Thomas Rawle of Papa Vs Pretty is in a good place. After the highly anticipated release of his band’s debut LP, United in Isolation, the band’s profile has continued to skyrocket, with many proclaiming them as the next big thing. With the band set to embark on yet another national tour, I caught up with Thomas to discuss their ARIA Award nomination, Triple J Award nod, tours, and what’s next for the band on everyone’s lips.

“It’s something we’ve never really thought about, it was a big surprise,” insists Tom when quizzed about the Sydney trio’s nod for a J Award nomination for ‘Album of the Year’, as well as an all-important industry voted ARIA Award nomination for ‘Best Rock Album’. “I never got an award at school, so (being nominated) is something that I’ve never really contemplated. We’ve always been a band, we’ve always done what we’ve done, so this is just something that has happened along that journey.”

With so much success since the release of United In Isolation, and requisite boxes ticked, surely the band have made time to celebrate and reflect on what has been a remarkable few months? “I’ve never really looked back on it,” says Tom. “You know that cliche everyone says, ‘looking forward’? I’m always looking forward, which is good because it means as a band we’re only ever concentrating on what’s in front of us, which has helped us to keep focused.”

In the spirit of looking forward, Papa Vs Pretty’s next venture is a joint one with Melbourne grunge rockers The Vasco Era. Rawle adds that the idea of a co-headline tour emerged out of a mutual desire to elevate both bands to the next size of venue – as well as a common love of noise and distorted guitars. “Since I found out we’d be doing the tour together, I’ve seen The Vasco Era three times. They have so much grit to them that it is a bit like a kick in the teeth with a steel capped boot, which is what I like! It’s always good to tour with fellow rock bands with similar ideals.”

Rawle’s prolific song writing has been well documented since the bands inception, so will they be previewing any upcoming material on this next run of shows? “I know there’s two or three songs that we’ve been waiting to play and we’ve certainly discussed some sort of collaboration between ourselves and The Vasco Era. Whether that will happen or not we’ll have to wait and see.”

Despite the band seeming to have burst onto the Australian music scene relatively suddenly, Rawle maintains that their rise has been a very gradual one. But the undeniable growth Papa Vs Pretty have encountered, in addition to their many national tour supports, has made the prospect of stadium shows in February 2012 with Incubus far less imposing. “We’ve played a lot of different venues in our time, and Incubus are actually one of Tom’s (Myers
- drums) favourite bands, so It’s more exciting than daunting,” explains Rawle.

Beyond this tour, Papa Vs Pretty plan to continue work on a sophomore album, and there is no doubt the music community will be eagerly awaiting the results from one of Australia’s brightest and most genuine prospects. Good luck for the ARIAs!

Papa Vs Pretty + The Vasco Era tour dates:

Wednesday, 23 November 2011 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat VIC
Thursday, 24 November 2011 – Hi Fi, Melb VIC
Friday, 25 November 2011 – Bended Elbow, Geelong VIC
Saturday, 26 November 2011 – Adelaide Uni Bar, Adelaide SA

Incubus support dates:

Friday, 3 February 2012 – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney NSW
Monday, 6 February 2012 – Aec Theatre, Adelaide SA
Wednesday, 8 Febraury 2012 – Festival Hall, Melbourne VIC
Friday, 10 February 2012 – Convention Centre, Brisbane QLD

Via our friends at Alphabet Pony

Papa Vs Pretty are the latest of a collective of incredible artists to tell us all Why Music Matters.

It all started in the UK – a campaign backed by a group of people from across the music community including artists, songwriters, labels, managers, publishers and music stores, formed to remind us all of the value and significance of music. The Music Matters international campaign recently launched in Australia and has been contributed to by Oh Mercy, Nick Cave, Eskimo Joe and other brilliant Aussie artists.

Check out what the Papa boys had to say:

It’s not often a young band comes along brimming with so much talent and promise it makes you wonder what you’ve been doing with your life. Papa Vs Pretty is such a band. With all members sitting on the youthful side of (ahem) twenty, it’s astounding that so much heartfelt love, loss and longing, and everything in between, can be communicated by ones so young. That they also produce one of this year’s best records while they’re at it leaves your mouth open with amazement.

The lads from Papa Vs Pretty had set the bar quite high already with their stellar EP of last year Heavy Harm. This contained the mesmerising and brilliant title track as well as other gems well beyond their years including Wrecking Ball and I Still Believe In Us. A stunning EP if ever there was one.

