Zero 7

{{Infobox musical artist|

| name = Zero 7

| image = Sia Furler and Zero 7 in concert.jpg

| caption = ({{abbr|L–R|Left to right}}) Band members Henry Binns and Sam Hardaker, with frequent collaborator Sia

| image_size =

| landscape = yes

| background = group_or_band

| origin = London, England

| genre = {{flatlist|

}}

| years_active = 1997–present

| label = {{hlist|Ultimate Dilemma|Palm|Elektra|Atlantic|Make Records}}

| current_members = * Henry Binns

Sam Hardaker

| past_members =

| website = [http://www.zero7.co.uk/ zero7.co.uk]

}}

Zero 7 is an English musical duo consisting of Henry Binns and Sam Hardaker. Both of them began as studio engineers and in 1997 formed the group Zero 7. Their debut album, Simple Things, was released in 2001; their song "Destiny" stayed in the top 100 of the UK Single Charts. Subsequent albums include When It Falls, The Garden, and Yeah Ghost.

After studying sound engineering, Binns and Hardaker began their careers in the music industry in the 1990s at Mickie Most's RAK Studios in London, engineering music for British groups like Pet Shop Boys, Young Disciples, and Robert Plant. In 1997 they created a remix of the song "Climbing Up the Walls" by Radiohead (which was also the first time the name 'Zero 7' was used),{{cite web|title=THE INTERVIEW: Zero 7|url=http://www.shortandsweetnyc.com/2009/09/the-interview-zero-7/|website=Short and Sweet NYC|access-date=22 February 2015}} provided additional programming on "Meeting in the Aisle", a Karma Police B-side, and Binns received a credit for additional sampling on Kid A.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/henry-binns-mn0000632301/credits |title=Henry Binns | Credits |website=AllMusic |access-date=12 April 2020}} The pair also remixed Terry Callier's "Love Theme From Spartacus" and songs by Lenny Kravitz, Sneaker Pimps and Lambchop.

History

The name Zero 7 was chosen after Binns and Hardaker spent time on the Honduran island Utila, which contained a bar named Cero Siete. After returning to the UK they were asked by Radiohead to remix the song "Climbing Up the Walls". Binns and Hardaker called their mix "the Zero 7 Mix", and the name stuck.{{cite web|title=Zeroing in on eclectic electronica|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060706/asp/calcutta/story_6420433.asp|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130901153539/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060706/asp/calcutta/story_6420433.asp|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 September 2013|website=The Telegraph – Calcutta|access-date=22 February 2015}}

In 1999, they released an EP of original material called EP 1 under the name Zero 7. In 2001, they released their debut album, Simple Things, which featured collaborations with vocalists Mozez, Sia, and Sophie Barker. The album peaked at number 28 on the UK albums chart and went platinum. It was later nominated for the Mercury Music Prize and won the "Best Newcomer" Muzik Award.{{Cite journal|title=Muzik Magazine Dance Awards 2001|url=https://archive.org/details/muzik079_december_2001/page/n43/mode/2up|journal=Muzik Magazine|volume=December 2001|pages=45}} Live appearances after the album's release consisted of Binns and Hardaker along with guest vocalists and other musicians, with as many as 20 performers on stage at once.

In 2004, they released their second album, When It Falls. In addition to the three vocalists from their first album, it featured a collaboration with Danish singer-songwriter Tina Dico. It peaked at number 3 on the UK albums chart, their highest charting to date, and became a certified gold record. That same year, Binns co-wrote the Emma Bunton track "Breathing".{{Citation|title=Breathing|url=https://www.pandora.com/artist/emma-bunton/free-me/breathing/TRPtVptK5dJ292w|language=en|access-date=1 May 2020}}

File:Zero 7.jpg in 2006]]

Zero 7 released their third album, The Garden, in May 2006, which contained vocals performed by Binns as well as guest vocalists Sia and Swedish folk musician José González. The album was named after the collage that artist friend Gideon London produced for its cover.{{Cite web|title=The 10 greatest Zero 7 songs of all time|url=https://www.smoothradio.com/features/top-songs/zero-7-best-songs/|website=Smooth|language=en|access-date=1 May 2020}}

In 2007, Binns and Hardaker created a band called Ingrid Eto, which has been described as a Zero 7 instrumental project.{{Cite web|title=Zero 7 On World Cafe|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125729528|website=NPR.org|language=en|access-date=1 May 2020}} In 2009, they released an experimental instrumental EP under the name Kling, titled Kling EP. Its tracks were later incorporated into Zero 7's fourth album, Yeah Ghost, also released in 2009. The album included contributions from jazz and soul singer Eska Mtungwazi as well as folk artist Martha Tilston.

