Melbourne-born, Berlin-based drummer and producer Ziggy Zeitgeist has gathered an array of global talent for his latest Zeitgeist Freedom Energy Exchange album, Inspire/Radicalise, which showcases the collective’s signature ‘hi-tech jazz’ sound.
Having performed at venues and events such as Church of Sound, We Out Here Festival and Melt Festival, the current Zeitgeist Freedom Energy Exchange lineup includes forward thinking musicians across Europe and the UK alongside old friends and collaborators from the grassroots scene in Melbourne, Australia, including Lewis Moody (Energy Exchange Records), Szabolcs Bognar (Abase), Eric Owusu (Jemba Groove), and Tom Varrall (Jamie Cullum) in the core rhythm section. The new album also features a hefty list of guest appearances, from the likes of Oscar Jerome and Tom Driessler.
The album encompasses two distinct themes – Inspire pays tribute to musical innovators, drawing energy from the likes of J Dilla, Kraftwerk, Fela Kuti, and Drexciya, while Radicalise confronts the performative nature of pop culture, seeking to reassert artistic autonomy.
Stand-out tracks include Celebrate Some Time, which channels the heyday of West African disco, the deep house groover Astras Theme, and Sylvester, a tribute to the late queer icon. The album is out now on Energy Exchange Records, and can be downloaded/streamed here.
909originals caught up with Ziggy Zeitgeist to chat about how the new album came together.
Congratulations on the new album, Inspire / Radicalise. How would you describe the album?
Yes, thanks — it’s our biggest undertaking to date. It wasn’t necessarily planned that way; we just ended up with a double album as there was so much music happening in our crew. Special thanks to the partners on the label, Lewis and Benni, who initially pushed me to get this album happening.
Zeitgeist Freedom Energy Exchange describes its style as ‘hi-tech jazz’. How do you define ‘hi-tech jazz’, and how does it differ from the tradition set by artists like Underground Resistance or Carl Craig?
Yeah, yeah — cats like Galaxy II Galaxy (Underground Resistance) really forged this kind of sound, mixing up live samples and instrumentation into techno production. As far as I know, they were some of the first cats to do that. In a sense, that’s been kind of our vibe since the beginning also… like finding that nice balance between electronically produced dance music and live instrumentation.
The album features a number of collaborators – how did you gather these together and what made them the right fit for this album?
When we’re putting together a team to go into the studio, we try to find a balance of old and trusted collaborators as well as bringing in fresh energy. So, for example, on this joint, some of the cats like Abase, Lewis Moody, and Eric Owusu — we’ve been working together for some years now. Tom Varrell, who plays guitar on this record, is a recent addition, so yeah, we strike a nice balance there. Bringing new people into the exchange, naturally the energy has to be right. You gotta have the hang chops for this band. We like to have a good time.
The ‘Inspire’ aspect of the album takes its cue from musical innovators that have inspired your creativity. In what ways does the album pay tribute to these?
Yeah, in the sense that sometimes we approach the studio from a DJ/producer perspective — asking what kind of moment or energy the track would bring to the dance floor.
So, for example, imagine if you could put a James Brown–style Funky Drummer break against something like a Kraftwerk-sequenced bassline… stuff like that. It’s like mixing records — just mashing stuff together. We get deep on that because most of us are DJs and record collectors, so we’re all bouncing ideas, showing each other new music all the time.
The clearest homage is arguably on the track Sylvester, which references the legendary queer icon. What was it about Sylvester that was so influential for you?
Yes, thanks for noticing. The first time I ever heard I Who Have Nothing on the dance floor, it made me cry. Hugely influential and underrated artist for me. And to be that voice of a Black, queer, and trans community in the ’70s — you can imagine how radical that was!
With regard to the ‘Radicalise’ aspect of the album, do you think that popular music has lost its way when it comes to defiance and rebellion?
I mean, popular music has always been made accessible to a mass audience — that’s what pop is. But yeah, I guess so. In the ’70s, we had people like John Lennon, Bob Marley, and Stevie Wonder in the pop charts who also shared a politically charged and rebellious message.
Honestly, it’s hard to think of those kinds of artists now. Maybe Kendrick Lamar? Who else is there? I think underground or independent music is really important to convey a message of solidarity with the oppressed and working class of society — to resist colonial oppression and capitalist consumption, and to do the work of keeping our communities strong and united on a grassroots level.
Is it getting harder to find a balance between commercial success and creative integrity?
Hmmm, I’m not sure. I think it’s harder to cut through the masses — there’s just so much stuff out there nowadays. At the same time, it’s so much more accessible. Literally anybody can make a track on their phone or computer and upload it to the internet. I guess that’s a blessing and a curse in some sense.
What sort of message do you hope that people will take away from the album?
Inspire: To be inspired. To seek inspiration. To be open to inspiration in the fleeting moments and inspire others.
Radicalise: Don’t be afraid to be radical. To think and dream outside of the norm. Sometimes standing up for what you believe in requires one to radicalise, to take risks, rather than refining oneself to the limitations of society.
What’s next on the agenda for Zeitgeist Freedom Energy Exchange over the coming months?
Plenty of new recording projects — stuff I can’t reveal too much about right now, but stay tuned. At our in-house label, Energy Exchange Records, there are big things in the pipeline. We’re going to be touring the record in the fall (October/September 2025), so keep an eye out. Tickets will be on sale soon.
Thanks to Ziggy for the interview. Check out Inspire / Radicalise here.
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