Alt-J

Alt-J

Alt-J is an English band formed at the University of Leeds in Leeds in 2007. The group begins with Gwil Sainsbury on guitar and bass, Joe Newman on guitar and vocals, Gus Unger-Hamilton on keyboards, and Thom Sonny Green on drums. It later resides in Cambridge. Unger-Hamilton studies English literature, while the other three study fine art.

Early development

In their second year, Newman shows Sainsbury several of his own songs, which are influenced by his guitar-playing father and hallucinogens. The two begin recording in their dorm rooms, with Sainsbury producing on GarageBand. Before using the name Alt-J, the group performs as Daljit Dhaliwal and then as Films, and spends the next two years playing locally in Leeds.

The band’s first four-track demo, titled ∆, is recorded in London with producer Charlie Andrew. It includes early versions of “Breezeblocks”, “Hand-Made”, “Matilda” and “Tessellate”.

Record releases and recognition

Alt-J’s first release for Infectious is the triangle-shaped 7-inch “Matilda” / “Fitzpleasure” in 2012, followed by “Breezeblocks” as a preview of the debut album An Awesome Wave. The album is released in 2012 and wins the Barclaycard Mercury Prize the same year.

In January 2014, Sainsbury announces that he leaves the band. Later that year, Alt-J releases “Hunger of the Pine” and the album This Is All Yours.

Later work

In 2017, the band releases “3WW”, featuring Ellie Rowsell of Wolf Alice, and announces dates for the Relaxer tour. “In Cold Blood” follows as the second single, then “Adeline” as the third. The album Relaxer is released in 2017. In 2018, the band issues REDUXER, an alternative version of Relaxer described as a rap-heavy reworking of the earlier album.

Name and style

The group’s name is sometimes stylised as ∆. Its recorded work spans indie and alternative pop with electronic elements.