Since 2000, The Boat People have been causing the latter to occur on anyone who engaged in the former.

A union of high school students James O'Brien (vox/bass), Robin Waters (vox/keys), Charles Dugan (vox/guitar) and Tony Garrett (drums) on NYE 1999, the foursome developed a solid repertoire and strong live following releasing four CDs to date, The Boat People EP (2001), Squeaky Clean EP (2002), Three Pieces For Small Ensemble EP (2003) and Tell Someone Who Cares (2004), as well as touring the east coast 12 times in the last four years.

Appearances at the Big Day Out, Woodford Folk Festival, live to air on Triple J and supports with many of Australia's most talented artists such as george, Pete Murray, Missy Higgins, Little Birdy, The Whitlams, David Bridie, Motorace and Dallas Crane, have galvanised the band's full potential and has taken them to new levels.

But 2005 was the year that everyone (even the clean-eared) found out who The Boat People are. For the band, it could not have been bigger, including supports with The Shins, Dogs Die in Hot Cars, Idlewild and David Byrne and the recording and release of their debut album, yesyesyesyesyes.

With yesyesyesyesyes, The Boat People delivered what has been hailed across the country as one of 2005's best Home-Grown releases, a loaf of A-grade indie-pop which illuminates a different Australian creative outlook, usuallyconcealed beneath the midden of dredged pub-rock nostalgia. So far it has provided three Triple J high-rotators with still more up its sleeve.