Armed with a brand new single and a full-length album in the making, genre-fusing duo Royal She kindly stopped by to talk about the roots of their sound, their journey so far, and their plans creatively for the year ahead. Here’s the conversation in full.
* * *
Hi guys – huge congrats for the release and success of Silent Killer. For those new to the band – how did you guys first connect, and how would you describe your approach to making music?
Alison: We met through a mutual friend and really bonded over our love of music. Alex was already in a band and after hearing me sing, she signed us up for an acoustic benefit show (without my knowing). That was the beginning of our music journey together.
Our approach to making music is really organic. We get together and vibe out. Alex usually plays riffs and when one inspires vocal melodies, I start singing. Sometimes I’ll have an idea or have lyrics ready to go, but most of the time the melodies lead the song.
Alexandria: We first connected over our mutual love for music. Shortly after, we formed a rock band called My Elysian in San Diego, CA. Royal She was started in 2019 by Alison. I joined full-time not long after.
What came first creatively for Silent Killer, and how long was the writing and recording process from inception to completion?
Alison: I think the guitar riff and vocal melody came through pretty cohesively while we were writing one night at my apartment. That one writing session was wild because we wrote three or four songs that are on the album that one night. The writing was super fast, and the recording went really fast, too.
Alexandria: We wrote Silent Killer during a writing session of about 4-5 new songs. Silent Killer started off about a female siren. We polished off the hook with “Silent Killer” being the theme, then recorded it with our producer about a month later. Alison wrote the rap last minute at the studio right before tracking.
Who are your main inspirations as a creative act, and what would be your dream venue or event to perform at?
Alison: TLC will always be my first inspiration and one of my biggest. Alanis, Evanescence, Paramore, Garbage, PVRIS, Seether and Phantogram are also up there. Madison Square Garden, The Hollywood Bowl, Red Rocks, and The Staples Center are all venues I’d love to play, along with big music festivals like Glastonburry, Lollapalooza, and Coachella.
Alexandria: I’m very much into female rock and r&b acts; from classic to modern. My dream venue is playing The Hollywood Bowl. I’d also love to play at Coachella.
You guys are also notably active as a live band – how often do you perform, and how much more impactful is your music and audience connection when you hit the stage?
Alison: We have really put the writing and perfecting of the album first, and then plan to tour. Connecting with the audience is one of the most epic parts of being a musician and playing shows. We both can’t wait for that. We’ll really put a lot into making that show impactful.
Alexandria: We don’t perform enough. We are doing things differently and slowly introducing our tracks month-by-month before releasing our full album. Once our full album is released, we’ll be announcing shows. We love to connect with our audience by not only entertaining them, but providing a safe and positive environment.
Do you ever disagree creatively, and if so, how do you overcome that?
Alexandria: We have some disagreements, but with that comes a lot of respect. If someone has an idea, we let them express that idea. If it doesn’t fly with the other or our producer, we generally cut it and move on. The respect is that we give each other the chance to play with their idea, even if the other strongly opposes it. Some of the best songwriting we’ve achieved has been from experimenting.
Alison: Yes, what Alex said. It’s super important to play out an idea and we give each other the safe space to do so. Since we are three with our producer, Logan, whoever wins the vote is how it plays out.
How much have things changed for you since the launch of Rollercoaster, and what’s your main motivation and plan for throughout 2025 as a rising band?
Alexandria: Ever since we performed at 2023 Pride in Los Angeles, it’s lit a fire in us to write and release as much music as possible. 2024 and 2025 has been the unveiling of that. 2025 will unleash the full extent of our sound, our band, and who we are.
Alison: A lot has changed. Music has gone to the top of the priorities and we plan on releasing our album and touring in 2025. Very exciting.
What can you tell us about the upcoming album Before and Afters?
Alison: This album is what both of us are most proud of in our lives as creatives thus far. We found our unique sound and we found ourselves. We went through hell and created art from it, and healing. This album means everything to us and we are so excited to share it with the world.
Is there anything else we need to know?
Alison: We can’t wait to tour and get to connect with people in person soon. Join our mailing list on our website and follow our social media platforms to get the deets first. Thank you for checking us out!
* * *
Find Royal She on Instagram, TiKTok, YouTube & Spotify.
