ultar Ahluwalia, aka “Koolta”, is an MC/producer hailing from Adelaide, South Australia. He is the 2012 JJJ Unearthed Parklife Adelaide Winner and 2011 Hilltop Hoods Initiative Winner ($10,000 grant to assist in the release of a debut album). As a child of mixed-race, Koolta found wisdom in the words of empowering African-American musicians such as Public Enemy and Ice Cube. Since making music at the tender age of 15, Koolta has crafted a unique style of hip hop that pays dues to the artists who inspired him, whilst remaining very much his own. With an all-round skill set, Koolta employs a DIY mentality, handling all production, writing, recording and mixing. His production and vocals have been featured on a variety of releases, including his debut album The Extraordinary Average Joe (2012) and two self-produced EP’s, The Deportation (2010) and The Influx (2011). Koolta is also no stranger to live performance, after hitting stages around Australia on his first headline tour (early 2013) and having played festivals such as Big Day Out (2012) and Parklife (2012). He has supported Australian hip hop royalty such as the Hilltop Hoods, Horrorshow and Urthboy. Koolta’s music shows a depth and maturity rarely seen, with lyrics exploring themes including mental illness, family, love and racism, accompanied by head nodding production. This is music that makes you bounce, laugh and think all in the space of a few minutes.