Royel Otis: Glory to Glory

Australian indie duo Royel Otis have captivated millions of listeners globally since forming in 2019, having slowly and carefully morphed their sound into new shapes across their first three EPs Campus (2021), Bar & Grill and Sofa Kings (each 2022). With the 2024-release of their debut album Pratts & Pain, the pair swing between melodic, pop-inspired indie and woozy psych while never feeling tied to one lane - a technique that’s attracted fan status from Zane Lowe, BBC Radio 1’s Jack Saunders and Matt Wilkinson. The record landed at #1 on the ARIA Australian Albums Chart and #10 on the ARIA Albums Chart, was awarded a coveted triple j Feature Album and garnered worldwide critical acclaim. Pratts & Pain received 4 star reviews from UK tastemakers Dork, Clash and NME (and graced the NME cover at home and in the UK), and saw the pair reach #1 Most Played Artist at US college radio across music specialty shows.

Amassing over 140 million streams to date, Royel Otis have also covered global playlists on Spotify and Apple Music, sold out a 15-date headline tour of Australia, and embarked on debut headline tours of the UK, Europe and soon to come, US. Most recently, their triple j Like A Version recording of Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s “Murder On The Dancefloor” became a viral TikTok sensation globally, already cracking the US Billboard Alternative Airplay Chart at #17, The Mediabase Chart at #16 and reaching #2 on ARIA’s Top 20 Australian Singles. Receiving a nod from Sophie herself, it remains in single and streaming charts across Australia, Europe, the US and UK. 

Royel Otis have no issue keeping all who listen on their toes. After the release of two EPs that took the band on a fast-track ride to global notoriety, PRATTS & PAIN has landed to propel Pavlovic and Maddell through their next chapter, adventures abound with no limits.

Friko, a trio that’s cemented itself as a stalwart in the Chicago music scene, is frontman Niko Kapetan, and drummer Bailey Minzenberger. Their most recent release, “Crimson To Chrome,” is an anthemic offering, Kapetan’s vocals incendiary. It received glowing praise and attention from Pitchfork, Brooklyn Vegan, and Consequence, who wrote “Friko toggle between loud and quiet, thoughtful and self-deprecating, while never expressing anything less than the unbridled joy of noise.”  FLOOD wrote the Chicago-based power-pop group is “ certain to stand out among the hundreds of acts gracing the various SXSW stages this year.” And that they did. The band took SXSW 2023 by storm, playing packed showcases over several days that made their Austin-debut a must-see occasion. Bolstered by the unwavering support from Chicago’s music scene, the buzz around new music, and the pure excitement witnessed at SXSW, the interest from labels is voracious and ever-increasing.

Over the band's time together, it has become clear they are comfortable embracing multiple musical extremes at once. Their debut self-released 2022 EP, Whenever, Forever, weaves “together heart-on-sleeve folk, tense, smoldering post punk, and soaring, melodramatic chamber pop rooted in 2000s indie” (Chicago Reader). Lyrically, Kapetan explores the possibility and risks of a life given over to music, interrogating what a life well-lived means to him. The duality rings out in the compositions, evoking rock and folk icons such as Leonard Cohen and Nick Drake. The EP found collective support amongst the local music community, championed by their peers Horsegirl, Lifeguard, Free Range, and more.

Friko’s music is complex and dynamic, flickering between explosive rock, chamber pop, and serene sonics. It becomes even more pronounced in their live performances, where a crowd frenzied by wailing guitars finds itself minutes later collectively holding its breath, enamored by hypnotic strings and Kapetan’s emotive vocals. As the band plays out sweeping melodies, held up by thrashing guitar and punchy beats, it feels as if Kapetan sings to you. Crooning about stories you know, memories you had but have somehow forgotten.