{{short description|English indie rock band}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}} {{Use British English|date=May 2019}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Alt-J | image = File:Alt-J_@_Bonnaroo_2018.jpg | alt = Alt-J Fall Tour 2018 live in Charlotte | landscape = yes | caption = Alt-J performing at the 2018 Bonnaroo Music And Arts Festival | origin = Leeds, West Yorkshire, England | genre = {{flatlist| * Indie rock<ref>{{cite web|last= Monger |first=James Christopher |url= https://www.allmusic.com/artist/alt-j-mn0002867436|title=Alt-J |publisher=AllMusic |year=2012 |access-date=7 July 2012}}</ref> * {{nowrap|indie pop<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.ew.com/article/2012/11/01/indie-pop-group-alt-j-take-britains-mercury-prize | title=Indie pop group Alt-J take Britain's Mercury Prize | magazine=Entertainment Weekly | date=1 November 2012 | access-date=30 July 2015 | archive-date=9 November 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151109090914/http://www.ew.com/article/2012/11/01/indie-pop-group-alt-j-take-britains-mercury-prize | url-status=dead }}</ref>}} * art rock<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/jun/20/alt-j-review | title=Alt-J – review | work=The Guardian | date=20 June 2012 | access-date=30 July 2015 | author=Sullivan, Caroline}}</ref> * folktronica<ref name="Guardian Empire">{{cite web| url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/sep/28/alt-j-alexandra-palace-review-whats-all-the-fussiness-about-annoying | title=Alt-J review – what's all the fussiness about? | work=The Guardian | date=28 September 2014 | access-date=30 July 2015 | last=Empire|first=Kitty}}</ref> }} | years_active = 2007{{ndash}}present | label = {{flatlist| * Loud and Quiet * Infectious * Atlantic * Canvasback }} | website = {{URL|altjband.com/}} | alias = ∆ | current_members = {{plainlist| *Joe Newman *Thom Sonny Green *Gus Unger-Hamilton}} | past_members = {{plainlist|Gwil Sainsbury}} }}
'''Alt-J''' (stylised as '''alt-J''' or '''Δ''')<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|last=Chinen|first=Nate|date=2012-08-08|title=They 'Tessellate,' and Dabble in Both the Sinister and the Naughty|language=en-US|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/09/arts/music/alt-j-from-england-makes-its-brooklyn-debut-at-glasslands.html|access-date=2020-06-24|issn=0362-4331|quote=The band's name is actually the mathematical symbol delta, which resembles a triangle.}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite news|title=********, ∆, †‡†: the most unpronounceable band names|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/the-most-unpronounceable-band-names-1.3349864|access-date=2020-06-24|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=alt-J: "More recognition wouldn't prompt us to start doing cocaine in night club toilets"|url=https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/music-theatre/2018/10/alt-j-more-recognition-wouldn-t-prompt-us-start-doing-cocaine-night|access-date=2020-06-24|website=Newstatesman.com|date=11 October 2018 |language=en}}</ref> are<!-- Per British English --> an English indie rock band formed in 2007 in Leeds. Their lineup includes Joe Newman (guitar/bass/lead vocals), Thom Sonny Green (drums), Gus Unger-Hamilton (keyboards/vocals), and formerly Gwil Sainsbury (guitar/bass).