In 2010, the duo released a retrospective compilation titled Record. A two-disc special edition contained exclusive remixes of songs from all four of their prior studio albums. In 2013, the band released a 12" single, "On My Own" b/w "Don't Call It Love", on their own label, Make Records.{{Cite web|url=https://trendland.com/zero-7-dont-call-it-love/|title=Zero 7: Don't Call It Love|date=1 October 2013|website=Trendland Online Magazine Curating the Web since 2006|language=en-US|access-date=28 April 2020}}

In 2014, the band released the Simple Science EP, followed by EP3 in 2015. Both were released on Make Records.{{Cite web|url=https://www.solarmanagement.co.uk/zero-7-discography|title=Zero 7|website=Solar Management|language=en-US|access-date=28 April 2020}}

In 2016, Henry Binns teamed up with Bo Bruce and Jodi Milliner to form a group called Equador.{{Cite web|url=https://www.decodedmagazine.com/equador-mixinterview/|title=Decoded Sundays presents Equador|date=3 July 2016|website=Decoded Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=27 April 2020}}

At the end of 2018, Zero 7 released the track "Mono" featuring Hidden.{{Citation|title=Zero 7 - Mono feat. Hidden (Official Video)| date=12 December 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTYIlpMdp_U |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/GTYIlpMdp_U| archive-date=13 December 2021 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=26 April 2020}}{{cbignore}} This was followed at the beginning of 2019 by "Aurora".{{Cite web|url=https://originalrock.net/2019/02/22/zero-7-release-new-single-aurora-featuring-jose-gonzalez/|title=Zero 7 release new single 'Aurora' featuring José González|date=22 February 2019|website=OriginalRock.net|language=en-US|access-date=26 April 2020}} In October 2019, the duo released another single titled "Swimmers" with additional vocals courtesy of UK based singer Jem Cooke.{{Citation|title=Swimmers|url=https://open.spotify.com/track/3RMuJ4qdkgs71mBNbPpZu0|language=en|access-date=26 April 2020}} Later in August 2020, the band released another single, "Shadows", and announced an upcoming EP.{{Cite web|date=28 August 2020|title=Zero 7 Announces Shadows EP, First New Record in Five Years for October 2020 Release and Shares Title Track -|url=https://music.mxdwn.com/2020/08/28/news/zero-7-announces-shadows-ep-first-new-record-in-five-years-for-october-2020-release-and-shares-title-track/|access-date=5 September 2020|website=mxdwn Music|language=en-US}} In October 2020, the Shadows EP was released, containing 4 tracks by singer-songwriter Lou Stone.{{Citation|title=Shadows EP (feat. Lou Stone)|url=https://zero7.bandcamp.com/album/shadows-ep-feat-lou-stone|language=en|access-date=10 June 2021}}

In March 2024, Zero 7 teased new music via social media. {{Cite web|date=22 March 2024|url= https://www.instagram.com/reel/C409TbMLMXn/|title= Instagram}} Then on 3 April they released their first new single, "The Crowd", from forthcoming album with California west coast based artist Swim Surreal. They followed this with their second single "Bloom" released on 15 May. On 5 June they released "Don't Call it Love" along with a video. Finally, 21 June saw the release of the full length album In the Half Light, a nine-song collaboration with Swim Surreal. All songs were co-written and produced by Zero 7, essentially comprising the fifth Zero 7 album, their first since 2009.

Discography

Simple Things (2001)
When It Falls (2004)
The Garden (2006)
Yeah Ghost (2009)
In the Half Light (2024)

Awards

Nominated for the Mercury Prize 2001 for Simple Things.{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1454072.stm|title=Gorillaz reject Mercury nomination|date=24 July 2001|access-date=26 April 2020|language=en-GB}}
Nominated for Best British Newcomer at the Brit Awards 2002.{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1832486.stm|title=Brit Awards 2002: The winners|date=20 February 2002|access-date=26 April 2020|language=en-GB}}
Nominated for a 2007 Grammy Award for The Garden, in the category 'Best Electronic/Dance Album'.{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/zero-7|title=Zero 7|date=19 November 2019|publisher=National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences|language=en|access-date=26 April 2020}}