Royel Otis have gone from strength to strength in the past couple of years. They’ve locked in slots at festivals like Glastonbury, won over a legion of fans with their 2024 debut album, and gone viral for their cover of Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s ‘Murder on the Dancefloor’. All of which have cemented the Sydney duo as ones to watch out for, and helped inspire their sophomore record, Hickey, a sonic exploration of young adulthood.
Late summer feels like the perfect time for the record to arrive: the songs coincide with the band’s sun-drenched aesthetic and, throughout the tracklist, guitarist Royel Madden and singer Otis Pavlovic proudly lean into what they do best. Woozy guitar lines are out in full force, accentuated by shimmering synths and…