The Paper Kites

The Paper Kites are an Australian folk rock band formed in Melbourne in 2010. The group consists of Sam Bentley on lead vocals and guitar, Christina Lacy on keyboard and guitar, Dave Powys on guitar, Sam Rasmussen on bass, and Josh Bentley on drums.

Formation and early releases

Sam Bentley and Christina Lacy establish the band after knowing each other and playing music together since high school. The early lineup grows out of performances in Melbourne, with David Powys added on guitar and banjo, Sam Rasmussen on bass and synth, and Josh Bentley on drums. The band records early demos at Sam Bentley’s home and at Rasmussen’s university, then releases homemade EPs before drawing wider attention with the single “Bloom” in 2010.

The Paper Kites build an audience through extensive performances in Australia and New Zealand, including support slots for Hungry Kids of Hungary and Passenger. They also open for Josh Pyke and Boy & Bear, and later play a short run of shows supporting Bombay Bicycle Club in January 2013.

Albums and wider recognition

The band records its first EP, Woodland, in 2011, followed by Young North in 2012. Its debut full-length album, States, is recorded in 2013, after which the group tours nationally in Australia and also performs in the United States and Canada. Its music reaches a wider audience through placements in Grey’s Anatomy.

In 2015, The Paper Kites release Twelvefour, a concept album written between midnight and 4 AM. Two albums follow in 2018: On the Train Ride Home and On the Corner Where You Live, with the latter recorded in Connecticut with producer Peter Katis. The band receives an ARIA Music Awards nomination for Best Adult Contemporary Album.

Recent releases and style

The group’s fifth studio album, Roses, is a duet album featuring collaborations with Julia Stone, Lucy Rose, Rosie Carney, Aoife O’Donovan, Nadia Reid, Maro, Amanda Bergman, Ainslie Wills, Lydia Cole and Gena Rose Bruce. Its sixth studio album, At the Roadhouse, follows in 2023.

The Paper Kites’ sound develops from folk into a blend that includes fingerstyle guitar, vocal harmonies and moody soundscapes, alongside folk rock and indie rock influences.