In 1998,[1][3][4] Greg Hitchcock, Tim Oxley, Jodi Phillis and Raphael Whittingham, who were successful artists solo or in various other acts,[3][5] formed The Dearhunters in a pub in Sydney.[2] They first performed several times under the name "Lunar Tunes" in April 1998.[4] The group released a single album, "Red Wine and Blue" which was recorded in roughly three weeks,[2] and released under Candle Records in 1999;[2] it was launched at the Hopetoun Hotel in Surry Hills. On working on the album, Phillis said in an interview that "in this group I feel free to explore any territory and I’m not afraid to get too introspective or sentimental". She went on further to say that The Dearhunters was a side project for her.[5]
They also appeared on a compilation featuring artists or groups under Candle Records,[6] as well as releasing a split EP shared with Hired Guns,[7] which was released on vinyl.[8]"Red wine and blue" features dual vocals between Oxley and Phillis,[7] and as a group, they have produced favorable reviews.[2][9] Following the release of their split EP in 1999 and full length album in the same year,[1] Whittingham left the group and was replaced by Ashton.[3] Then, after a small subsequent tour following their album release, the group disbanded and returned to prior musical projects or engaged in new ones.[7][10]
