''Sofa Kings'' is the third
extended play
An extended play record, usually referred to as an EP, is a musical recording that contains more tracks than a single but fewer than an album or LP record. by Australian
guitar-pop
Pop rock (also typeset as pop/rock) is a fusion genre with an emphasis on professional songwriting and recording craft, and less emphasis on attitude than rock music. Originating in the late 1950s as an alternative to normal rock and roll, earl ...
duo
Royel Otis
Royel Otis are an Australian guitar-pop duo from Sydney. The band was formed in 2019 by Royel Maddell and Otis Pavlovic. They released three EPs, including '' Sofa Kings'', before their debut studio album, '' Pratts & Pain'', was released in Fe ...
. It was announced in January 2023 alongside its second single, and released on 31 March 2023. Following its physical release in July 2023, the EP peaked at number 43 on the
ARIA Albums Chart
The ARIA Charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling songs and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA became the offici ...
.
At the
2023 ARIA Music Awards
The 2023 ARIA Music Awards are the 37th Annual Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards (generally known as ARIA Music Awards or simply The ARIAs) and consist of a series of awards, including the 2023 ARIA Awards, ARIA Artisan A ...
, the EP earned the duo a nomination for
Breakthrough Artist.
At the
AIR Awards of 2024
The 2024 AIR Awards is the upcoming eighteenth annual Australian Independent Record Labels Association Music Awards ceremony (generally known as the AIR Awards), scheduled to take place on 1 August 2024 in Adelaide. The 2024 AIR Awards will int ...
, the album was nominated for Best Independent Rock Album or EP.
Critical reception
Sophie Williams from ''
NME
''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming, and culture website and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a 'rock inkie', the NME would become a magazine that ended up as a f ...
'' said "''Sofa Kings'' could only be made by a band who have spent years listening to vibrant 2010s indie acts like
The Drums
The Drums are an American indie pop band from New York City.
Formation
Founding members Jonathan (Jonny) Pierce and Jacob Graham became friends as children, having met at Bible camp at age 11 or 12. Some years later, they formed a short-lived ...
and
Grouplove
Grouplove (often typeset as GROUPLOVE) is an American alternative rock band that was formed in 2009 by Hannah Hooper (lead vocals, keyboards), Christian Zucconi (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Sean Gadd (bass), Andrew Wessen (lead guitar, backing vo ...
, alongside baggier forebears like
The Charlatans. Drawing from this pool of influences means that Royel Otis know how to craft undeniable hooks, familiar enough to satisfy passive listening while simultaneously hinting at a more curious and expansive sound to come."
Terron Moore from ''
MTV
MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...
'' said "On the band's excellent third EP, Royel Otis sing about the things that come with that guttural yearning for love, and what that might feel like at different degrees, from careless freedom to self-flagellating obsession.
Track listing
# "Kool Aid" - 3:36
# "Sofa King" - 3:16
# "I Wanna Dance with You" - 2:54
# "Letter from Roy" 2:04
# "Going Kokomo" - 3:10
# "Razor Teeth" - 2:59
# "Farewell Warning" - 2:43
Charts
References
{{reflist
Albums produced by Dan Carey (record producer)
EPs by Australian artists