Their debut album ''An Awesome Wave'' was released in May 2012 in Europe, and in September 2012 in the United States, and won the 2012 British Mercury Prize.<ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/aug/30/alt-j-a-cut-above|title = Alt-J: a cut above|author = Wolfson|newspaper = The Guardian|access-date = 18 September 2014|first = Sam|date = 30 August 2012}}</ref> Sainsbury left the band in early 2014. Their second album, ''This Is All Yours'', was released on 22 September 2014 and went straight to number one in the United Kingdom.<ref name=":2">[http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/7455/ALT-J/ Listing] for Alt-J at the Official Charts Company (UK), (retrieved 29 May 2015).</ref> In June 2017 the band released their third studio album ''Relaxer'', followed in February 2022 by their fourth studio album ''The Dream''.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=ALT&ti=&lab=&genre=&format=&date_option=release&from=&to=&award=&type=&category=&adv=SEARCH|title = alt-J - RIAA platinum & gold awards|access-date = 12 August 2017|website = riaa.com|publisher = RIAA}}</ref>
== Name == Alt-J started with the name "Daljit Dhaliwal", after the BBC newsreader and television presenter, who the band grew up watching in the 90s.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=G. Q. |date=2015-05-21 |title=5 things you didn't know about Alt-J |url=https://www.gqindia.com/content/5-things-you-didnt-know-about-alt-j-gq-india |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=GQ India |language=en-IN}}</ref> The band then renamed itself to "FILMS",<ref>{{Cite web |last=Potter |first=Jordan |date=2022-12-19 |title=The nerdy truth behind the alt-J band name |url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/nerdy-truth-behind-alt-js-name/ |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=faroutmagazine.co.uk |language=en-US}}</ref> but were later forced to change their name because an American band called "The Films" already existed.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Perez|first1=Ashley|title=23 Things You Really Should Know About alt-J|website=BuzzFeed |date=13 September 2013 |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/ashleyperez/23-things-you-really-should-know-about-alt-j#3gjn7nt|access-date=14 October 2014}}</ref>
The band's "actual" name is the triangle-shaped symbol ∆, the capital Greek letter delta which is used in mathematics to mean "change".<ref name=":4" /> On Mac computers, that symbol can be typed by pressing the keys {{keypress|Alt|J|chain=-}}, hence the name Alt-J.<ref name=":5"/>
Then-member Gwil Sainsbury explained this by relating the meaning of "change" to the renaming happening "at a turning point in their lives."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://soundcloud.com/alt-j/ |title=alt-J: About |website=SoundCloud |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120624140327/http://soundcloud.com/alt-j |archive-date=24 June 2012 |access-date=8 June 2025 |quote=The symbol has a deeper meaning for the band, as guitarist/bassist Gwil Sainsbury notes, "in mathematical equations it's used to show change," and the band's relatively new name came at a turning point in their lives.}}</ref>
The band often makes references to triangles.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Clel|first=Patrick|date=2014-09-23|title=Alt-J's second album defies expectations|url=https://dailytrojan.com/2014/09/22/alt-js-second-album-defies-expectations/|access-date=2020-06-24|website=Daily Trojan|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Alt-J announce North American tour|url=https://diymag.com/2018/02/05/alt-j-announce-north-american-tour|access-date=2020-06-24|website=diymag.com|date=5 February 2018 |language=en}}</ref>. The song "Tesselate" mentions "triangles are my favourite shape", and they make triangle symbols with their fingers during concerts), which they say is just due to it being a visually appealing shape.<ref name="Austin Johnston">{{Cite web|last=Johnston|first=Abby|date=March 14, 2013|title=Alt-J's Awesome SXSW Wave|url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/music/2013-03-14/alt-js-awesome-sxsw-wave/|access-date=2020-06-24|website=Austinchronicle.com|language=en-US|quote=Really, the triangle is just visually quite nice. We referenced it in the song "Tesselate" as a favorite shape, but it really doesn't mean a lot to us. It just looks really cool. That's why we use it.}}</ref><ref name="Guardian Empire"/>
The cover art of the band's debut album ''An Awesome Wave'' shows an overhead view of the Ganges Delta, in reference to the Alt-J's "delta" name.
