Royel Otis

Inspired by the 21st century wave of eclectic indie rock that crossed over into chart success, Australian duo Royel Otis have attracted a similar buzz in their native country, earning accolades from their Aussie critics and industry peers off the strength of the EPs Bar & Grill (2022) and Sofa Kings (2023), their 2024 full-length debut Pratts & Pain, and even a crossover hit cover of Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s “Murder on the Dance Floor.” Guitarist Royel Maddell and singer/guitarist Otis Pavlovic had worked separately in the same circles around the beach town of Byron Bay, New South Wales. Eventually introduced by their girlfriends, the pair bonded over, of all songs, the soft rock duo the Alessi Brothers’ “Seabird.” In 2019, Pavlovic sent Maddell some demos to collaborate on, and a partnership was born. Royel Otis’ first EP, Campus, was issued in 2021, but the duo hit their stride on the 2022 follow-up Bar & Grill. Anchored by melodic guitar riffs, synthesizer fills, and Pavlovic’s enthusiastic vocals, tracks like “Oysters in My Pocket” and “Bull Breed” made inroads with local tastemakers. They further honed their style with 2023’s Sofa Kings, which earned a nomination for Breakthrough Artist at the ARIA Music Awards, Australia’s biggest music awards ceremony. Single “Kool Aid” was accompanied by a video nominated by local radio station Triple J for Australian Video of the Year. Their reputation solidified at home, Royel Otis set out to expand their horizons on their full-length debut album Pratts & Pain, recorded in London with producer Dan Carey (Wet Leg, Fontaines D.C., Hot Chip). Songs like “Fried Rice” and “Heading for the Door” connected further with new fans — but the duo’s biggest success to date was a canny cover of Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s “Murder on the Dance Floor” for Triple J’s long-running covers series Like a Version, recorded just as the original song scored an international chart bump following its inclusion in the 2023 film Saltburn. Bolstered by a positive note from Ellis-Bextor herself, the single crossed over into the Top 40 of Australia’s pop chart. ~ Mike Duquette