Aussie indie rock band Papa Vs Pretty have announced that they have decided to split.
The Sydney-based quartet had only just played the River Sessions festival in Mackay on Saturday (as spotlighted in our recent festivals column) alongside the likes of The Amity Affliction, RÜFÜS, Illy, and Megan Washington, but the band took to their social media this afternoon to reveal that they were calling it a day.
“After almost a decade of making music as Papa vs Pretty we are sad to announce that all good things come to an end,” reads the Facebook statement from the band: frontman Tom Rawle, bassist Gus Gardiner, drummer Tom Myers, and keys and guitar player Luke Liang.
“It’s been a privilege and a pleasure making music together and we’ll continue to pursue our love of music and remain the best of friends. Thank you to everyone who has supported us along the way!” The Facebook farewell as accompanied by an image of the band with the message: ‘Thank you & goodbye.”
Pap Vs Pretty released their second album, White Deer Park, in February, three years after releasing their debut J Award nominated full-length debut, United In Isolation. The record peaked on the ARIA Albums Chart at #35 last May.
Our Tone Deaf reviewer described the album as “show[ing] no signs of a sophomore slump – probably thanks to the addition of guitarist Luke Liang and the input of Grammy-nominated producer, Dave Trumfio (Wilco, My Morning Jacket, Grandaddy);” also praising the band’s maturity which “sets them apart from your stock standard, Aussie Jungle-Hungry-Kids-Safari-Jinja-Giants.”
Papa Vs Pretty were first born in 2006, as the solo alias for Rawle (who had begun writing songs at the tender age of seven). The following year the singer, guitarist, and producer released his first EP, mistakenly named The Presence by Sydney’s FB after Rawle delivered the unnamed release as a ‘present’ to the community station.
The band officially became a trio in late 2007, with Gardiner and Myers joining Papa Vs Pretty as Rawle began touring. By 2008 they had toured the country and taken in performance at Laneway, Parklife, and Peats Ridge Festivals.
An eponymous EP was released in 2009 followed by another short-form release, Heavy Harm, in 2010 – produced by Something For Kate frontman Paul Dempsey – while the title track began receiving rotation from Triple J. Heavy touring followed, including opening slots on national jaunts from Dempsey, Phoenix, Silversun Pickups, and more festival slots at Pyramid Rock and Big Day Out 2011.
United In Isolation was released in May 2011, earning critical praise from local press while earning an ARIA Award nod for ‘Best Rock Album’ and a J Award nomination from Triple J in a year that saw them touring with Kaiser Chiefs, The Vines and a return to the Big Day Out in 2012.