==History== ===2007–2010: Formation and early years=== Alt-J (∆) were formed when Gwilym (Gwil) Sainsbury (guitar/bass), Joe Newman (guitar/lead vocals), Augustus (Gus) Unger-Hamilton<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|date=7 May 2013|title=ABSOLUTELY NO WORRIES (UK) LLP - Overview (free company information from Companies House)|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/OC384935|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200710103531/https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/OC384935|archive-date=10 July 2020|access-date=2020-07-10|website=beta.companieshouse.gov.uk|language=en}}</ref> (keyboards/vocals) and Thomas Stuart (Thom Sonny) Green<ref name=":7" /> (drums) met at University of Leeds in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.leeds.ac.uk/news/article/3318/alt-j_win_mercury_prize|title = Alt-J win Mercury prize|date = 2 November 2012|website = leeds.ac.uk|publisher = Leeds University|last = Barson|first = Rachel|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150529200752/http://www.leeds.ac.uk/news/article/3318/alt-j_win_mercury_prize|archive-date = 29 May 2015|url-status = dead}}</ref> Unger-Hamilton (younger brother of Ferdy, head of A&R for Polydor Records) studied English, the other three Fine Art. According to Newman, "I basically went to art school to start a band."<ref name=":0">{{cite magazine|url = https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/how-alt-j-sold-a-million-records-and-made-miley-a-fan-20141127|title = How Alt-J Sold a Million Records and Made Miley a Fan|date = 27 November 2014|last = Weiner|first = Jonah|magazine = Rolling Stone}}</ref>
In their second year of studies, Newman showed Sainsbury some of his own songs and the pair began recording on GarageBand in their hall rooms with Sainsbury acting as producer.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title = An Interview With Gwil From Alt-J ∆|url = http://www.theedgesusu.co.uk/features/2012/09/16/an-interview-with-gwil-from-alt-j-%E2%88%86/|date = 16 September 2012|website = theedgesusu.co.uk|first = Megan|last = Downing|publisher = The Edge}}</ref> The band's sound arose in part from living in student accommodation, where noise had to be kept to a minimum, as well as limited access to instruments. At the time, Green used a very limited drum kit, Unger-Hamilton a cheap keyboard, and Newman an acoustic guitar.<ref name="Lipps">{{cite web |last1=Lipps |first1=Scott |title=Scott Lipps talks with Joe Newman and Gus Unger of British indie rock sensation Alt-J |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfPtF8cp8Ok |website=youtube.com |publisher=Lipps Service |language=en |format=video |date=22 February 2022}}</ref><ref name="SoS"/>
===2011–2012: ''An Awesome Wave'' and touring=== [[File:Alt-J.jpg|thumb|right|Joe Newman with Alt-J at The Empty Bottle, Chicago, in October 2012]] After graduating, the band moved to Cambridge where they spent several months working on their music before signing a deal with Infectious Music in December 2011.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|title = Interview - Alt-J|url = http://www.tcs.cam.ac.uk/interviews/0030239-interview-alt-j.html|date = 27 June 2013|website = tcs.cam.ac.uk|publisher = The Cambridge Student|first = Sophie|last = Luo|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150529203509/http://www.tcs.cam.ac.uk/interviews/0030239-interview-alt-j.html|archive-date = 29 May 2015|url-status = dead}}</ref> Their self-titled 4-track demo EP, ''∆'', was recorded with producer Charlie Andrew in London and featured the tracks "Breezeblocks", "Hand-Made", "Matilda", and "Tessellate".<ref>{{Cite web|title = [Album Review] - Alt-J - Demo|url = http://www.deadhorsemarch.com/album-review-alt-j-demo/|access-date = 2015-05-30|website = deadhorsemarch.com|date = 28 January 2012|first = Ben|last = Lindbloom|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150530115727/http://www.deadhorsemarch.com/album-review-alt-j-demo/|archive-date = 30 May 2015|url-status = dead}}</ref> A 7" single containing "Bloodflood" and "Tessellate" was released by Loud and Quiet in October 2011. Their first 2012 release for Infectious Music was the triangle-shaped 10" "Matilda" / "Fitzpleasure". It was followed by "Breezeblocks" which preceded their first album. ''An Awesome Wave'' was also produced by Charlie Andrew and compiled at Iguana Studios, Brixton, where the band recorded tracks during the studio's spare time.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Alt-J: 'We didn't want to blow loads of cash working with Rick Rubin in LA'|url = https://www.nme.com/news/alt-j/78118|access-date = 2015-05-29|website = NME|date = 25 June 2014}}</ref>
Andrew said that the band's sound was heavily influenced by unusual instrument choices, including drummer Thom Green's decision not to use cymbals. Andrew told Sound on Sound, "The only slightly cymbal-like thing he uses is the back end of a saucepan, which he uses for the hi-hat". The album's drums were recorded first, followed by bass guitar and other instruments. Green's drumming was always recorded to a click track because Andrew wanted it to have the precision of electronic drums.<ref name="SoS">{{Cite news |last=Inglis |first=Sam |date=April 2013 |title=Producing Alt-J & Madness |url=https://www.soundonsound.com/people/producing-alt-j-madness |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241127191058/https://www.soundonsound.com/people/producing-alt-j-madness |archive-date=27 November 2024 |access-date=27 November 2024 |work=Sound on Sound}}</ref>
