Australian indie-pop duo Royel Otis are back with a brand-new track, “say something,” the latest preview from their much-anticipated debut album hickey. The bittersweet yet upbeat single is out now via OURNESS / Capitol Records / Universal Music Canada — and it’s already making waves, earning its first play on The Zane Lowe Show and landing on Apple Music’s New Music Daily playlist.
Related posts:
The track, which fans can stream now, also comes with an official music video.
“say something” was co-written by bandmates Royel Maddell and Otis Pavlovic, along with hitmakers Billy Walsh (Post Malone, The Weeknd) and Omer Fedi (Lil Nas X, The Kid LAROI). The result is a dreamy, guitar-driven song filled with emotion, as Otis sings about trying to connect before it’s too late. “Sucking all my energy / And even though you wear me out, I’m not gonna let this go / So what do you want from me, what do you need? / Can you say something? Say something / I’m trying to work it out before you leave.”
“This is a song about unspoken words,” Royel Otis shared.
“say something” follows the duo’s breakout hit “moody,” which has now spent three weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult Alternative Airplay chart. That makes Royel Otis the first new act of 2025 to top that chart — a major milestone. The laid-back track was described by Ones to Watch as “the perfect indie daydream,” and it’s easy to see why.
Earlier this summer, the band released another fan favorite, “car,” which premiered as a BBC Radio 1 Hottest Record. The music video and a special acoustic performance filmed live in Los Angeles are both available to watch now. Blunt Magazine called the song “classic Royel Otis: hazy vocals, understated heartbreak, and that dream-pop glaze they’ve made their calling card,” while FLOOD Magazine featured the duo on their digital cover.
Since then, Royel Otis have been lighting up stages at major festivals like Governor’s Ball and Glastonbury, with even more big performances on the way — including Fuji Rock, Lollapalooza, Osheaga, and Outside Lands.
They’re also gearing up for their upcoming “meet me in the car” tour, which kicks off August 5 in Seattle. The run includes stops across North America, Australia (with a headline show at Melbourne’s Margaret Court Arena), and Europe. Several cities — including Austin, Toronto, and New York — are already sold out.
Click here for more stories like this. You may also follow and subscribe to our social media accounts: Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, X, and Kumu.
