Zero 7

Lore & Background

Henry Binns and Sam Hardaker met while studying sound engineering and began their careers in the 1990s at Mickie Most's RAK Studios in London, engineering for Pet Shop Boys, Young Disciples, and Robert Plant. In 1997, they created a remix of Radiohead's 'Climbing Up the Walls,' marking the first use of the name Zero 7. The name was inspired by a bar called Cero Siete on the Honduran island Utila. They also provided additional programming on a Radiohead B-side.

Their debut album *Simple Things* (2001) featured vocalists Mozez, Sia, and Sophie Barker, peaked at number 28 on the UK albums chart, and achieved gold status. Live shows included up to 20 performers. *When It Falls* (2004) reached number 3 on the UK chart and achieved gold status. *The Garden* (2006) included vocals by Binns, Sia, and José González. *Yeah Ghost* (2009) incorporated tracks from an experimental EP released under the name Kling. After a hiatus, they released *In the Half Light* (2024), a collaboration with their own project.

Reader's Guide

Zero 7 emerged from the late-1990s British electronic scene, blending lush production with guest vocalists to create a signature downtempo sound. Their debut *Simple Things* brought them critical attention, including a Mercury Prize nomination, and helped define the genre for a mainstream audience. The duo's work with vocalists like Sia and José González expanded their reach, while their engineering background gave their productions a polished, atmospheric quality. Though they released only four studio albums between 2001 and 2009, their influence persisted in chill-out and trip-hop circles. The 2024 album *In the Half Light*, their first in 15 years, marked a return to collaboration. Their legacy rests on a consistent aesthetic of warm, melodic electronica and a willingness to experiment with instrumental projects under names like Ingrid Eto and Kling.

Did You Know?

• The name Zero 7 came from a bar called Cero Siete on the Honduran island Utila.
• Their debut album *Simple Things* was nominated for the Mercury Prize in 2001.
• Binns and Hardaker engineered music for Pet Shop Boys, Young Disciples, and Robert Plant at RAK Studios.
• In 2007, they formed a side project called Ingrid Eto, described as a Zero 7 instrumental project.