Their debut album was released on 28 May 2012 in the UK, Europe, and Australia, and on 18 September 2012 in North America via Canvasback Music. The album received some favourable reviews and was described as a "captivating blend of insatiable grooves and profound poignancy".<ref name=":3" />
Alt-J supported Wild Beasts in April 2012 and played a minor headlining tour around the United Kingdom and Ireland in October of that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/alt-j/64553 |title=Alt-J announce autumn tour of the UK, NME.com, 26 June 2012 |work=Nme|date=26 June 2012 |access-date=9 July 2012}}</ref> The band have featured regularly on summer festivals, including Latitude, Bestival, Reading and Leeds, T in the Park, Green Man, Pukkelpop, and Lowlands.<ref name=":3">{{cite news|author = Lester|url = https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/may/24/new-band-alt-j|title = New band of the day: Alt-J, The Guardian, Paul Lester|work = The Guardian|date = 24 May 2012|access-date = 9 July 2012|location = London|first = Paul}}</ref> They also did concert tour in the United States in December 2012 and performed at the Laneway Festival tour in Australia.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Alt-J announce 2013 tour dates|url = http://consequence.net/2012/12/alt-j-announce-2013-tour-dates/|date = 3 December 2012|website = consequence.net|author = Staff Writer|publisher = Townsquare Music}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=2013 Laneway line up announced|url=http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/musicnews/s3597630.htm|work=ABC|access-date=26 September 2012}}</ref> In November 2012 the band were announced as the winners of the Mercury Prize for their album.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Mercury Prize: Alt-J album An Awesome Wave wins award|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-20176215|website = BBC News|access-date = 2015-05-30|first = Sarah Jane|last = Griffiths|date = 2 November 2012}}</ref> Besides the prize-money, the band saw an increase in their profile resulting in ''An Awesome Wave'' reaching number 13 on the UK Albums Chart.<ref name=":2" /> The band would later describe the event as "life-changing, there was a sense of [being] imposters, that the band had somehow got this far without not being a real band, we're just guys from Leeds who muddled through it and magicked a Mercury award".<ref>{{Cite web|title = Alt-J interview: Collaborations with stars like Miley Cyrus signal a whole new direction for the boys from Leeds|url = https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/altj-interview-collaborations-with-stars-like-miley-cyrus-signal-a-whole-new-direction-for-the-boys-from-leeds-9757274.html|work=The Independent|date = 26 September 2014|first = Elisa|last = Bray|publisher = Independent News & Media}}</ref>
The title "An Awesome Wave" was taken from the 1991 Bret Easton Ellis novel ''American Psycho''.
===2013–2016: Departure of Sainsbury and ''This Is All Yours''=== On 11 January 2014, the band announced that Sainsbury had decided to leave the group, and that they remained friends.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/alt_J/status/422021422069055489|title=Δ (alt-J) on Twitter: "With regret, Gwil is leaving alt-J. This is purely a personal decision and as our best friend we support him completely."|publisher=Twitter.com|access-date=18 September 2014}}</ref> In early June 2014, Alt-J announced a 2014 tour to take place in North America over October and November.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2014/06/alt-j_announce_lp.html|title=Alt-J announce new album & tour (dates & presale)|publisher=Brooklynvegan.com|access-date=18 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923225328/http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2014/06/alt-j_announce_lp.html|archive-date=23 September 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> The 23-day tour started in Vancouver, B.C., on 14 October and ended in Washington, D.C., on 19 November.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.altjband.com/us/|title=- alt-J - This Is All Yours|publisher=Altjband.com|access-date=18 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170310133343/http://www.altjband.com/us/|archive-date=10 March 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 9 June 2014, they announced their second album ''This Is All Yours'', that was released on 22 September 2014. This Is All Yours went straight to number 1 on the UK's Official Albums Chart.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kreisler|first1=Lauren|title=Alt-J score first Number 1 album with This Is All Yours|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/alt-j-score-first-number-1-album-with-this-is-all-yours-3160/|website=Officialcharts.com|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=28 September 2014}}</ref> Alt-J headlined the September 2015 edition of Boston Calling Music Festival.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Buckle|first1=Jenna|title=Boston Calling Announces September 2015 Lineup|url=http://soundofboston.com/boston-calling-reveals-september-2015-lineup/|website=Soundofboston.com|date=25 May 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/altJ.band/posts/2225476204154074|title=alt-J|website=Facebook.com}}</ref> As a replacement for Sainsbury, Cameron Knight became a supporting member for Alt-J's live shows.
