Formed in 2019, Royel Otis is a indie-rock duo hailing all the way from the land down under. Following their first official EP in 2021, titled Campus, the pair released Bar and Grill, their second EP which now includes their most popular release "Oysters in my Pocket." The "TikTok-ification" (as I like to call it) of this single pushed the band to new heights, virality in many countries, radio play, and their official big break.
Covers have become a huge part of what makes Royel Otis. Their most popular songs, which have gained global attention, and remarks of being better than the originals, are "Murder on the Dancefloor" (originally by Sophie Ellis-Bextor) and "Linger" (The Cranberries.)
It's notable that their cover of "Murder on the Dancefloor" was nearly written in the stars to blow up. The original was included in the score of the 2023 film Saltburn, and with the recent craze of Royel Otis, it fit hand-in-hand.
The standout of why nearly all of their covers reach viral status, in my opinion, is the originality of the performance. As opposed to a carbon copy of the original, the duo reimagines nostalgic songs into a whole new world. Slowing tempo, changing beats, and everything in between — creates a whole different relationship between the listener and the music itself.
Seeing a fanbase so diverse is truly what brings me all the joy in the world. Packed to the absolute brim on this Tuesday night, The Ritz in Raleigh, NC was as full as I've ever seen it, which is surprising to me it wasn't deemed Sold Out.
One thing I noted about this crowd was their ability to live in the moment. Of course it is a given to want to record moments of your favorite songs, take a couple picture, and so on — I mean who am I to comment, my job IS to take pictures at shows. But this was refreshing, seeing limited amounts of phones up at any given moment, it was a breath of fresh air and something I would love to see more going forward.
Crowd Shots by @ashleyymck
Overall this is going on my list of favorite shows I've had the pleasure to shoot. Not only was I a fan going into it, but something about this night felt different. The energy, and the connection between the crowd and artist all felt so real.
The whole show felt so light hearted, something we all need in the world today. There wasn't a moment the momentum was lost. It's hard to describe how we attribute different aesthetics to artists and albums but Royel Otis portrayed theirs perfectly, making the night, and their performance even more authentic
The US leg of the Meet Me in the Car tour concludes on October 10th at The Rooftop at Pier 17 in NYC. In the meantime, I suggest you hop in your own car, and catch them while you can — you surely won't regret it.
Royal Otis by @ashleyymck
See Royel Otis live HERE
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