Papa vs Pretty
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Defunct | 2014-06-30 |
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
| Products | Music albums, EPs |
Papa vs Pretty was a rock group originating from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Initially formed in 2006 as the solo project of Thomas Rawle, then only 15 years old, who handled lead vocals, guitar, piano, and songwriting, the act grew into a trio by 2008 with the addition of Angus Gardiner on bass guitar, cello, and backing vocals, and Tom Myers on drums and backing vocals. In 2012, the lineup expanded to a four-piece with Luke Liang joining on guitar, keyboard, and backing vocals. The band officially disbanded on 30 June 2014.
Their sound transitioned from an early blend of indie rock and electronic elements in their initial EPs to a more guitar-focused alternative rock style starting with the 2010 EP Heavy Harm.
Papa vs Pretty earned a reputation within the Australian music industry for their exceptionally tight and dynamic live shows. Tracks such as "Heavy Harm" and "Wrecking Ball" from 2010, along with 2011 singles including "One of the Animals," "Honey," and "Darkest Way," enjoyed frequent airplay on national broadcaster Triple J.
The group's first full-length album, United in Isolation, was released on 27 May 2011 to critical acclaim, receiving a 9/10 score from Triple J Magazine and being selected as a Triple J Feature Album. It garnered nominations for Best Rock Album at the 2011 ARIA Music Awards and for Album of the Year at the 2011 J Awards.
Their sophomore album, White Deer Park, came out on 21 February 2014. The lead single "My Life Is Yours" debuted on 13 September 2013, followed by the second single "Smother" on 6 December 2013.
2006–2007: Formation and beginnings
Thomas Rawle's musical journey began early: he played drums by age four, piano at six, and guitar when he was twelve. Starting at seven years old, he began writing songs, aided by access to basic digital recording equipment provided by his father, a former audio engineer.
In 2006, Rawle adopted the name Papa Vs Pretty to create and perform music that fused electronica with indie rock influences. The following year, he independently wrote and performed all instruments on the EP The Presence. This release received airplay on Sydney’s FBi Radio and favorable reviews from local publications; for example, Drum Media highlighted it as an outstanding debut.
By late 2007, Papa Vs Pretty evolved into a trio with Angus Gardiner joining on bass and Tom Myers taking over drums.
2008–2009: Releases and early exposure
Throughout 2008, Papa Vs Pretty appeared at prominent Australian music festivals such as Peats Ridge and Parklife, as well as performing at the 2009 edition of the Laneway Festival.
In June 2009, now established as a three-piece band, they released their self-titled EP which was met with strong critical praise locally. The accompanying music video for the track "Ballad" featured actress Sophie Lowe. Later that year they produced From the Bunker, an eight-episode live video series filmed in their rehearsal space and shared via Vimeo. This self-produced project included unreleased original songs alongside a cover of Prince's "Purple Rain". Their song "Piper" received airtime on Triple J and was subsequently re-recorded for inclusion on their 2010 Heavy Harm EP.
2010–2012: Heavy Harm and United in Isolation
By 2010, Papa vs Pretty had secured a contract with Peace & Riot. Their third EP, titled Heavy Harm, was launched on 13 August 2010 and marked Peace & Riot's inaugural release. The recording took place at Sydney's Albert Studios with production led by Australian artist Paul Dempsey. The EP included the track "Heavy Harm," which achieved national airplay on Triple J starting June 2010. The release event at Sydney's Spectrum venue sold out, supporting an extensive touring schedule that featured opening slots for Paul Dempsey's Burning Leaves tour, the French group Phoenix, and Silversun Pickups. By the middle of 2010, the band was engaged in writing their debut full-length album, planned for release in 2011. They concluded the year with performances at festivals and commenced recording their first album at BJB Studios in January 2011, while also appearing at Sydney’s Big Day Out and supporting acts such as Hot Hot Heat and Birds of Tokyo.
The lead single "One of the Animals" from their debut album United in Isolation premiered on Triple J on 20 March 2011. The album, produced by five-time ARIA Award recipient Paul McKercher and mixed by Scott Horscroft, was released through Peace & Riot/EMI on 27 May 2011. Thomas Rawle characterized it as "almost a concept album," delving into themes of human nature and love portrayed as "animal behaviour." Different editions featured bonus tracks and interactive artwork created by Rawle, alongside a limited EP of unreleased material entitled Memoirs From A Bedroom: Issue 1. Although this was their first official full-length release, Rawle had composed roughly thirty albums’ worth of material independently.