===2017–2020: ''Relaxer''=== [[File:POS17 @Kristsll-772 (36005104325).jpg|thumb|Alt-J performing at the Positivus Festival 2017 during the ''Relaxer'' Tour]] On 3 March 2017 Alt-J began teasing their third studio album on their social media accounts with an audio clip captioned "00110011 01110111 01110111" (Binary code for "3ww").<ref>{{cite web|title=Δ (alt-J) on Twitter|url=https://twitter.com/alt_J/status/837709757221842944|website=Twitter|access-date=3 March 2017}}</ref> ''Stereogum'' reported later that day that the band's third album would be titled ''Relaxer'' and was scheduled for release on 2 June 2017.<ref>{{cite web|title=Preview New alt-J Song "3ww" In LP3 Teaser|url=https://www.stereogum.com/1928010/preview-new-alt-j-song-3ww-in-lp3-teaser/video/|website=Stereogum.com|date=3 March 2017 |access-date=3 March 2017}}</ref> On 6 March 2017 Alt-J released "3WW", which features lead singer Ellie Rowsell of Wolf Alice, as a digital single and announced dates for the ''Relaxer'' Tour in support of the album. Three weeks later, on 29 March, they released "In Cold Blood", the second single from ''Relaxer''.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Reed|first1=Ryan|title=Hear Alt-J's Horn-Blasted New Song 'In Cold Blood'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/hear-alt-js-horn-blasted-new-song-in-cold-blood-w474133|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=4 April 2017|archive-date=2 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171202004818/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/hear-alt-js-horn-blasted-new-song-in-cold-blood-w474133|url-status=dead}}</ref> In anticipation of their third album, the band released an online video game,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.altjband.com/|title=alt-j|website=Altjband.com|access-date=19 April 2021}}</ref> whose soundtrack was their single "3WW,"<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/alt-j-share-new-web-video-game-2044573|title=Alt-J share new web video game - NME|date=2017-04-11|work=NME|access-date=2017-04-11|language=en-US}}</ref> as well as announcing in May 2017 that they would be playing a five-date UK tour at seaside venues, starting on 4 September 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.gettothefront.co.uk/alt-j-new-seaside-shows/|title=alt-J – New Seaside Shows|work=GetToTheFront|access-date=1 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107003409/http://www.gettothefront.co.uk/alt-j-new-seaside-shows/|archive-date=7 November 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Bartleet|first=Larry|date=2017-05-09|title=New Alt-J Album – release date, tour plans and what we know so far|url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/new-alt-j-album-everything-we-know-so-far-4204|access-date=2020-06-25|website=NME Music News|language=en-GB}}</ref>
[[File:POS17 @Kristsll-753 (35963653346).jpg|thumb|right|Alt-J performing during the Relaxer Tour, at Positivus Festival 2017 in Zvejnieku Parks, Salacgrīva, Latvia.]]
