Bradley Zero is an acclaimed DJ, record selector and head of the Rhythm Section label.
Later this month, Bradley will make his return to Australia as a headlining act for the third annual Freedom Time Festival in Perth and Melbourne that also includes a debut Sydney event.
As we come towards the end of the year, what have been some of your big highlights of 2017?
[Bradley] 2017 has been a great year for me. In terms of DJing, headlining Gilles Peterson’s worldwide festival in France was possibly the biggest moment in my career so far, because I’ve been going to this festival for the last five years; it’s a place where I’ve made friends for life and had such great memories and dancefloor epiphanies.
To be able to shut it down (in quite some style!), in front of an army of peers and musical heroes was quite something.
Do you have big plans for Christmas?
Christmas here in the UK is a little different. It’s freezing cold, wet, snowy (if we are lucky) and generally a bit miserable. This is the season we tend to hibernate, stay in, put the fire on, that kind of thing.
There’s a lot of Xmas parties to attend, which I look forward to getting 'round to as soon as I’ve beaten this cold. But in terms of gigs, it’s all quite relaxed until NYE when I head back down under.
How are you feeling about headlining the third annual Freedom Time Festival?
Am I headlining?! Well I guess I’m headlining my own Rhythm Section stage, which is a huge honour and not something I take lightly.
The Australian music community has really taken me in and there’s no other country I feel more at home in. The crowds always give a lot of love and it’s my job to channel that back and create a beautiful moment.
There are a few arenas to contend with at Freedom Time, so fingers crossed enough people are keen to see what I have to offer. That said, I’m always blown away by the fan base in Australia, so if previous trips are anything to go by, we should be alright. :)
In terms of a show and setlist, what will you be bringing to Freedom Time?
In a sense, I’m taking the whole show on the road. I’ll be hosting a Rhythm Section stage and presenting a bunch of my favourite artists from the UK, Australia and beyond.
In terms of the show, a Rhythm Section party is pretty stripped back when it comes to production, less being more and all that. A red neon and a dub siren suffice as props; what makes it stand out is a lot more abstract.
It’s more of a feeling, a feeling shared and understood by the Freedom Time crew and those who have become Rhythm Section regulars over the years. If you haven’t yet been initiated, I urge you to come see what it’s all about. Just remember, two rules: 'no photos on the dancefloor' and 'be nice'.
As for setlist, no setlist ever. I let the energy of the crowd dictate the direction.
Are there any other acts you want to see live at Freedom Time?
I’m so excited to see Harvey Sutherland live again. We had him at my party in London this [UK] summer, but the scope of the live show keeps expanding and seeing him on home turf will no doubt be a real treat.
Johnny Osborne is a huge booking - I grew up listening to reggae and dub, so I’ll definitely have to take some time out to catch him and soak up some of those vibrations. Can’t wait to see Nai Palm Solo, Jordan Rakei, 30/70 - oh and it will be the first time I get to see the Silent Jay live band in full.
Then there’s J’Nett, my brothers Prequel & Wax’o Paradiso… looking at this list there’s just no way I’m going to see half of the acts I want to; needless to say, I’m very excited.
It's been some time since you've come to Australia: what have you missed about it?
One year! The longest stretch away since my first visit. I never want to let this happen again. I miss the laneways, I miss the jam sessions, I miss the record stores, I miss the music scene, which is one of the most diverse and prolific in the world.
I miss the sunshine, the slow pace, the smell of the ocean, but most of all I miss the people. I’ve truly made some great friends down there and I can’t wait to reunite with them in each city to celebrate life.
What are you looking forward to this time around?
I’m hoping to go on a little surf trip to Byron Bay with the Wax’o crew; that should be fun.
How do you approach selecting tracks when you curate various collections?
I’m one of those DJs whose style is quite hard to pin down, which is both a blessing and a curse.
It’s positive in the sense that I have that freedom to express myself how I feel in the moment and have access to a wide palette of emotions in order to cater correctly to any given situation. The downside of this is that I can never really be prepared. Much of it is ad hoc. If I was a disco DJ or if I just played techno then packing a bag would be easy.
But a set of mine can wildly traverse genres and BPMs, so the approach to selecting [tracks] can be tricky and must always be well considered. It has to be wide enough to allow for freedom, but not too random to get in the way of continuity. The short answer is, it takes time.
You're also the head of your own label, Rhythm Section International; can you tell us about the work the label does?
Yes, the label began in 2014 as an offshoot to the regular Rhythm Section Dance. The aim of the label from the start was to broaden the horizons of the project, work with people on a local and international level and provide a home for good music we believe in.
Twenty releases deep, it seems to be working. At the end of last year we came top of the top 10 in numerous end of year polls including RA, XLR8R and Mixmag, and we’ve worked with artist from Poland to Peckham, Vancouver via Sydney and then some.
It’s hugely rewarding to be able to provide that platform for musicians and see their work take on a life of its own under the label.
Earlier this year we also opened a studio in our South London headquarters, where we’ve been working with young locals as well as keeping an open door for travelling international artists. It’s proving to be a really vital addition to the project and it continues to be so inspiring.
Do you have any other projects you'd like to discuss?
2018 already holds a lot of promise. I’ll be stepping up my radio commitments with a new slot on BBC Radio 1; we’ll continue our residency at the Jazz Cafe as well as regular monthly parties in London. I have plans for a one-off daytime festival, largely inspired by Freedom Time actually.
In terms of releases, we already have a few really exciting things ready to go, which should hit the shelves towards the end of January, both on the RS INTL label and the darker, more club-focussed sub-label International Black.
On top of that, we’re working on a compilation to be out by Christmas. This will be to raise funds for the rebuilding of Dominica after Hurricane Maria. It’s a cause close to our hearts as both my creative assistant Mali and myself are of Dominican descent and have family affected on the island.
Freedom Time Festival Tour Dates
Sun 31 Dec - Wilson Carpark (Perth)Mon 1 Jan - Coburg Velodrome (Melbourne)
Sun 7 Jan - Manning Bar and Gardens (Sydney)
