Alta

Forming the soulful electronic act Alta are producer Julius Dowson and vocalist Hannah Lesser, both hailing from Melbourne, Australia. Dowson's intricate trip-hop soundscapes, rich with creative percussion and mesmerizing loops, intertwine with the sultry R&B delivery of Lesser to define their collaborative sound. Lesser's early exposure to blues music included key influences from Buddy Guy and Freddie King, later expanding her interests to encompass hip-hop and R&B through artists like Chance the Rapper, Earl Sweatshirt, and Beyonce. Dowson and Lesser established Alta, issuing their debut EP Stay Awake during 2012. The 2013 follow-up Game Broke Out arrived next, evoking a fusion of Björk, Disclosure, and Erykah Badu. Their third EP Awake for Days paved the way for a 2016 summer signing to Soothsayer Records, after which the single "Plans" emerged.