On 24 May 2017 Alt-J released "Adeline", the third single from ''Relaxer''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/alt-j-new-song-adeline-2077671 |title=Listen to Alt-J's new song 'Adeline' |work=NME |first=Sam |last=Moore |date=24 May 2017 |access-date=3 June 2017}}</ref> The album was released shortly afterwards, on 2 June 2017. "Deadcrush", the fourth single from the album, was released on 12 July and was featured as a soundtrack in the ''FIFA 18'' game.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BWcvlyNDWGc/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/BWcvlyNDWGc |archive-date=26 December 2021 |url-access=registration|title=alt-J on Instagram: "We are *very* proud to present the video for our new single Deadcrush, a collaboration between choreographer Darcy Wallace and..."|website=Instagram.com|access-date=29 March 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.easports.com/fifa/news/2017/fifa-18-soundtrack|title=FIFA 18 - Soundtrack|website=Easports.com|access-date=29 March 2018}}</ref> Fifth single "Pleader" arrived on 15 September 2017. Several tracks from ''Relaxer'' have since been remixed by a diverse array of artists.
''Relaxer'' was nominated for the 2017 Mercury Prize.{{cn|date=January 2025}}
On 28 September 2018 an alternative version of ''Relaxer'' was released. The album, titled ''Reduxer,'' is a "rap heavy do-over" of the previous year's record.<ref>{{Citation|title=Reduxer by alt-J|date=2018-09-28|url=https://itunes.apple.com/pl/album/reduxer/1411541615|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930042353/https://itunes.apple.com/pl/album/reduxer/1411541615|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 September 2018|language=en-GB|access-date=2018-09-30}}</ref>
===Since 2021: ''The Dream''===
On 16 September 2021, the band announced their first single since 2018, titled "U&ME", would be released 22 September 2021.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kenneally |first1=Cerys |title=alt-J tease new single "U&ME" ahead of release this week |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/latest-news/alt-j-tease-new-single-ume-ahead-of-release-this-week |website=The Line of Best Fit |access-date=20 September 2021 |date=20 September 2021}}</ref> The single's release coincided with the announcement of their fourth album, ''The Dream'', which was released 11 February 2022.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Skinner |first1=Tom |title=Alt-J share new single 'U&ME' from upcoming fourth album 'The Dream' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/alt-j-share-new-single-ume-from-upcoming-fourth-album-the-dream-listen-3052379 |website=NME |access-date=24 September 2021 |date=22 September 2021}}</ref>
==In popular culture== {{Cleanup|date=July 2020|reason="Duplicate entries and dates referenced are not ordered."}}
On 7 August 2008, "Fitzpleasure" was featured in the closing credits of ''Weeds'', episode 6, season 8.
Alt-J performed "Buffalo" along with Mountain Man for the 2011 film ''Silver Linings Playbook''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.baeblemusic.com/musicblog/11-13-2012/alt-j-take-their-sound-to-the-silver-linings-playbook-soundtrack.html|title=Alt-J Take Their Sound to the Silver Linings Playbook Soundtrack|work=Baeble Music|access-date=2018-02-04|language=en-US|archive-date=5 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205000953/https://www.baeblemusic.com/musicblog/11-13-2012/alt-j-take-their-sound-to-the-silver-linings-playbook-soundtrack.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In February 2013 the band announced they would be composing the soundtrack for Toby Jones' new film ''Leave to Remain''.<ref>{{cite news| url= http://www.3news.co.nz/Alt-J-to-score-Toby-Jones-film/tabid/418/articleID/287620/Default.aspx |work=3 News NZ | title=Alt-J to score Toby Jones film| date=21 February 2013}}</ref>
Their song "Every Other Freckle" was featured on the Netflix show ''Lovesick'', in the season 1 episode "Cressida", in 2014.
In 2014, their song "Tessellate" was featured on ''Sons of Anarchy'', episode 5, season 6.
The song "Hunger of the Pine" is used to begin and end the first season of ''Unreal'' released in 2015.
In 2015, their song "Something Good" was featured in the second episode of ''Life Is Strange''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/these-are-the-songs-in-life-is-strange/1100-6425751/|title=These Are the Songs in Life is Strange|last=Corriea|first=Alexa Ray|date=2015-03-07|website=GameSpot.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-03-18}}</ref>
"Fitzpleasure" was featured in the background of the 2015 film ''Sisters'' and in the main trailer for the video game ''Battleborn'' released in 2016.
