A shared passion for high-energy dance kick-started a long-standing creative relationship that continues to push the boundaries of the electronic genre.
ODESZA doesn’t draw a line between old-school and modern sounds. Like Pretty Lights, Zoot Woman, and The Black Ghosts, ODESZA features beats from hip-hop, electronic, and tribal music. The duo’s huge range of influences gives it a fresh take on dance music.
In 2012, ODESZA released its initial album Summer’s Gone. Described as “a refreshing experiment” by Sterofox, it received rave reviews among the underground electronic music scene. A year later, the pair released the EP My Friends Never Die, before following up with a second studio album, In Return, in 2014. The record was an effortless blend of genres, and featured tracks full of vocal manipulations and sleek synth tones. Ultimately, it received credible recognition from music news outlets like Earmilk. In Return peaked at number 42 on the Billboard 200.
ODESZA’s 2017 album A Moment Apart left a memorable mark. Featuring exciting collaborations with Leon Bridges, Regina Spektor, and Naomi Wild, it proved the duo’s rising star status. These tracks established a strong relationship with diverse artists and redefined ODESZA’s signature sound. A Moment Apart showed off an otherworldly style with a 16-part track list. From top to bottom, the highly-anticipated LP laid the groundwork for the duo’s impending electro-music future.
Some fan-favorite songs from A Moment Apart appeared in video games, television shows, and blockbuster films. It was another grand accomplishment for ODESZA in pop culture and helped launch the album to number three in the U.S. The pair’s hopeful message through lyrics and booming synthwave became the soundtrack for many loyal listeners. It struck a chord with new fans as well.
Following the success of A Moment Apart, ODESZA took a much-needed break from releasing original music and focused on more collabs alongside popular phenoms. In 2020, ODESZA released its next LP, Bronson, recorded alongside the revolutionary Australian producer Golden Features. It was another chance to broaden the duo’s exceptional creative talent while staying true to its standout sound.
ODESZA’s comeback was long overdue when 2022 rolled around. Luckily, the powerful pair didn’t disappoint. The Last Goodbye was the fourth studio album in ODESZA’s growing collection. Top-notch tracks featuring The Knocks, Charlie Houston, and Julianna Barwick kept up ODESZA’s reputation. Despite its time away, the duo proved it hadn’t lose its touch. With light, happy, and heavenly tracks that captivated fans and critics alike, The Last Goodbye secured a number 11 spot on the U.S. charts and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Dance/Electronic Album.
Besides a dream-worthy discography, ODESZA also kept its legacy alive with numerous outstanding live performances. Spots at SXSW, Firefly Music Festival, Lollapalooza, Circo Festival Australia, and Coachella sealed the deal on a stellar fanbase. Not only did it take America by storm, but the globe as well.
ODESZA’s energetic on-stage presence only gets better as it builds up a repertoire of sold-out tours. Vibrant visuals, flashy stage setups, and memorable setlists establish an incredible live show experience. Fans get the chance of a lifetime to join ODESZA’s journey into revamped electronic music.
The pair’s constant success and fast-growing fanbase have skyrocketed it to the top of everyone’s playlists. Thanks to constant reinvention, the team continues to reign supreme in the dance genre.
Alexander Ridha started producing and DJing at a young age. He supported Felix Da Housecat and DJ Hell under his previous pseudonym, Kid Alex. He was awarded the Independent Music Award in 2010 as well as the Best Electronic Artist award on Beatport for three consecutive years. His sound is unique and different, crossing over hip-hop with disco, as well as house.
It was in 2004 that Ridha released his first EP entitled “The Bomb/Boy New” under International Deejay Gigolo Records but shortly after, decided in later releases to maintain his freedom and establish his own label in 2005. He released his first full-length studio album, “Oi Oi Oi” in September 2007, and his sophomore album entitled “Power” between October 1st and October 17th 2009 in various countries from Japan to the UK, Belgium to the USA and Canada.
He was always gaining the attention of artists and new fans, building up his following over time, especially from remixes of works by David Lynch, N.E.R.D, Depeche Mode, Snoop Dogg, Daft Punk and more. He also had the opportunity to work with Kelis, Kano, The Black Eyed Peas and BIGBANG. It was his third studio album; “Out of the Black” released on October 16th 2012 that featured international superstar Snoop Dogg on the track “Got It”.
He broadened his horizons further embarking on a collaborative project with New York band, Scissor Sisters. He also formed a side project with Skrillex called Dog Blood. They performed at the 2013 Miami Ultra Music Festival.
In 2014, he did a composition for a German movie called Who Am I – No System Is Safe. He also released a remix album of “Out of the Black”.
ODESZA are an American electronic music duo, the members are called Harrison Mills and Clayton Knight who formed together in 2012, a while before the two of them graduated from the same University. Their first album did extremely well and was highly noticed in the industry, it was called 'Summer's Gone' which I would recommend giving a listen to. As a child Clayton started out in Piano and learnt to play guitar, not really expecting to follow onto the electronic music scene but he clearly found a passion for it. The name of the band which may seem a little odd, came from Harrison's uncle's ship, which sank and meant that only his uncle and one other person survived it, they also say it's to do with the name 'Odessa'. It's a very quirky name, but not one that is very common for artists but I like their uniqueness. When performing live their act may seem pretty standard, but it takes a lot of preparation and I love the music choices they have used to mix in their sets. Not a duo you tend to hear a lot about but definitely a strong amount of talent in this style of music, I'd love to watch them live amongst a huge group to see the response they get. I think their music would be very popular in a club or at a gig of sorts, they have more recently been seen in areas of America, but if they ever come to England I will definitely be going to see them if possible.
It may be a cliché, but it's true- Germany loves techno, electronica, and really any kind of dance music. It's no surprise then, that it's also the birthplace of explosive house music maestro Alexander Ridha, aka Boys Noize- the talented producer/ DJ/ mixing genius who's been lighting up the scene since 2005.
Seeing Boys Noize live is an experience you won’t ever forget. While the multi-talented dance guru has remixed songs by big names such as N.E.R.D, Snoop Dogg and Daft Punk in his DJ sets, when he performs his live show, it is largely comprised of his own music, such as the blast-beating 'Oi Oi Oi', released with full artistic freedom on his own imprint, BoysNoize Records.
Electronic dance music fans will know that Boys Noize shows are always fresh, electrifiyingly bass-laden, and an exhilaratingly unique rave experience. Boys Noize continues to tour frequently, and it's no surprise that his banging blend of synth, awesomely obscure sampling and arm-waving choruses make him a summer festival favourite.
When I saw Boys Noize at the Berlin Festival in 2011, he certainly lived up to his reputation and the expectations of the gigantic crowd of fans. The searing, frenetic beats and intensely heavy bass of the close-to-two-hour set left the pumped-up crowd elated, and screaming for more after the curtain fell. If you're planning on dancing your socks off at a festival this summer, don't miss Boys Noize!
Very average concert at Output, as the show didn't start until 2am. I like Bob Moses a lot, don't get me wrong, but it's not the kind of show that makes sense at 2 am after 3 hours of techno sets.