The Preatures

For the 1960's American band with a similar name, see The Preachers.

The Preatures
Isabella Manfredi and Jack Moffitt, 2019
Isabella Manfredi and Jack Moffitt, 2019
Background information
OriginSydney, Australia
Genres
Years active2010–2021; 2024
LabelsMercury Records Australia
Members
Websitepreatures.com

The Preatures are an Australian indie rock band from Sydney, New South Wales, who formed in 2010 and disbanded in 2021. The band consisted of lead vocalist and keyboardist Isabella "Izzi" Manfredi, guitarist and vocalist Jack Moffitt, bassist Thomas Champion, and drummer Luke Davison. Vocalist and guitarist Gideon Bensen was a member of the band until 2016. In 2013, the Preatures won the Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition with their song "Is This How You Feel?" They disbanded in 2021, following the launch of Manfredi's solo career. They reunited in December 2024 for a one-off concert to commemorate their tenth anniversary.

History

Thomas Champion and Jack Moffitt were school friends at Newington College, Sydney,[1] and they met Isabella Manfredi at the Australian Institute of Music in 2008. They formed as a trio first, before meeting vocalist and guitarist Gideon Bensen at the Lansdowne Hotel and asking him to write songs for them. In 2010, they met and added Luke Davison,[2] calling themselves the Preachers.[3]

In 2012, they changed the spelling of their name to the Preatures to avoid legal complications with other bands using similar names.[citation needed] They signed with Mercury Records for a five-album contract and recorded their debut EP, Shaking Hands, in Los Angeles.[4] The EP featured the single "Take a Card", written by Manfredi, with Bensen on lead vocals. It was uploaded to Triple J Unearthed.[5]

In 2013, they released their second extended play, Is This How You Feel?, which was preceded by two singles, "Is This How You Feel?" and "Manic Baby". "Is This How You Feel?" had considerable success, winning the $50,000 Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition,[6][7] receiving a nomination for an ARIA Award for Best Pop Release,[8] and being voted ninth in Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2013.[9]

The band's debut studio album, Blue Planet Eyes, was released on 30 September 2014,[10] peaking at No. 4 on the ARIA Albums Chart.[11] At the 2015 ARIA Awards, the group were nominated in three categories.[8]

Bensen left the band on good terms in March 2016.[12] Their second studio album, Girlhood, was released on 11 August 2017 by Island Records. It was nominated for an ARIA Award for Best Rock Album.[13] The single "Yanada" was co-written with Darug musician Jacinta Tobin.[14] Along with the release of the single, the Preatures launched a campaign to help the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies raise money to maintain the documentation of Indigenous languages.[14]

Following a prolonged period of inactivity, Manfredi confirmed the band's breakup in May 2021. The end of her ten-year romantic relationship with Moffitt, along with a record contract they were unhappy with, were the main reasons for the split. Manfredi pursued a solo career,[15] while Davison began playing drums for Australian artists Delta Goodrem and Dean Lewis. Moffitt pursued a career in production as well as playing guitar with Tyne-James Organ. Manfredi spoke at some length about the breakup of the band and her personal relationships with Rolling Stone Australia in 2021.[16]

On 10 December 2024, the band reunited for a one-off performance at Sydney's Lansdowne Hotel, the first venue they had ever played, to commemorate their tenth anniversary, and reissued Blue Planet Eyes on vinyl to celebrate the occasion.[17] Jem Cassar-Daley opened for the band.[18]

Discography

Albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
AUS
[19]
Blue Planet Eyes 4
Girlhood 13

EPs

Title Album details
Shaking Hands
  • Released: 12 October 2012
  • Label: Mosy, Mercury Records (3717118)
  • Formats: CD, digital download
Is This How You Feel?
  • Released: 9 August 2013
  • Label: Mosy, Mercury Records (3747799)
  • Formats: CD, digital download

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
AUS
[19]
"Take a Card"[22] 2012 — Shaking Hands
"Young Brave Me"[23] —
"Is This How You Feel?" [24] 2013 46 Is This How You Feel?
"Manic Baby" [26] —
"Better Than It Ever Could Be"[27] 2014 — Non-album single
"Two Tone Melody" [28] — Blue Planet Eyes
"Somebody's Talking" [29] 79
"Cruel" 2015 —
"I Know a Girl"[30] 2016 — Non-album single
"Girlhood"[31] 2017 — Girlhood
"Yanada" —
"Magick"[32] 2018 —

Awards and nominations

APRA Awards

The APRA Awards are presented annually from 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), "honouring composers and songwriters". They commenced in 1982.[33]

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2014 "Is This How You Feel" (Thomas Champion, Luke Davison, Isabella Manfredi, Jack Mofitt) Song of the Year Nominated [34]
2015 "Somebody's Talking" (Gideon Bensen, Thomas Champion, Luke Davison, Isabella Manfredi, Jack Mofitt) Song of the Year Shortlisted [35]
The Preatures (Gideon Bensen, Thomas Champion, Luke Davison, Isabella Manfredi, Jack Mofitt) Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year Nominated [36]

