The Paper Scissors
| Company type | Independent |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Defunct | 2012 |
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
| Products | Music albums, EPs |
The Paper Scissors was an Australian rock ensemble active between 2005 and 2012, with its last roster including Jai Pyne, Xavier Naughton, and Ivan Lisyak. Their musical style fused elements of garage-punk, rock, and soul, establishing them as one of Sydney's prominent bands during that era.
The Paper Scissors EP
In 2006, the group independently launched a self-titled EP through their own label, Our First Label, with distribution handled by MGM. The lead single "We Don't Walk" received airplay on Sydney’s FBi Radio as well as the national broadcaster Triple J. This track later appeared in the Nine Network’s television series Underbelly and was utilized in promotional campaigns for Unwired Australia, an internet service provider.
Less Talk More Paper Scissors LP and subsequent years
Their first full-length album, Less Talk More Paper Scissors (LTMPS), was issued in 2007 via Our First Label and garnered favorable critiques from Australian media, including being named album of the month by The Sydney Magazine. The primary single "Yamanote Line," inspired by a train route in Tokyo, enjoyed frequent rotation on Triple J and was also aired on BBC 6. Additionally, the song "Tipped Hat" was featured in a commercial for Riva Coffee. Industry commentator Richard Kingsmill noted the band’s effective approach to leveraging advertising opportunities for both financial gain and increased visibility.
During this period, the band also took on hosting and programming duties for ABC Television’s music video program Rage. In 2008, they contributed a cover of Hall & Oates’ 1981 track "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" to The Rewind Project, an initiative led by Spanish DJs Buffet Libre.
Touring
After releasing LTMPS, The Paper Scissors embarked on extensive tours throughout Australia to promote the album. Their live performances included appearances at major festivals such as Parklife Festival, The Playground Weekender Festival, Southbound, St Kilda Festival, The Great Escape, and Falls Festival. In 2008, they joined forces with Sydney-based band bluejuice for a co-headlining national tour.
Howl and "T-T-Time"
June 2009 saw the release of the Howl EP, which contained two original songs alongside remixes crafted by Sydney artists including The E.L.F (Darren Cross from Gerling), Cleptocleptics, and Spod. The EP's title track "Howl" was placed into heavy rotation on Triple J. Later that year, in November 2009, they digitally released "T-T-Time," which also received significant airplay on Triple J; its accompanying video was honored as indie clip of the week on ABC TV’s Rage.
In Loving Memory and "Lung Sum"
By December 2009, work was underway to finalize their sophomore album In Loving Memory, with overdubs and production elements nearing completion. Early in 2010, the band confirmed ongoing studio sessions across various locations and indicated that the album was close to being finished. That same year, they secured a publishing agreement with New York-based Dramatico Publishing.
The lead single from In Loving Memory, titled "Lung Sum," debuted in October 2010 and was selected as indie clip of the week on ABC TV's Rage. In February 2011, guitarist Jai Pyne disclosed that British producer Tom McFall—recognized for his collaborations with UK rock outfit Bloc Party and Canadian indie band Stars—was completing final mixes in London. The album’s mastering process took place at London's Exchange studio under Mike Marsh.
In Loving Memory critical reception
Released on 17 June 2011, In Loving Memory was met with widespread praise from both Australian and international critics:
"In Loving Memory stands as a remarkable example of creativity and precision" – Brag Magazine (Australia) "Among the most undeniably innovative albums of 2011" – Stereoboard (United Kingdom) "A stunning discovery... easily one of my top albums of 2011" – Indie Shuffle (United States)
The album earned the distinction of Album of The Week on Sydney's influential FBi Radio and received consistent airplay on the Californian station KCRW, recognized for championing independent music.
Free EP and disbanding
In May 2012, the group issued a complimentary EP named Free through their official website, which included four music videos created by Sydney-based visual artists. The video for "Held Down Threw Up" debuted on ABC TV’s music show, Rage, on 17 August 2012. On 28 August, they announced via Twitter that their penultimate performance was forthcoming. Their formal announcement on 29 August attributed the decision to disband to obstacles such as limited career opportunities within Australia’s compact market and restrictions in national radio exposure.
They arranged a final concert in Sydney before concluding activities in 2012.
Since disbanding
Following the band's dissolution, Jai Pyne and Ivan Lisyak have continued contributing to Sydney’s music community. Ivan Lisyak has worked with artists including Philadelphia Grand Jury, Tanned Christ, Jack Colwell, Post Paint, Marcus Whale, and produces under the name HVISKE alongside Kusum Normoyle. Jai Pyne co-established the record label Turktown with producer Caleb Jacobs and released a solo EP titled Jaisus in 2015. Additionally, he composes scores for film and television and opened the café Fleetwood Macchiato in Sydney.
Awards
- Shortlisted for the 2007 Spirit of Youth Award
- Finalist in the 2010 International Songwriting Competition