However, rather than baulk at any attempt at a follow up, these guys have grabbed the chance to make a long player with both hands and they don’t waste a single track. United In Isolation is a complete record from start to finish, a fully realised project that leaves no room for error, which is just as well as none have been made. It’s a perfect indie rock pop mix of awesomeness that blends each member’s qualities together with distinction. The melodies and harmonies, the sizzling guitars, the drum fills, the irresistible rhythm, the subtle strings… it’s got it all. So while the parts are brilliant to begin with, the sum of those parts is truly astounding.

The album opens with the raucous and infectious Life’s Got A Hold On Me as they jump out of the blocks and state their case. For better or worse, they can’t escape life, love and longing all at once. First single One Of The Animals takes it back down a little before the chorus swings in and grabs you while you weren’t looking, momentarily lost in the beautiful opening harmonies. Thomas Rawle’s voice slides seamlessly between wild, earnest rock and soul, and lilting, delicate fragility. It’s a potent mix that’s delivered to perfection throughout the entire record.

The ebb and flow of each song pushes and pulls like an impatient tide demanding to go out yet return again at will. But rather than jerk you about, it sways you in and out at just the right moments. Up then down, in then out… Charity Case and Look For Me begging to be held before seemingly casting off the shackles of unrequited and lost love.

And then the rock kicks in. All squalling guitars and earnest pleas for what could be, Honey jumps out and demands to be heard and answered, with one of the most kick arse little guitar solos in an Australian song for quite some time. Conquistador starts light, warms up, and by the time it finds its feet, it’s truly stomped over and conquered what was lost. Before I Felt Nothing takes it all back down again, succumbing to the emptiness and the just out of reach.

The ebb and flow keeps rolling as Darkest Way seems to find a light and one of the catchiest chorus melodies ever. You can’t help but sing along and love every minute of this bittersweet embrace. But the album’s actually taken a darker turn by this point and Bittersweet lilts and wavers through its frightened opening, slowly building till it explodes with its Queen-esque guitar solo taking centre stage.

Suit & Burn finally signals the end and You Are Not In Love Anymore seems to come to terms with the unrequitedness of love and somehow rest easily against it. Even revel in it. We are not alone together, but together we can be on our own, United In Isolation.

Papa Vs Pretty’s debut album United In Isolation is now available as a deluxe  interactive iTunes LP and a limited edition signed CD +bonus EP.

Our favourite young gentlemen, musical prodigies, and well… friends, Papa Vs Pretty have released a new track One Of The Animals. It’s the first single off their debut album United In Isolation, and you can listen to it below. And then sing along with the lyrics provided on peaceandriot.com.au.

The album was made with Producer / Engineer Paul McKercher (You Am I / Augie March / Sarah Blasko) and mixed by Scott Horscroft (Silverchair / Little Red / The Presets), and is out May 27th 2011.

The stamp above was tested on humans and approved by the EMI Promo / Publicity Dept:

If you wish to hear One Of The Animals and other tracks from the upcoming United In Isolation (or meet some aforementioned PvP tattoo EMI staffmembers), come see Papa Vs Pretty on tour with Last Dinosaurs this month:

• Thursday 24th March – Karova Lounge, Ballarat – Tix
• Friday 25th March – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne – Tix
• Saturday 26th March – Transmission @ Ed Castle, Adelaide – Tix
• Thursday 31st March – Transit Bar, Canberra – Tix
• Friday 1st April – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney – Tix
• Saturday 2nd April – CBD Hotel, Newcastle – Tix

We are incredibly proud to bring you one of the most visually spectacular music videos we’ve seen in years – Papa Vs Pretty’s Wrecking Ball took 5 months and a serious volume of raw materials to piece together.

Phenomenally talented and young (a recurring theme with PvP) director and animator Guy Verge Wallace took over a friend’s house to build life size foam, PVC, and clay puppets. One of the puppets was modeled on Papa’s frontman Thomas Rawle and lip-synched with live green screen footage of Rawle performing the track.

The clip was shot in painstaking stop-motion, effect were done in After Effects, and datamoshing was inspired by The Seven Year Glitch.

Guy Wallace detailed every step of the puppet and film making process – read and get a full photo diary on his blog http://vdubfilmsblog.blogspot.com

Congratulations boys, we are simply blown away. Papa Vs Pretty are on national tour with The Last Dinosaurs this March / April.

In sunny Perth this week for the famed One Movement Festival?

How about dropping in at The Capitol on Thursday evening for a quiet beer and a not-so-quiet music showcase? From 7.30pm we’re proudly presenting a stellar lineup of Australian (& Japanese) talented artists to whet your palate for the following festival daze / days.

Not well acquainted with the lineup? Read about each of the artists below the jump…

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