You’ve probably seen the videos. Two guys on a stage, maybe a little awkward, definitely very Australian, playing a cover of “Linger” that somehow managed to take over every single person's social media feed in 2024. Or maybe you caught the viral “Murder on the Dancefloor” session on Triple J.
But who actually are the members of Royel Otis?
If you just looked at the name, you’d assume it’s a person. It isn't. It’s a duo. Specifically, it’s Royel Maddell and Otis Pavlovic. They aren’t brothers. They aren’t just some overnight TikTok sensation, either. They’ve been grinding since 2019, and the story of how they met—and who they were before the world started screaming their lyrics back at them—is way weirder than most people realize.
The Faces Behind the Music: Otis and Royel
Basically, the band is a two-headed beast from Sydney.
Otis Pavlovic is the voice. He’s the younger of the two, born in 2000. He grew up in Bondi, spending his time surfing, skating, and busking in front of the local IGA supermarket with his best mate. He’s got this nonchalant, almost monotone vocal delivery that makes everything sound cool without trying.
Then there’s Royel Maddell. He’s about ten years older, born in 1989. His real name is actually Leroy Bressington. Before this project, he was fronting a band called Cabins and releasing solo stuff under the name Leroy Francis. He’s the multi-instrumentalist—the guy playing those jangly, infectious guitar lines and the driving bass that makes you want to drive too fast down a coastal highway.
Honestly, the dynamic works because they are so different. Otis is the coastal kid who found music through the Pixies; Royel is the Central Coast guy who got suspended from school seven times in one year and only started playing guitar because a principal forced him into music classes to burn off his "energy."
How They Actually Met (No, It Wasn't an App)
There’s this misconception that bands just "happen" now through algorithms. Not these guys.
The members of Royel Otis actually crossed paths because of a messy web of mutual friends and girlfriends. Royel’s girlfriend at the time worked with Otis’s girlfriend. They ended up hanging out around a pool table in a Sydney bar.
Otis, who was just finishing high school, eventually worked up the nerve to send Royel some demos. Royel has described it as the collaboration he’d been chasing his whole life. They realized later that their families had been friends for decades—Royel’s dad and Otis’s uncle were mates—and they’d probably even been at the same farmhouses as kids without ever knowing it.
It’s kinda like fate, but with more beer and pool cues.
The Growing Crew: Who Else is on Stage?
While the core members of Royel Otis are a duo, you’ll see four people on stage during their massive 2025 "meet me in the car" tour.
- Tim Ayre: He’s been the touring keyboardist and synthesizer wizard since the beginning. He adds that "new wave" texture that makes their sound feel like it was plucked out of 1982.
- Tim Commandeur: He handles the drums. If you’ve seen them live at a festival like Reading or Glastonbury, he’s the reason the floor is shaking.
They’ve kept the touring lineup tight. It’s a smart move. It keeps the "duo" identity intact while making sure the sound is big enough to fill rooms like the O2 Academy in Glasgow or the Metro in Chicago.
Why the Name Royel Otis?
People keep asking if "Royel" is a misspelling of "Royal." It’s not. It’s just Royel's name (well, his chosen name). They literally just smashed their two first names together. It’s simple, it’s effective, and it’s a lot better than some of the indie band names we’ve had to deal with over the last decade.
Beyond the Covers: The 2024-2025 Explosion
It’s easy to dismiss them as "the cover band" because of the SiriusXM and Triple J hits. That is a massive mistake.
If you look at their 2024 debut album Pratts & Pain, it’s a masterclass in guitar-pop. It was produced by Dan Carey, the guy who worked with Wet Leg and Fontaines D.C. They actually named the album after a pub in South London where they spent their breaks drinking and writing.
By the time they dropped their sophomore album Hickey in August 2025, they weren’t just "breakout artists" anymore. They were winning ARIAs for Best Group and Best Rock Album. They even landed a spot supporting the Foo Fighters.
- Oysters in My Pocket: The 2022 breakout that started as an inside joke.
- Sofa King: A baggy, synth-heavy anthem about being "couch royalty" in a messed-up world.
- Moody: A highlight from Hickey that shows a more vulnerable, heart-on-sleeve side of the duo.
- Going Kokomo: Featured in the EA Sports FC 24 soundtrack (the old FIFA for the boomers reading this).
What to Expect Next from Royel and Otis
The members of Royel Otis are currently on a trajectory that looks a lot like Tame Impala’s early days. They’ve signed with Capitol Records, they’re selling out 100,000+ tickets globally, and they aren't slowing down.
What most people miss is that they are surprisingly DIY. Even with the big labels and the Grammy mentions, they still talk about writing songs in Royel’s sunroom in Sydney. They still seem a little shocked when 2,000 people in a different hemisphere know every word to "Fried Rice."
If you’re trying to follow their journey, keep an eye on their live recordings. They recently released a "Live at Apple Music Radio" set in late 2025 that captures that raw, slightly messy energy they’re famous for.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Listen to the full Hickey album rather than just the singles; tracks like "Jazz Burger" offer a much deeper look into their writing.
- Check out Royel’s older work as Leroy Francis if you want to hear the grittier, solo roots of the band's sound.
- Catch them live in early 2026 before they start playing stadiums—the intimacy of their current theatre tour is where their chemistry really shines.