He first earned attention at the age of sixteen, when his band, [is], won the inaugural Triple J Unearthed High competition in 2008.

Their first radio-single, "Cult Romance", which he wrote,[1] went on to receive high rotation airplay and became one of Triple J's most-played songs, over the next year.

The Sydney Morning Herald printed a full page article on their daily issue, posing the question of whether his act might become Australia's "next Silverchair".

3 on the AIR Singles Chart, and received high praise from critics alike [5][better source needed] By September 2009, the band's line-up comprised Tom Ugly as vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, Mahli-Ann Butt on bass guitar, Peter Gabrielides on guitar, and Adrian Griffin (ex-28 Days) on drums.

[6] With the release of the EP, Tom Ugly toured Australia, playing festivals and supporting headline acts such as Groove Armada at the Hordern Pavilion and Sia at the Enmore Theatre, as well as Simian Mobile Disco, Grinspoon, The Grates, Children Collide, Art vs. Science, and Evermore.