Operator Please
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Headquarters | Gold Coast, Queensland , Australia |
| Products | Music albums, singles, EPs |
Operator Please was a pop ensemble originating from Australia, established in 2005 on Queensland's Gold Coast. The group's final roster featured lead vocalist and guitarist Amandah Wilkinson, drummer Tim Commandeur, keyboardist Chris Holland, bassist Ashley McConnell, and violinist Taylor Henderson. They gained widespread recognition for their 2007 track "Just a Song About Ping Pong", which earned them the ARIA Award for Breakthrough Artist – Single at the 2007 ARIA Music Awards.
2005–2011
In early 2005, Operator Please was created by lead singer and guitarist Amandah Wilkinson alongside fellow students from Elanora State High School to participate in the school's annual "Battle of the Bands," an event they ultimately won. Following this success, the quintet, whose ages ranged from 17 to 19, independently released their EP On the Prowl in 2006, limited to just 300 copies and containing an early version of "Just a Song About Ping Pong." Later that year, their second EP, Cement Cement, attracted attention both locally and internationally through word-of-mouth and airplay on Australian youth radio station Triple J, resulting in a contract with Virgin Records. During 2007, the band supported tours for artists such as Arctic Monkeys and Kaiser Chiefs across Australia.
July 2007 saw the release of a re-recorded version of "Just a Song About Ping Pong" as their debut single, which climbed to number 12 on the ARIA Charts and secured an ARIA Award. The band received acclaim from celebrity blogger Perez Hilton, who described them as "the next big thing." Their subsequent single, "Get What You Want", reached number 27 on the ARIA Charts. November 2007 marked the release of their first full-length album, Yes Yes Vindictive, which peaked at number 28 on the ARIA album chart.
In 2008, Operator Please embarked on tours throughout Europe and Asia and launched Yes Yes Vindictive in the UK on 17 March. The band dedicated much of 2009 to composing their sophomore album. The lead single "Logic" was unveiled on 8 February 2010, followed by the album Gloves, released on 23 April in Australia and internationally on 31 May. Gloves achieved a peak position of number 20 on the ARIA album chart.
By June 2010, Operator Please completed their first headline tour since late 2008, with support from Perth-based Tim & Jean and Sydney's Chaingang. Their festival appearances included major events such as Splendour in the Grass, Stonefest in Canberra, and Australia's leg of the 2011 Big Day Out. Early in 2011, they toured domestically supporting Sydney artist Sparkadia. The fifth and final single from Gloves, titled "Catapult," was issued in January 2011.
2012–present
While Operator Please has not formally disbanded, their activity ceased after 2011 as members pursued separate ventures. Wilkinson adopted the stage name Bossy Love, collaborating with John Baillie Jnr of Dananananaykroyd and releasing her debut EP Me + You in October 2013. Meanwhile, Holland and Commandeur formed the duo Colour Coding, releasing their first EP Proof in March 2012 before entering a hiatus announced in November 2013.
Studio albums
| Album Title | Release Information | Highest Chart Positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia |
United Kingdom | ||
| Yes Yes Vindictive |
|
28 | 157 |
| Gloves |
|
20 | — |
Extended plays
| EP Title | Release Details |
|---|---|
| On the Prowl |
|
| Cement Cement |
|
Singles
| Single Title | Release Year | Peak Chart Positions | Associated Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia |
United Kingdom | |||
| "Just a Song About Ping Pong" | 2007 | 12 | — | Yes Yes Vindictive |
| "Get What You Want" | 27 | 121 | ||
| "Leave It Alone" | 62 | 133 | ||
| "Two for My Seconds" | 2008 | 93 | — | |
| "Logic" | 2010 | 47 | — | Gloves |
| "Back and Forth" | 84 | — | ||
| "Like Magic" | — | — | ||
| "Volcanic" | — | — | ||
| "Catapult" | 2011 | — | — | |
ARIA Awards
The ARIA Music Awards are presented annually to honor outstanding achievements and creativity within the Australian music scene.
| Year | Category | Nomination / Work | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Breakthrough Artist – Single | "Just a Song About Ping Pong" | Winner |
| Best Pop Release | "Just a Song About Ping Pong" | Nominee | |
| Best Pop Release | Magoo for "Just a Song About Ping Pong" | Nominee | |
| 2008 | Breakthrough Artist – Album | Yes Yes Vindictive | Nominee |
| Best Pop Release | Yes Yes Vindictive | Nominee |
External links
- Articles with short description
- Queensland musical ensembles
- Indie rock bands from Australia
- Recipients of ARIA Awards
- Bands formed in 2005
- Groups that disbanded in 2011
- 2005 Australian establishments
- Australian indie pop bands
- New wave bands from Australia
- Artists originating from Gold Coast, Queensland
- Bands led by female vocalists
- Musical groups disestablished in 2011