Papa vs Pretty has gained notable attention in the Australian music scene for their "intimidatingly tight"[2] and energetic live performances.

Writing his own songs and composing music from the age of 7, Rawle had access to basic digital recording equipment and gear because his father used to be an audio engineer.

[12] In 2006, Rawle adopted the stage name Papa Vs Pretty to write, record, and perform his music under, creating songs which fused elements of electronica and indie rock.

[13] In late 2007, Rawle invited friends Angus Gardiner and Tom Myers to join him as full-time members, playing bass guitar and drums, respectively, and Papa vs Pretty became a three-piece band.

Later that year the band released an eight-part video series of live performances filmed in their rehearsal space, entitled From the Bunker, via Vimeo.

This self-produced series of music videos showcased previously unreleased original songs, and a cover version of Prince's Purple Rain.

[17] The song "Piper" was featured on Triple J radio station, and was then later re-recorded to be released on their Heavy Harm EP in 2010.

The first single, title-track "Heavy Harm", was added to national rotation on Triple J radio station in June 2010,[3] and in July, an animated music video for the song was released online and rotated on Rage and Channel V. The Heavy Harm EP was officially launched at a sold-out headline show at Sydney's Spectrum on 28 August.

On 20 March 2011 the first-single from their debut album United in Isolation, "One of the Animals", had its radio premiere on Triple J with Richard Kingsmill.

[12] Upon its release on 27 May 2011, United in Isolation met with positive reviews, including a 9 out of 10 rating from Triple J Magazine[5] with the mature songwriting and production in particular praised.

[32] As a whole, the band cite that they are influenced by many artists from a diverse range of genres, including Radiohead, Queens of the Stone Age,[18] Daft Punk, Aphex Twin, The Smiths, The Mars Volta, At The Drive-In, Incubus, Prince, The Drones, Silverchair, Jack White, Jimi Hendrix, Grizzly Bear, Dinosaur Jr, Battles, Joy Division, Elliott Smith, Jeff Buckley, David Bowie, Talking Heads, Tom Waits, Pavement, The Reels, Roxy Music, Air, Vangelis, and Sergei Prokofiev.

[33][34] Papa vs Pretty's musical style and sound has drawn wide-ranging comparisons to many different artists and genres throughout its evolution.

Evolving dramatically since their conception, their earlier musical output has been described as much more experimental, indie and electronic sounding, applying a "deconstructuralist ethic... to traditional song structures,"[35] and creating "impulsive and spontaneous compositions".

"[38] The album is also notable for its prominence of guitar solos and vocal harmonies, drawing comparisons to Queen and The Darkness.