Royel Otis – hickey
After a successful Glastonbury debut that propelled them further into stardom, Royel Otis take a confident leap forward with hickey
Shortly after the 2023 film Saltburn dominated conversation, Sydney duo Royel Otis became overnight sensations with their cover of Murder On the Dancefloor, the early 2000s anthem tied to the movie. Since then, they’ve gone from strength to strength, with sold out shows worldwide, a debut album that topped the Australian charts, and another viral cover of The Cranberries’ Linger. Now their highly-anticipated sophomore album hickey is set to expand their fiercely loyal fanbase even further.
Perfect for summer listening, opening track i hate this tune transports listeners into a sun-soaked indie-pop world reminiscent of a coming-of-age soundtrack. The duo, made up of friends Royel Maddell and Otis Pavlovic, explained the album’s title: “because love bites harder than any emotion in the world,” a theme that runs throughout. While lead single moody pairs its incredibly catchy riffs with misogynistic lyrics for which the band have since issued an apology, tracks like good times, torn jeans, and dancing with myself blend tropical melodies with vulnerable storytelling about bruised hearts and messy relationships.
Despite tracks expressing feelings of complicated relationship, the Royel Otis signature feel-good indie sound remains beautifully uncomplicated.
Listen to: car, dancing with myself, she’s got a gun