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2013 Is This How You Feel? Best Pop Release Nominated [37]
2014 Two Tone Medley Tour Best Australian Live Act Nominated
2015 Blue Planet Eyes Best Group Nominated [38]
Best Rock Album Nominated
The Cruel Tour Best Australian Live Act Nominated
2017 Girlhood Best Rock Album Nominated [39]

J Awards

The J Awards are an annual series of Australian music awards that were established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's youth-focused radio station Triple J. They commenced in 2005.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2014 Blue Planet Eyes Australian Album of the Year Nominated [40]

National Live Music Awards

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.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2018 The Preatures Live Pop Act of the Year Nominated [41][42]

Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition

The Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition is an annual competition that "acknowledges great songwriting whilst supporting and raising money for Nordoff-Robbins"; it is coordinated by Albert Music and APRA AMCOS. It commenced in 2009.[43]

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2013 Isabella Manfredi for "Is This How You Feel?" Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition 1st [44]

References

  1. ^ "The Preatures (with two Old Newingtonians) wins Songwriting Competition]". Newington College. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  2. ^ Weston, Liana (7 March 2015). "Sound Scout: The Preatures Are the Ultimate pop-rock band—sans the rockstar complex". Teen Vogue. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  3. ^ "The Preatures revisit growing pains". The West Australian. 10 August 2017. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  4. ^ Fitzsimons, Scott (27 August 2012). "The Preatures sign to Mercury Records for five album deal". The Music. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  5. ^ "The Preatures". Triple J. 2012.
  6. ^ "The Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition". APRA AMCOS. 15 December 2020. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  7. ^ "Isabella Manfredi". Q+A. 20 December 2018. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  8. ^ a b ARIA Music Awards for the Preatures:
  9. ^ "The Countdown". Triple J. 2013.
  10. ^ Monger, Timothy. "Blue Planet Eyes Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  11. ^ Hung, Steffen. "Discography: The Preatures". Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  12. ^ "Gideon Bensen, guitarist of The Preatures has left the band". Triple J. March 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
  13. ^ "The Preatures – Girlhood". Clash. 11 August 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  14. ^ a b Harmon, Steph (3 August 2017). "Isabella Manfredi on the Preatures' new song: 'I want Indigenous language on the radio again'". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  15. ^ "The Preatures break up as Isabella Manfredi goes solo". triple j. 25 May 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  16. ^ "The secret truth of the soon to be formerly known Preatures frontwoman, Isabella Manfredi". Rolling Stone Australia (Interview). Interviewed by Reid, Poppy. 25 May 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  17. ^ "The Preatures to reform and play their first ever venue again". noise11.com. 2 December 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
  18. ^ Radojkovic, Mick (11 December 2024). "Review: The Preatures @ The Lansdowne Hotel (Sydney)". scenestr. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  19. ^ a b Peaks in Australia:
  20. ^ "ARIA Charts — Accreditations — 2018 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  21. ^ Kaye, Ben (3 June 2017). "The Preatures announce second album, Girlhood, share video for title track – watch". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  22. ^ "The Preatures – Take a Card". Indie Shuffle. April 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  23. ^ "Young Brave Me – Single by the Preatures on Bandcamp". Bandcamp. August 2012. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  24. ^ "Is This How You Feel? – Single by the Preatures on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  25. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2018 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  26. ^ "Manic Baby – Single by the Preatures on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  27. ^ "Better Than It Ever Could Be – Single by the Preatures on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  28. ^ "Two Tone Melody – Single by the Preatures on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  29. ^ "ARIA Chartifacts 8-September-2014". Australian-Charts. 8 September 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  30. ^ "I Know a Girl – Single by the Preatures on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  31. ^ "Girlhood – Single by the Preatures on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  32. ^ "Magick (Jack Moffitt Mix) – Single by the Preatures on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  33. ^ "APRA History". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  34. ^ "Song of the Year". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  35. ^ "APRA's Shortlist Of The Top Aussie Songs Of 2014 Is Hereng of the Year!". Music Feeds. 15 January 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  36. ^ "Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). 2015. Archived from the original on 19 March 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  37. ^ "ARIA Noms + Fine Arts & Artisan Winners". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). 14 October 2012. Archived from the original on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
  38. ^ Baroni, Nastassia (7 October 2015). "Courtney Barnett, Hermitude, Tame Impala Lead 2015 ARIA Award Nominations". musicfeeds.com.au. Archived from the original on 10 October 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  39. ^ "2017 ARIA Awards Nominated Artists Revealed". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). 10 October 2017. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  40. ^ "J Awards: 2014". Triple J. 2014. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  41. ^ "NLMAs announce 2018 nominees and Live legend". National Live Music Awards (NLMAs). 2 October 2018. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  42. ^ "Winners of the 2018 NLMAs". National Live Music Awards (NLMAs). 7 December 2018. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  43. ^ "About the Vanda & Young Global Song Writing Competition". APRA AMCOS. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  44. ^ "Past Winners". APRA AMCOS. Retrieved 13 March 2021.