[6] The members were influenced by the music of Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd and Dire Straits,[7] and began performing at venues across the Northern Beaches and the city of Sydney, before releasing their debut EP: Yellow Mellow in September 2013.

[18] Using video footage they captured on the road over summer, they released a music video for lead single "Holiday"[19] and followed up with "Lemonworld",[20] before announcing (and selling out) their East Coast Australian tour dates in support of the independent release of the album Lost Tropics on 16 May 2016, distributed by MGM.

[21][22] June 2016 marked the beginning of the first major international run of shows for Ocean Alley in support of their debut album.

[26] The band spent the first half of 2017 touring, supporting Australian acts such as Tash Sultana, The Cat Empire and Xavier Rudd across Australia, as well as playing festivals such as The Hills Are Alive and Groovin' The Moo locally in Maitland.

They would then announce their largest Australian tour to date to take place in August and September; they sold-out shows across Australia and New Zealand, including two nights at The Metro Theatre in Sydney.

[31] On 22 February 2019, Ocean Alley released "Stained Glass", the first single from the band's forthcoming third studio album.

"[32][33] On 28 April 2020, Ocean Alley premiered their new single "Hot Chicken" on Triple J and announced their third studio album Lonely Diamond, released on 19 June 2020.

[36] On 1 January 2024, band member Lach Galbraith publicly apologised after he was caught shoplifting at a hunting and fishing store in Queenstown, New Zealand.

[37][38] Notes According to Conor Lochrie of Beats Per Minute, Ocean Alley are "beloved in their home nation" and "have been on a steady incline to the summit of Australian music" since their formation in 2011.

He additionally credits their success to their "upbeat and hazy style [being] embraced by both the festival crowd and the commercial mainstream.

"[67] Ocean Alley have been cited as an influence by various Australian bands, including Archie,[68] South Summit,[69] and the Rions.