Eclectic is a word often used, but not always used in the right context. When referring to Leo Zero aka Leo Elstob ‘Eclectic’ he certainly is – from House to Disco – Boogie to Balearic via, Punk/Funk, and Mash-Up - Leo excels in all areas.
Graduating from Art College in the early 90s, Leo was already honing his production skills, after becoming addicted to all things Balearic and Acid in seminal clubs such as Shoom, Spectrum, and the infamous Boy’s Own parties. However, Leo’s first releases were inspired by the Mo Wax ‘headz’ sound of abstract hip-hop beats melded with dub and psyche samples. At this time he also set up cult disco edit label Easter Bay - big with the likes of DJ Harvey and The Idjut Boys.
Leo soon became a one-stop shop for not only great music, and remixes, but also for flyer/sleeve design – working with Junior Boys Own, Heavenly Records, Electric Stew, Dazed & Confused, and Time Out, as well as exhibiting at Jam at the Barbican, and helping to put together books on flyer design for Thames & Hudson, amongst others.
In the mid 90s Leo was a main player in Chicane, with Nick Bracegirdle. Chicane’s debut album was a huge hit, but a taste of pop stardom was enough to send Leo back to a sweaty basement to create the legendary deep house club ‘Soulsonic’ with Stuart Patterson. Hosting parties all over the globe from Ibiza to Miami, via Ladbroke Grove - for Vivienne Westwood, and Alexander McQueen amongst many others -they rocked dance-floors with no compromise.
A natural development from Soulsonic was ‘Faith’, which was set up by Leo, Stuart with Terry Farley, Bill Brewster, and Dave Jarvis - Pete Tong said in The Guardian: “The last bastion of Acid House", which perfectly summed it up. Leo lovingly designed and put together all the original Faith Fanzines and compilation albums, plus still DJs regularly with the crew.
Over recent years Leo has been focused on furthering his production skills, and in 2004 teamed up with Mark Wilkinson and Richard Searle to form Dab Hands. They had a string of hits, signing to Virgin and remixing Lou Reed and David Bowie's ‘Satellite Of Love’, which gave them a top ten smash and a Miami buzz chart no.1.
Leo then went on to work with Mo Morris and Zeb Jameson to form Psychedelic band ‘A Mountain Of One’ writing and producing their acclaimed first album ‘Collected Works’, which has fast become a Balearic/Cosmic Rock classic. Leo then worked with Zarrylade alongside Rupert Lyddon of Grand National and American vocalist Justin Taylor, whose debut track ‘Eyes Above Your Head’ was championed by Zane Lowe on Radio One. Leo is currently finishing his debut solo album ‘Acid Life’ on the newly formed Leo Trax digital label, featuring a selection of retro-futuristic Chicago house grooves with vocalist Marcel. After stacking up work for most major labels this year Leo is now one of the top producers, and remixers in the UK.
Selection of Remixes (full Discography and Remix list available on request):
Mirrors – Hide & Seek + Write Through The Night (Leo Zero Remixes) – Skint - 2010
Patrick Wolf – Time of My Life (Leo Zero Remix) – Mercury - 2010
Bryan Ferry – Alphaville (Leo Zero Remix) Virgin - 2010
Everything Everything – Schoolin’ (Leo Zero Remix) Geffen - 2010
Alphabeat – DJ (Leo Zero Rework) Virgin - 2010
Owl City – Fireflies (Leo Zero Remix) Island - 2010
Paul Weller – No Tears To Cry (Leo Zero Remix) Island – 2010
Sam Sallon - You May Not Mean To Hurt Me But You Do - 2010
Music Go Music – Just Me (Leo Zero Remix) Mercury – 2009
Zarrylade - Eyes above Your Head II (Leo Zero Version) White - 2009
Metronomy - Not Made For Love (Leo Zero Remix) Because Music - 2009
Florence & The Machine - Rabbit Heart / Raise it up (Leo Zero Remix) Island - 2009
Wild Beasts - Hooting & Howling (Leo Zero Remix) Domino - 2009
Jack Penate - Tonight's Today (Leo Zero Remix) XL - 2009
Stricken City - Lost Art (Leo Zero) White - 2009
Ruf Dug - Dirty (Leo Zero Remix) PPF - 2009
Lou Reed & David Bowie - Satellite Of Love ( Dab hands Remix) Sony/BMG - 2005
X-Press 2 - Give It (Dab Hands Remix) Skint Records - 2005
Everything But The Girl - Before Today (Chicane Remix) Virgin - 1998
Basement Jaxx - Fly Life ( Shrink2fit Remix) Multiply – 1997
