Odesza have been on a meteoric rise to the top following the release of their third studio album A Moment Apart one year ago today.
The past year has been full of exciting moments for ODESZA fans, new and old. The Seattle-based duo has reached far corners of the earth with their A Moment Apart world tour. From a live set that saw a significant rework in production and aesthetics and earned the group headlining spots at major festivals around the world, to music videos for top hits, we’ll recap their best from the past year.
The Album
ODESZA’s A Moment Apart (“AMA”) was released on September 8th, 2017, to mostly favorable reviews. While some critics regarded some of the group’s vocal collaborations as at times too “pop-centric and chart-friendly,” others noted them as an almost necessary evil to capture the attention of the masses. The album was well-balanced by massive instrumental tracks such as the title track “A Moment Apart,” “Boy,” and “Meridian,” bringing listeners deeper into their vision for AMA, which simultaneously explores the desolation and depth of Earth and outer space. On the release date, ODESZA joined Seattle’s KEXP for an intimate interview and live performance of tracks from the album.
The Live Show
Perhaps the brightest spotlight over the past year has been around ODESZA’s live show. They are no longer a best-kept secret, lurking beneath more well-established headliners; the boys are absolutely huge now. If you ask anyone about them, whether or not they follow their music, they know one thing for sure: Odesza puts on a hell of a show.
While album singles such as “Line of Sight,” “Late Night,” and “Meridian,” snuck their way into ODESZA’s summer 2017 festival sets, the AMA tour made its official debut at Bumbershoot, September 3rd, 2017, in the duo’s hometown of Seattle. Though the setlist did not mirror the full AMA setlist, Bumbershoot marked the debut of their epic “It’s Only” finale. The group would follow with 43 dates covering North America, Australia & New Zealand, and Europe before the end of 2017, capping off the year at Decadence NYE in Denver and dropping the ball with their “Sun Models” live VIP. An entrancing recap would follow along with the announcement of their 2018 Red Rocks dates.
Just a few months later, the group closed out Coachella flanked by the full official ODESZA drum line and brass section. Special guests Naomi Wild, Wynne, and Leon Bridges made an appearance, along with dazzling array of drones forming their logo. The live-streamed event sparked massive interest in the duo, cementing them as a must-see headliner in 2018.
ODESZA continued to adjust their set slightly based on set lengths and introduced a handful of surprises. New live VIPs of “IPlayYouListen” and “Koto” kept things fresh throughout the duo’s 55 performances to date in 2018. ODESZA shelved long-standing remixes and favorites like Zhu’s “Faded” and Sia’s “Big Girls Cry” to make room for new material.
Videos
The duo released a number of videos as visual accompaniment for the album and tour. Seven YouTube episodes recapped the journey of their fall 2017 tour. Music videos for vocal collaborations “Line of Sight,” “Higher Ground,” and “Across the Room” feature elegant storylines and brilliant cinematography.They also tapped their own fans for “Late Night,” compiling 1,000+ submissions into an adventurous action-packed reel.
The past year has been an incredible journey watching ODESZA evolve. From television appearances on both Jimmy Kimmel and Conan, to serving up the anthem for the 2018 Winter Olympics, ODESZA have more than earned their successes in 2018. As they close out the A Moment Apart chapter with remaining dates through 2019, we are looking forward to what’s next — perhaps after some well-deserved rest.
What are your favorite moments from the A Moment Apart era? Let us know in the comments below!
Odesza have been on a meteoric rise to the top following the release of their third studio album A Moment Apart one year ago today.
The past year has been full of exciting moments for ODESZA fans, new and old. The Seattle-based duo has reached far corners of the earth with their A Moment Apart world tour. From a live set that saw a significant rework in production and aesthetics and earned the group headlining spots at major festivals around the world, to music videos for top hits, we’ll recap their best from the past year.
The Album
ODESZA’s A Moment Apart (“AMA”) was released on September 8th, 2017, to mostly favorable reviews. While some critics regarded some of the group’s vocal collaborations as at times too “pop-centric and chart-friendly,” others noted them as an almost necessary evil to capture the attention of the masses. The album was well-balanced by massive instrumental tracks such as the title track “A Moment Apart,” “Boy,” and “Meridian,” bringing listeners deeper into their vision for AMA, which simultaneously explores the desolation and depth of Earth and outer space. On the release date, ODESZA joined Seattle’s KEXP for an intimate interview and live performance of tracks from the album.
The Live Show
Perhaps the brightest spotlight over the past year has been around ODESZA’s live show. They are no longer a best-kept secret, lurking beneath more well-established headliners; the boys are absolutely huge now. If you ask anyone about them, whether or not they follow their music, they know one thing for sure: Odesza puts on a hell of a show.
While album singles such as “Line of Sight,” “Late Night,” and “Meridian,” snuck their way into ODESZA’s summer 2017 festival sets, the AMA tour made its official debut at Bumbershoot, September 3rd, 2017, in the duo’s hometown of Seattle. Though the setlist did not mirror the full AMA setlist, Bumbershoot marked the debut of their epic “It’s Only” finale. The group would follow with 43 dates covering North America, Australia & New Zealand, and Europe before the end of 2017, capping off the year at Decadence NYE in Denver and dropping the ball with their “Sun Models” live VIP. An entrancing recap would follow along with the announcement of their 2018 Red Rocks dates.
Just a few months later, the group closed out Coachella flanked by the full official ODESZA drum line and brass section. Special guests Naomi Wild, Wynne, and Leon Bridges made an appearance, along with dazzling array of drones forming their logo. The live-streamed event sparked massive interest in the duo, cementing them as a must-see headliner in 2018.
ODESZA continued to adjust their set slightly based on set lengths and introduced a handful of surprises. New live VIPs of “IPlayYouListen” and “Koto” kept things fresh throughout the duo’s 55 performances to date in 2018. ODESZA shelved long-standing remixes and favorites like Zhu’s “Faded” and Sia’s “Big Girls Cry” to make room for new material.
Videos
The duo released a number of videos as visual accompaniment for the album and tour. Seven YouTube episodes recapped the journey of their fall 2017 tour. Music videos for vocal collaborations “Line of Sight,” “Higher Ground,” and “Across the Room” feature elegant storylines and brilliant cinematography. They also tapped their own fans for “Late Night,” compiling 1,000+ submissions into an adventurous action-packed reel.
The past year has been an incredible journey watching ODESZA evolve. From television appearances on both Jimmy Kimmel and Conan, to serving up the anthem for the 2018 Winter Olympics, ODESZA have more than earned their successes in 2018. As they close out the A Moment Apart chapter with remaining dates through 2019, we are looking forward to what’s next — perhaps after some well-deserved rest.
What are your favorite moments from the A Moment Apart era? Let us know in the comments below!
Featured image via Julian Bajsel.
Related Content: