Seattle duo ODESZA blend a weightier rhythmic foundation with the ethereal qualities of indie electronica, resulting in both introspective chillwave pieces and expansive festival anthems. Breakthrough arrived during the mid-2010s via the 2014 release In Return and the 2017 album A Moment Apart, the latter reaching number three on the Billboard 200. Partnerships extended from Regina Spektor through Shy Girls and Naomi Wild, while consistent demand positioned the pair as a sought-after live draw and recurring festival presence. Following the 2020 BRONSON collaboration with Golden Features, they enlisted soul icon Bettye LaVette for the 2022 single “The Last Goodbye,” which anchored their self-titled studio album. In 2023 the psychedelic indie dance EP Flaws in Our Design surfaced alongside South African singer/songwriter Yellow House.
The project originated in 2012 at Western Washington University in Bellingham, where Harrison Mills, performing as Catacombkid, and Clayton Knight, performing as Beaches Beaches, had first crossed paths as freshmen yet waited until senior year to launch ODESZA. Momentum accelerated after graduation; their debut album Summer’s Gone arrived in 2012, followed in 2013 by the EP My Friends Never Die together with a shared tour and a remix for Pretty Lights. Counter Records issued In Return the next year, and the set topped multiple online electronic charts. An extensive North American trek ensued, encompassing twenty-eight sold-out headline dates plus appearances at more than twenty festivals. Foreign Family Collective debuted in 2015 to spotlight emerging musicians and visual artists, while a deluxe edition of In Return added the Little Dragon collaboration “Light,” live recordings, and instrumental versions. April 2017 brought the initial singles “Late Night” and “Line of Sight,” paving the way for A Moment Apart in September, which incorporated guest turns from Regina Spektor, Leon Bridges, and Ry X. Touring occupied the balance of the year, after which “Higher Ground” appeared on the 2018 deluxe reissue.
The ensuing decade opened with the BRONSON album, a joint effort with Australia’s Golden Features that charted strongly at home and reached number five on the Billboard Top Dance/Electronic tally. Returning under the ODESZA moniker, the duo unveiled the early-2022 single “The Last Goodbye” featuring Bettye LaVette, then expanded the fourth studio album of the same name with contributions from Julianna Barwick, Ólafur Arnalds, and Låpsley. Remix collections followed: The Last Goodbye Remixes No. 1 in 2022 contained versions by DJ Seinfeld and Gilligan Moss, while No. 2 in 2023 featured Hot Chip and Nosaj Thing reinterpretations. The Yellow House collaboration Flaws in Our Design preceded the euphoric dance single “In the Rain.”
