Royel Otis deliver 13 tracks of modern love and chaos on their cinematic sophomore album ‘hickey’, out now.
Royel Otis dive into the depths of romantic complexity on their sophomore record hickey, released today through OURNESS/Capitol Records. The Australian duo—Royel Maddell and Otis Pavlovic—have crafted a layered project that captures the ecstasy and confusion of modern love, amplified by a dreamy mix of synth-pop, jangly guitars, and raw storytelling.
The album arrives on a high note. Their hit single “moody” is holding strong after seven weeks at #1 on Billboard’s Adult Alternative Airplay chart, and recent performances—from The Tonight Show to global festivals—have positioned them as one of the most exciting acts to watch.
Hickey is packed with shimmering highlights, but “who’s your boyfriend” stands out. The song, co-written with Amy Allen and produced by Blake Slatkin, finds the duo caught in the emotional mess of undefined relationships. The accompanying video, directed by Lauren Dunn and starring Lola Tung, mirrors that push and pull with bold visual storytelling. 
Beyond the music, Royel Otis’ viral cover of The Cranberries’ “Linger” made it into an episode of The Summer I Turned Pretty—a nod to their growing cultural resonance.
What ties everything together on hickey is the duo’s ability to articulate the little contradictions of love: vulnerability masked as humor, longing hidden in rhythm, and clarity wrapped in confusion. “Love bites harder than any other emotion in the world,” they say—and hickey proves that sentiment in sound.
With their “meet me in the car” tour set to take them across the U.S., Europe, and Australia, Royel Otis are fully in motion—delivering a sophomore record that’s both musically expansive and emotionally grounded.
