* En anglais uniquement
Soulful electronic duo
Alta is comprised of producer Julius Dowson and vocalist Hannah Lesser. The pair from Melbourne, Australia combines Dowson's rhythmic trip-hop soundscapes -- heavy on inventive percussion and hypnotic loops -- with Lesser's sultry R&B vocal stylings. As a child, Lesser listened to the blues, citing
Buddy Guy and
Freddie King as inspirations, while later in life she delved into hip-hop and R&B, following
Chance the Rapper,
Earl Sweatshirt, and
Beyonce. She formed
Alta with Dowson and they released their first EP in 2012. Stay Awake was followed by 2013's Game Broke Out, a collection that resembled a blend of
Björk,
Disclosure, and
Erykah Badu. After issuing their third EP, Awake for Days,
Alta signed with Soothsayer Records in the summer of 2016 and released the single "Plans" soon thereafter. ~ Neil Z. Yeung