In 2016, their song "Left Hand Free" was featured in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film ''Captain America: Civil War''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Panos|first=Maggie|date=2016-05-14|title=Spider-Man's Intro Music Is a Jam, and It May Have a Deeper Meaning|url=https://www.popsugar.co.uk/node/41240919|access-date=2021-08-29|website=POPSUGAR Celebrity UK|language=en-GB}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
In 2017, their song "Deadcrush" was featured in the soundtrack for FIFA 18. <ref>{{Cite web|last=Connick|first=Tom|date=2017-09-14|title=The FIFA 18 soundtrack is here|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/fifa-18-soundtrack-2140556|access-date=2026-04-12|website=NME|language=en-GB}}</ref>
In 2018, their songs "Tessellate" and "In Cold Blood" are the opening and ending respectively of the anime ''Ingress'', based on the AR game created for Niantic: ''Ingress''.
In 2019, their songs "Breezeblocks" and "In Cold Blood" were featured on the Netflix series ''Daybreak'', episodes 5 and 10 respectively.
In 2020, their song "Left Hand Free" was featured in the Netflix series ''Outer Banks''.
Also in 2020, "In Cold Blood" was in the Netflix film, ''Extraction''.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-04-24|title=Extraction (2020) Soundtrack - All the Songs List, Listen to Full Music|url=https://soundtracki.com/extraction-2020-soundtrack|access-date=2021-08-31|website=soundtracki.com|language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2022, their song "Breezeblocks" was featured in the pilot episode, "Lightning Strikes", of Hulu series ''Tell Me Lies''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Every song from S1E1 - Tell Me Lies, "Lightning Strikes" |url=https://www.what-song.com/Tvshow/101175/Tell-Me-Lies/e/139484 |access-date=2023-07-10 |website=WhatSong |language=en}}</ref>
In 2023, a portion of their song "Hunger of the Pine" was featured in the announcement trailer for Hello Games's video game ''Light No Fire''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKQem4Z6ioQ|title=Light No Fire Announcement Trailer|date=2023-12-08|via=YouTube|language=en-UK|access-date=2023-12-11}}</ref>
In December 2023, an instrumental version of their song "Adeline" was featured in the trailer for the Netflix film ''Society of the Snow''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDak4qLyF4Q|title=Society of the Snow | Official Trailer | Netflix|date=27 November 2023 |via=YouTube}}</ref>
On May 27, 2026, their song "Hunger of the Pine" was featured in the episode "Secateurs" of ''The Testaments''.
== Lyrics == Alt-J has been noted for their post-modern lyrics in their songs that highlight historic events and pop-culture subjects.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Barclay|first=Katie|date=September 2017|title=Love and Violence in the Music of Late Modernity|journal=Popular Music and Society|via=Taylor & Francis Online}}</ref> The song "Taro" is written in reference to Gerda Taro and her role as a war photographer during the Spanish Civil War as well as her relationship to Robert Capa. The song describes the details of Capa's death ("A violent wrench grips mass / Rips light, tears limbs like rags") and imagines Taro's complementary emotions. The visuals in a fan made music video by YouTube user David Dean Burkhart are taken from Godfrey Reggio's experimental film ''Powaqqatsi''.
"Matilda" is a reference to Natalie Portman's character in the film ''Léon: The Professional''.<ref>{{Citation|last=Besson|first=Luc|title=Léon: The Professional|date=1994-11-18|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110413/|others=Jean Reno, Gary Oldman, Natalie Portman|access-date=2018-03-01}}</ref> "Fitzpleasure" is the retelling of Hubert Selby Jr.'s short story "Tralala", published in ''Last Exit to Brooklyn.'' The story follows a prostitute named Tralala who dies after being gang-raped and raped with a broom, as in the lyrics "dead in the middle / of a c-o-double-m-o-n" and "in your snatch fits pleasure / broom shaped pleasure."
