German-Antiguan singer-songwriter. A stark, stripped-back take on the Gary Jules classic, the cover first surfaced when Au/Ra performed it supporting Katy Perry at London's O2 Arena, where it quickly became a fan favourite and sparked calls for a studio version.

Au/Ra (real name Jamie Lou Stenzel) first broke through with "Panic Room" and the chart-topping Alan Walker collaboration "Darkside." For "Mad World," King Ed's production trades the song's synth-pop origins for something intimate and cinematic, letting Au/Ra's vocal carry the full weight of a lyric that still cuts decades on. It's out now across all platforms.