Biography
The eclectic indie rock wave that achieved mainstream traction during the 21st century inspired the Australian pair Royel Otis, who have earned comparable domestic attention through praise from local critics and fellow artists on the basis of the EPs Bar & Grill (2022) and Sofa Kings (2023), their first full-length Pratts & Pain in 2024, and a notable cover of Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s “Murder on the Dance Floor.”
Guitarist Royel Maddell and singer/guitarist Otis Pavlovic previously operated in separate projects within the Byron Bay, New South Wales scene. Girlfriends introduced them, after which the pair discovered a mutual affinity for the soft rock duo the Alessi Brothers’ “Seabird.” In 2019 Pavlovic forwarded demos to Maddell for collaboration, establishing their partnership. Royel Otis issued their debut EP Campus in 2021, yet reached a stronger stride with Bar & Grill the following year. Built around melodic guitar riffs, synthesizer accents, and Pavlovic’s energetic vocals, songs such as “Oysters in My Pocket” and “Bull Breed” connected with regional tastemakers. They refined their sound on Sofa Kings in 2023, which received a Breakthrough Artist nomination at the ARIA Music Awards. The single “Kool Aid” arrived with a video that local station Triple J nominated for Australian Video of the Year.
Having secured a firm reputation at home, Royel Otis pursued wider exposure on the full-length debut Pratts & Pain. Recorded in London with producer Dan Carey (Wet Leg, Fontaines D.C., Hot Chip), tracks including “Fried Rice” and “Heading for the Door” attracted fresh listeners, though the duo’s largest breakthrough came via a shrewd cover of Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s “Murder on the Dance Floor” for Triple J’s long-running Like a Version series, taped as the original gained international traction after featuring in the 2023 film Saltburn. Following an encouraging note from Ellis-Bextor herself, the single entered Australia’s pop Top 40. It also helped drive Pratts & Pain to number ten on the ARIA Albums chart upon its February 2024 release. That August the pair issued a live cover of the Cranberries’ “Linger,” which reached the Billboard Hot 100.
Guitarist Royel Maddell and singer/guitarist Otis Pavlovic previously operated in separate projects within the Byron Bay, New South Wales scene. Girlfriends introduced them, after which the pair discovered a mutual affinity for the soft rock duo the Alessi Brothers’ “Seabird.” In 2019 Pavlovic forwarded demos to Maddell for collaboration, establishing their partnership. Royel Otis issued their debut EP Campus in 2021, yet reached a stronger stride with Bar & Grill the following year. Built around melodic guitar riffs, synthesizer accents, and Pavlovic’s energetic vocals, songs such as “Oysters in My Pocket” and “Bull Breed” connected with regional tastemakers. They refined their sound on Sofa Kings in 2023, which received a Breakthrough Artist nomination at the ARIA Music Awards. The single “Kool Aid” arrived with a video that local station Triple J nominated for Australian Video of the Year.
Having secured a firm reputation at home, Royel Otis pursued wider exposure on the full-length debut Pratts & Pain. Recorded in London with producer Dan Carey (Wet Leg, Fontaines D.C., Hot Chip), tracks including “Fried Rice” and “Heading for the Door” attracted fresh listeners, though the duo’s largest breakthrough came via a shrewd cover of Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s “Murder on the Dance Floor” for Triple J’s long-running Like a Version series, taped as the original gained international traction after featuring in the 2023 film Saltburn. Following an encouraging note from Ellis-Bextor herself, the single entered Australia’s pop Top 40. It also helped drive Pratts & Pain to number ten on the ARIA Albums chart upon its February 2024 release. That August the pair issued a live cover of the Cranberries’ “Linger,” which reached the Billboard Hot 100.
Albums
Singles
