Naarm / Melbourne
Naarm/Melbourne-based duo Close Counters kicked off 2022 with a flurry of remixes and their collab 'Rollout' with Young Franco featured UK rappers Scrufizzer and Jay Prince and went on to clock multiple spins on BBC Radio 1, iHeart Radio, triple j, FBi Radio and landed a slew of playlist support from Spotify and Apple Music, winning over new fans across the globe. Most recently, the release was added to the official soundtrack for acclaimed video game FIFA 23.
Close Counters’ original releases of 2022 were premiered by Gilles Peterson (BBC 6 Music) and Jamz Supernova (BBC Radio 1Xtra) respectively, and garnered support from tastemakers Folamour, Jaguar (BBC Radio 1 Dance Introducing), Tarzsa (BBC 6 Music), Complexion (BBC Radio 1Xtra + Future Beats Show), Riz Rollins (KEXP Seattle), Alex Turner (KEXP Seattle), plus earned rotation adds from triple j Unearthed, Double J, SYN and Radio FG. Singles 'SNAP TO IT!' and 'GET DOWN!' were released by The Remedy Project (Defected Records).
The pair have seen widespread tastemaker support from Folamour, Laurence Guy, Dam Swindle, Harvey Sutherland, Bugz In The Attic, plus love from BBC Radio 1Xtra as their #1 'EP of the Week' and the station's 'After Dark Discovery’, spins from BBC Radio 1, BBC 6 Music, Sirius XM, KEXP Seattle, FLUX FM, NTS Radio, Balamii Radio, Rinse FM and local frequencies triple j, triple j Unearthed, FBi Radio. Key media outlets Indie Shuffle, Mixmag, NME, XLR8R, Clash Mag, EARMILK, This Song Is Sick, DUMMY, KALTBLUT Magazine have all shows their praise for the duo as well.
The band have continued to sell out shows in Eora/Sydney and Naarm/Melbourne (including a massive 2,000 tickets at Sidney Myer Music Bowl with The Murlocs) and their expanded 7 piece tour-de-force live group have ticked off bucket-list festivals Splendour In The Grass, Falls Festival, Let Them Eat Cake, Strawberry Fields, Meredith Music Festival, MONA FOMA and Party in the Paddock / Party in the Apocalypse and supported Sofi Tukker (USA), Tall Black Guy (USA), Confidence Man, The Jungle Giants, Roland Tings, Motez, Mickey Kojak.
With a knack for flow and re-inventing Close Counters have also put their unique remix spin on tracks from Tim Shiel and multiple ARIA Award-Winning Genesis Owusu, Bristol-based Elder Island, Aussie-favs Art vs Science, Bag Raiders' single 'How Long' with Panama and 30/70’s 'Impermanance'.