==Awards and nominations== {{Main|List of awards and nominations received by Alt-J}} In 2012, Alt-J's debut album won the British Mercury Prize.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/nov/02/alt-j-mercury-prize |title=Mercury prize celebrates 20 years with award for alt-J's debut album |access-date=21 February 2013 |location=London |work=The Guardian |first=Alexandra |last=Topping |date=2 November 2012}}</ref> Alt-J were also nominated for three Brit Awards (British Breakthrough Act, British Album of the Year and British Group of the Year).<ref name="alt-J Nominated">{{cite web|url = http://www.antimusic.com/news/13/January/11alt-J_Nominated_For_3_Brit_Awards.shtml|title = alt-J Nominated For 3 Brit Awards|access-date = 21 February 2013|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171014034556/http://www.antimusic.com/news/13/January/11alt-J_Nominated_For_3_Brit_Awards.shtml|archive-date = 14 October 2017|url-status = dead}}</ref> ''An Awesome Wave'' was announced as BBC Radio 6 Music Album of the Year 2012. Three of the tracks from this album gained entry into the Australian 2012 Triple J Hottest 100, with "Something Good" at number 81, "Tessellate" at number 64, and "Breezeblocks" coming third overall.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100/12/countdown/3.htm |title=#3:alt-J - Breezeblocks Hottest 100 - 2012 |date=26 January 2012 |publisher=abc.net.au |access-date=30 January 2013}}</ref> In 2013, ''An Awesome Wave'' won Album of the year at the Ivor Novello Awards. ''This Is All Yours'' received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Alternative Music Album at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards, and for IMPALA's European Independent Album of the Year Award.<ref>{{cite web|title=23 albums up for European Independent Album of the Year Award|url=http://www.impalamusic.org/node/346|work=IMPALA|date=29 January 2015|access-date=26 February 2015|archive-date=26 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226140536/http://www.impalamusic.org/node/346|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Personnel== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} '''Current''' * Joe Newman– lead vocals, guitars, bass <small>(2007–present)</small> * Thom Sonny Green – drums, percussion <small>(2007–present)</small> * Gus Unger-Hamilton – keyboards, bass, vocals <small>(2007–present)</small> {{col-2}} '''Touring''' * Cameron Knight – guitars, bass, sampler <small>(2014–2016)</small>
'''Past''' * Gwil Sainsbury – guitars, bass <small>(2007–2014)</small> {{col-end}}
=== Side projects === Green has also worked as an electronic music producer and solo artist. In 2026, Newman announced his solo project under the alias '''JJerome87'''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Skinner |first=Tom |date=2026-01-30 |title=Alt-J's Joe Newman launches solo project as JJerome87 with single 'Brush Me Like A Horse' to tell the "story of a man slowly turning into a horse" |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/alt-js-joe-newman-launches-solo-project-jjerome87-single-brush-me-like-a-horse-3926450 |access-date=2026-02-03 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Interviews |first1=Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & |last2=Murray |first2=Robin |date=2026-01-30 |title=alt-J's Joe Newman Turns Solo As JJerome87 {{!}} News |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/alt-js-joe-newman-turns-solo-as-jjerome87/ |access-date=2026-02-03 |website=Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Coplan |first=Chris |date=2026-01-30 |title=alt-J Frontman Joe Newman (aka JJerome87) Releases Debut Solo Single "Brush Me Like A Horse" |url=https://consequence.net/2026/01/alt-j-joe-newman-debut-single-jjerome87/ |access-date=2026-02-03 |website=Consequence |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=alt-J's Joe Newman drops debut solo album, The Canyon |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/alt-js-john-newman-drops-debut-solo-album-the-canyon |access-date=2026-02-03 |website=The Line of Best Fit |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Discography== {{main|Alt-J discography}}
'''Studio albums''' * ''An Awesome Wave'' (2012) * ''This Is All Yours'' (2014) * ''Relaxer'' (2017) *''The Dream'' (2022)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{MusicBrainz artist|id=fc7bbf00-fbaa-4736-986b-b3ac0266ca9b|name=Alt-J}} * [https://www.altjband.com Official website]
{{Alt-J}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Alt-J Category:Indie rock groups from Leeds Category:English indie pop groups Category:Musical groups established in 2007 Category:English musical quartets Category:English art rock groups Category:Folktronica groups Category:Atlantic Records artists Category:Infectious Music artists Category:Ivor Novello Award winners Category:2007 establishments in England