Operator Please was formed in early 2005 by lead singer and guitarist Amandah Wilkinson in an attempt to compete in her high school's annual "Battle of the Bands" competition. After winning the contest, the five members, aged 17 to 19, started working on getting their name out through an independently produced EP, "On the Prowl". Their second EP, "Cement Cement", generated interest both locally and internationally, from a combination of word of mouth and exposure on the Australian youth radio network Triple J (which featured their first single, "Crash Tragic", taken from the EP, on high rotation for quite some time). Within months, and with the help of a record label sponsored showcase in New York City, they had agreed a deal with Virgin/EMI Records for Australia, and for the UK with indie label Brille Records.