United in Isolation garnered widespread critical praise, receiving a 9 out of 10 rating from Triple J Magazine and being selected as Triple J’s Feature Album upon its release. It earned nominations for Best Rock Album at the ARIA Music Awards of 2011 and Album of the Year at the J Awards of 2011.
Throughout 2011, Papa vs Pretty toured extensively across Australia with headline shows and supported prominent acts including Kaiser Chiefs and The Vines. They also participated in the tribute album Re-Wiggled: A Tribute to The Wiggles, performing a cover of "Can You (Point your Fingers and do the Twist?)". In early 2012, the band toured along Australia’s east coast as part of the Big Day Out festival and supported Incubus during their Australian tour.
2013–2014: White Deer Park and breakup
In March 2013, Papa vs Pretty commenced recording sessions for their sophomore studio album, White Deer Park, with Grammy-nominated producer Dave Trumfio. Recording took place initially at Studios 301 and Forgotten Valley Studios in Sydney before continuing in April at Kingsize Soundlabs located in Los Angeles. Prior to entering the studio, over eighty songs had been written between 2011 and early 2013. The album was officially released on 21 February 2014, preceded by singles "My Life Is Yours" (September 2013) and "Smother" (December 2013).
On 30 June 2014, the band announced their dissolution via Facebook, expressing gratitude to their supporters and indicating that each member would continue pursuing individual musical endeavors.
Musical style
Papa vs Pretty mainly embraced alternative and indie rock genres, blending influences from grunge, hard rock, funk rock, and electronic music. Their songwriting frequently explores subjects such as alienation, heartbreak, emotional depth, technological impact, and worldwide concerns. Thomas Rawle, the lead singer, is recognized for his falsetto range and complex guitar techniques, drawing creative inspiration from artists like Prince, Eddie Van Halen, Jimmy Page, and Jimi Hendrix. The group’s musical identity includes harmonious melodic backing vocals paired with gritty guitar riffs.
Their artistic influences cover an extensive spectrum, featuring bands and musicians like Radiohead, Queens of the Stone Age, Daft Punk, Aphex Twin, The Smiths, The Mars Volta, Incubus, The Drones, Silverchair, Jack White, Grizzly Bear, Dinosaur Jr., Joy Division, Jeff Buckley, David Bowie, Talking Heads, Tom Waits, Pavement, Roxy Music, Air, Vangelis, and Sergei Prokofiev.
Throughout their career, their sound underwent notable transformation: initial releases were experimental and electronic with unconventional song arrangements; the second EP invited comparisons to Muse, Coldplay, Nine Inch Nails, R.E.M., and Silverchair. The 2010 EP Heavy Harm marked a transition toward a rawer guitar-centric style that fused grunge and classic rock with folk rock nuances. Their 2011 debut album United in Isolation combined heavier rock elements with gentler melodies reminiscent of Radiohead's The Bends, Jeff Buckley, Muse, Silverchair, and prominent Australian '90s Triple J acts. This album highlighted intricate guitar solos and vocal harmonies often likened to Queen and The Darkness.
Past members
- Thomas Rawle – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards, chief songwriter (2006–2014)
- Angus Gardiner – bass guitar, cello, backing vocals (2008–2014)
- Tom Myers – drums, backing vocals (2008–2014)
- Luke Liang – guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (2012–2014)
Luke Liang passed away on 28 August 2018 at 28 years old.
Studio albums
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS | ||
| United in Isolation |
|
40 |
| White Deer Park |
|
35 |
Extended plays
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| The Presence |
|
| Papa Vs. Pretty |
|
| Heavy Harm |
|
| Memoirs from a Bedroom: Issue 1 |
|
| iTunes Sessions |
|
ARIA Music Awards
The ARIA Music Awards are held each year to celebrate outstanding achievement and creativity within all styles of Australian music.
|- | 2011 |United in Isolation | Best Rock Album |
J Awards
Since its inception in 2005 by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's youth-focused radio station Triple J, the J Awards have recognized exceptional contributions to Australian music.
|- | 2011 |United in Isolation | Australian Album of the Year |