Papa vs Pretty
» Papa vs Pretty unleash From the Bunker - August 6, 2009
» Papa vs Pretty - Annandale Hotel, The, NSW - June 24, 2011
» Last Dinosaurs & Papa Vs. Pretty - Joe's Waterhole Hotel, QLD - March 19, 2011
He may be barely out of high school, but Thomas Rawle has "been making music for a long time." With his father a recording engineer, music seems to have always been a part of his life. Now with his band Papa vs Pretty having just released their debut album to rave reviews, the boys embarking on a national tour at the end of June, and with some quite noteworthy support slots to look forward to, it's looking like music will be a very BIG part of his life.
Sydney band Papa vs Pretty have been together for about three years now, with Thomas meeting Tom Myers (drums, backing vocals) in high school and Gus Gardiner (bass guitar, cello, backing vocals) being introduced through a mutual friend. The chemistry between the trio is amazing, and they are proving to be a musical force to be reckoned with.
The name came about through a discussion with the first person Thomas made music with about what their first words were. "My first word was pretty, and his was Papa," Thomas recalled. It seemed like a good name for a band, and Thomas stuck with it.
Their debut album United In Isolation is out now and there are some great things being said about it, being described as 'raucous and infectious', and the first single "One of the Animals" has been receiving high rotation on stations such as JJJ.
It's a powerful, cohesive collection of songs, with amazing harmonic layers, that works beautifully as a whole. "All the songs were written together. I always do things as a collection so it comes together as a body of work," Thomas said.
The album was recorded at the wonderfully named Big Jesus Burger studios in Surrey Hills, surrounding themselves with experience and talent in the form of Paul McKercher (You Am I, Augie March, Sarah Blasko) producing and Scott Horscroft (The Presets, Silverchair, The Sleepy Jackson) doing the mixing.
Not that it's their first foray into recording. Papa vs Pretty released a self titled EP in 2009 followed by the impressive Heavy Harm, produced by Paul Demspey in 2010.
The amazing eye-catching artwork for the album, "Mona Bear", was done by Dirk Larsen, a Bristol based creative genius of which Thomas is a massive fan.
"I love his work, and asked if we could use the piece. He liked the album and gave us permission," Thomas shared.
Now that they're all eighteen, things are a little easier on the touring front. "There were times we had to wait outside venues until it was time to play, and then leave straight after," Thomas said.
Not that the boys have too much trouble securing gigs. Their reputation as professionals with an enigmatic live set have seen them tour with The Temper Trap, British India, Dappled Cities, Paul Dempsey and Last Dinosaurs, and they have just been announced as support for The Kaiser Chiefs on their Splendour sideshows.
"We've done most of the festivals too," Thom added. "Big Day Out , Peats Ridge and we get to do the River Sessions in Mackay in July." And let's not forget to add Pyramid Rock, Parklife and St Jeromes to the mix.
Their latest tour will see them headlining as they launch their album at venues around Australia, taking in shows in Newcastle, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Fremantle and Perth, with a stop off to perform at The River Sessions in Mackay with an exciting cast, and ending with three shows with The Kaiser Chiefs.
"The songs are recorded and developed to work at a basic level with the three of us," Thomas explains. "We work on the harmonic layers, and write for our specific instruments. It's made to work live and it's made to work LOUD."
It's a combination not to be missed. Check out Papa vs Pretty as they launch United in Isolation on their national tour and see what all the fuss is about. You won't regret it.
