Oh Pep! are an Australian band formed in Melbourne, Australia by Olivia Hally (vocals, guitar) and Pepita Emmerichs (violin, mandolin). Their debut album, Stadium Cake, was released on 24 June 2016.
The duo met at the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School in 2009, and began writing songs together.[2][1] In mid-2011, their musical duo, known as Oh Pep!, expanded into a five-piece lineup with Stuart West (double bass), Paddy Montgomery (mandolin, bouzouki) and Justin Olsson (drums, percussion).[2] The band's line-up has changed several times since, with Hally and Emmerichs the constant factor in all line-up configurations.
The band's self-titled debut EP, which was entirely self-produced and funded, was released on 6 September 2012.[2][6] Their second EP, II, was released on 10 October 2013.[7]
In January 2013, Oh Pep! covered Paul Simon's Graceland in its entirety as part of the event "RocKwiz presents Pure Pop's Summer of Classic Albums".[2][8] In November 2014, the band performed as a showcase act at the Australasian Worldwide Music Expo.[9]
Oh Pep! released their third EP, Living, on 21 August 2015, through Star House Collective.[10] Oh Pep! performed at the 2015 Americana Music Festival & Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, where Pop Matters' listed them as one of the event's "unquestionable standouts",[11] writing that "seeing Oh Pep! is one of those times when the crowd realizes they're seeing future stars for the first time."
For Stadium Cake, Oh Pep! sought to explore different musical styles. According to Hally, "We're more aware now of exactly what we want with our sound, and for that matter exploring sounds that we haven't used before. [...] There's more of a pop influence this time, some rock."[18] In their review of the band's debut album, The Village Voice described the Oh Pep! sound as "starting off slow and spare — all delicate strumming and hushed vocals — it soon grows into something fast, boisterous, and baroque [...] From the get-go it's clear that Stadium Cake is a pop album."[19]
The band's music featured in the 2017 short film Martha The Monster, directed by Christopher Weekes.[20] "Doctor Doctor" also appeared in season one of the television series The Bold Type.[21]
The Music Victoria Awards (previously known as The Age EG Awards and The Age Music Victoria Awards) are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music.[27][28]
The National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) are a broad recognition of Australia's diverse live industry, celebrating the success of the Australian live scene. The awards commenced in 2016.
^Stadium Cake was released on Dualtone Records in North America,[15] Star House Collective in Europe,[16] and Barely Dressed Records in Australia and New Zealand.[17]
