Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Aug 1, 2026

Balam Acab

Alec Jeffery Koone, better known by his former stage name Balam Acab, is an American electronic musician and producer originally from Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.

Last revised
Aug 1, 2026
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Balam Acab
Born
Alec Jeffery Koone1

(1991-04-14) April 14, 1991
OriginMechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres
Years active2010–present
Labels

Alec Jeffery Koone (born April 14, 1991), better known by his former stage name Balam Acab, is an American electronic musician and producer originally from Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.234

Biography

Koone began creating hardcore and metal at the age of 13 with a group of musician friends.34 While studying music at Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York in 2009, he began to experiment with post-rock and ambient music.4 He eventually dropped out of Ithaca College to focus on his music career.4

His first release, the 2010 EP See Birds,5 got him categorized as witch house according to Pitchfork.6 He followed that up with his first full-length album, Wander/Wonder, in 2011.7 Wander/Wonder was recorded entirely in the same bedroom he slept in as a child and heavily incorporated Creative Commons-licensed nature recordings he found on the Internet.8 His song "See Birds", title track of the See Birds EP, was featured in a L'Oréal mascara ad starring Beyoncé in early 2011.89

After a long hiatus, Balam Acab self-released his second official album, Child Death, on December 17, 201510 via Bandcamp. In April 2016, the album was pressed on vinyl and released by the DIY record label Orchid Tapes.11 Since the release of Child Death, Balam Acab has released many singles and collaborations in a variety of styles through SoundCloud12 and Bandcamp.13

Among numerous side projects and aliases, Balam Acab recently teamed up with producer Goodbye to form the duo hospice_dreams, releasing the debut demo "because i am true". A full release was expected to be released late 2018.

The name "Balam Acab" was taken from a rainbow-creating deity in Maya mythology that Koone learned about in Spanish class.81415

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

  • See Birds (2010)
  • See Birds Era (2016)
  • All I Beg (2017)
  • Watertree Edits (2017)
  • Rituals (2017)
  • Noided In Flint, MI (2018)
References

References

  1. "AY YA YA". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  2. Lester, Paul (December 2, 2010). "Balam Acab (No 922)". The Guardian. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  3. Richards, M. T. (December 15, 2011). "Balam Acab's Alec Koone Lives With His Mom, Quietly Reviving R&B". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  4. Lipshutz, Jason (October 19, 2011). "Balam Acab, Electronic Upstart, Preps First Live Shows Ever". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  5. Park, Dave (July 5, 2010). "Album Review: Balam Acab – See Birds". Prefix Magazine. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  6. Richardson, Mark (August 29, 2011). "Album Review: Wander/Wonder". Pitchfork Media.
  7. Yenigun, Semi (August 28, 2011). "First Listen: Balam Acab, 'Wander / Wonder'". NPR. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  8. Cooper, Duncan (August 23, 2011). "GEN F: Balam Acab". The Fader. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  9. Brandon (January 27, 2011). "L'Oreal Gets Witch House: Balam Acab Soundtr∆cks Beyoncé Commercial". Stereogum. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  10. Matthew Strauss, "Balam Acab Releases Child Death", Pitchfork, December 17, 2015
  11. Warren Hildebrand "So Happy to be Releasing Balam Acab's New Album", Orchid Tapes Blog, April 18, 2016
  12. "BALAM ACAB | Free Listening on SoundCloud", SoundCloud
  13. "Music | BALAM ACAB", Bandcamp
  14. "Balam Acab: dream out loud". Fact. February 22, 2011. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  15. "Balam Acab". The New Yorker. November 17, 2011. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
External links