Words by Chloe Williams

Late August always has that melancholic feeling of departure, forcing us to venture further away from the light mornings, radiant sunsets, and everything else summer often has to offer us. We desperately attempt to cling to the last few handfuls of this summertime joy as the days frantically pass, losing the state of relaxation that we want to live in forever. But no doubt, Royal Otis has managed to deliver “hickey” just as August threatens to slip away, a sun-drenched album that embodies youth, livelihood, troubles, and tender romance. Each song holds a sound that has been nurtured to perfection by the musical duo, creating a refreshingly distinctive indie pop feel of discovery and restoration. It is certain that Otis Pavlovic and Royel Maddell seem most comfortable in the midst of “hickey’s” catchy melodies and soft, yearning vocals.

Royal Otis was first formed in 2019 and has since released singles, EPs, and their first studio album, “Pratts and Pain”, as of last year. “Oysters In My Pocket” became the first standout single to launch them into the scene, bringing the spotlight to the indie genre once more. And now the best friends are back, though they never really stopped, continuing their craft ahead of their upcoming tour, “Meet Me In The Car.” The announcement for the new album came in June, and we have since witnessed a consistent set of strong single releases, starting with “moody” and most recently “say something.” Getting their fans moving was the priority, and their recent festival sets have been doing exactly this. With a pre-album release set at Glastonbury to performing at Outside Lands, Reading and Leeds Festival, and all in between, the band has been giving it their all. And while we don’t want to see them reach the point of exhaustion, the excitement is real as we regularly consume all the types of content they are handing us, from the releases to late-night talk show performances, radio show covers, acoustic sets, fan competitions, tour announcements, album release parties, surprise guest appearances, entertaining TikTok posts, the list never ends.

This is also a time to appreciate the whole creative motion of the album; a picture has been created for the sound, and while this is an attempted given for every album, very few manage to create one so potent and vulnerable. The pink, minimalistic design enhanced by lower-cased type and heartfelt, perhaps romanticised, warm colour palettes sees a focus on visual identity, leading to a world that excels in its beautiful print-media options. In an interview with “The Eras Podcast,” the duo mentioned that this creation was the hardest yet, requiring much more time and work with a handful of talented creatives, directors, and producers. Talk about hard work paying off. To mention some of the talented faces at play, music video directors have included Jamieson Kerr and Lauren Dunn, whilst producers have included Amy Allen, Blake Slatkin, Lydia Kitto and J Lloyd of Jungle, Julian Bunetta, and their long-term collaborator Chris Collins. Another never-ending list that proves musical integrity and utter technique, amplifying what Royel Otis already had.

“Hickey” pays attention to the good and the bad, the act of falling in love and the anxiety that accompanies the process. Luckily, the entirety of the release is rich in colour and feeling; music videos breathe with imperfection through a grainy, handheld lens, following fleeting smiles and irrevocable movement. “I hate this tune” opens the album with pretty melodies, safe and unyielding, followed by “moody” and its linear structure. As you move through the album with ease, song names begin to juxtapose against the lyrics – it’s as if the intention is to stay optimistic, even as insecurity starts to interrupt. Keeping the high energies are “who’s your boyfriend?,” “car,” and “say something” as the tracks explore relatable circumstances that make you want to scream the lyrics at the top of your lungs. The summer breeze is still there, but so is the torture of the unknown and the inability to read someone else’s mind, ultimately everything that frightens a young adult. “More to loose” has a different take on the sound, introducing a sense of longing and escape with a pre-chorus that builds the song to the edge. More instruments and layers put a voice to the ringing in our heads before it slows right down again with “jazz burger.”

While the album consists of zero features, there is a key actor who is involved in the music video for “who’s your boyfriend?” As many of us know, this summer has consisted of the season three release of a fan favourite on Amazon Prime: The Summer I Turned Pretty. It only seemed right that the one and only Lola Tung graced our screens in the new music video, continuing the storyline of messy heartbreak and indecisiveness. Royal Otis songs have also appeared in the series, specifically their cover of “Linger” by The Cranberries.

The Australian pop duo is doing everything the right way. We could live in this world of sun, sand, waves, and maybe the occasional love bite forever, without question. What more could we ask for? Go and listen to “hickey” now.