Kait Dugan October 13 was one of those days in New York City that you really don’t want to go outside unless there’s something that you simply can’t miss happening around. The weather was monstrous – my recently gifted umbrella flipped upside down and inside out about four times on my walk to Terminal 5, a venue on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. It was downpouring, freezing, and not to mention, dark! But I knew that I would have major FOMO if the weather stopped me from photographing the Australian indie-pop duo Royel Otis.
Royel Otis
The concert was originally scheduled at the Rooftop at Pier 17, one of my favorite venues ever! But due to a nor’easter, Royel Otis switched to an indoor venue for their second stop in New York. It was clear that I wasn’t the only one who wouldn’t let a weather emergency stop me from enjoying the night, as the venue was packed floor to ceiling. As it turns out, this was the last stop on their “meet me in the car” tour for the United States leg.
Royel Otis consists of band members Royel Maddell and Otis Pavlovic. The band grew quite popular after they covered Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s hit song “Murder on the Dancefloor” for triple j’s “Like A Version” series.
I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Royel Otis perform twice in 2025, both times in NYC! They took the main stage at Gov Ball on Sunday—a coveted day for indie fans—sharing the lineup with Hozier, Clairo, The Japanese House, and Mt. Joy. The crowd was clearly captivated by their sound, original music, and covers. From “Murder on the Dancefloor” to The Cranberries’ “Linger,” Royel Otis, in my humble opinion, delivers some of the best alternative covers of the 2020s.
While more reserved in performance and personality, the bands graphics, visuals, and sound really make them stand out amongst other indie groups that are growing today. I’d describe Royel Otis as the alt ‘90s skater duo you want to listen to every October. With a pretty gender-neutral fanbase, their music is fun for all to absorb and relate to. Now entering the Australian leg of their Fall 2025 tour, the boys are back home to share their music where it first started.
Photos by Kait Dugan. Copyright © 2025 Kait Dugan ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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