Naarm/Melbourne-based Close Counters’ diverse soundscape sits at the crossroads of house, neo-soul, broken beat and disco. Their 2023 Music Victoria Award-winning and Australian Music Prize-nominated album, ‘SOULACOASTA II’, is a sample-infused expedition that further secured their spot as one of the top talents in their class, with the duo tirelessly sourcing niche samples from films and records on trips across the globe. The LP was touted by tastemakers Gilles Peterson, Folamour, Jamz Supernova, Jyoty Singh, Jaguar, Tarsza, DJ Mag, Bandcamp, and landed Album Features with Australian stations Double J, 3RRR, PBR and 2SER. Breakout singles from the pack were originally released by Melvo Baptiste’s The Remedy Project, an imprint of Defected Records.

Their collab 'Rollout' with Young Franco featuring UK rappers Scrufizzer and Jay Prince, won over new fans across the globe and was added to the Official Soundtrack for acclaimed video game FIFA 23. In the past year the band have also performed or provided mixes for triple j, 3RRR, Defected Radio, FBi Radio, Soho Radio NYC, Baked, and interviewed on BBC Radio 1Xtra when hotly tipped as their ‘After Dark Discovery’ and ‘EP of the Week’ (‘FLUX’, 2022).