Hear ye, hear ye—Royals have returned!
After nearly two years away, the Southampton pop-punk band is back and better than ever. Since forming in 2019, Royals have been delivering non-stop. Their high-energy pop-punk anthems have brought in over 1M streams to date, has placed them on major Spotify playlists like ‘Pop Punk’s Not Dead,’ and has brought in steady support from the likes of BBC Radio 1 and idobi Radio. Of course, Royals have had some assistance along the way from dynamic producers like Neck Deep’s Seb Barlow, Sam Guaiana (Holding Absence, Bearings) and Grant Berry (All Time Low, Hot Milk, Stand Atlantic), who have shaped the band’s hot and lively sound. Along with releasing dynamic music, their touring schedule has included a heavy run of sold-out headline dates and festival appearances, where they have shared the stage with artists like ROAM, Sleep Token, and As December Falls. Clearly, Royals have been busy, which is why they took a step back last year to catch their breath and figure out their next move.
In deciding how to return to the scene, Royals knew they did not just want to come back with a fresh image and sound. They want to define who they are as a band, and they are already off to a bold start with the release of not just one but two new singles. With “Spinning Out,” fans will be treated to a classic Royals track with melodic choruses, driving drums, and a juicy breakdown. Lyrically, the track focuses on hopelessness and the way of the world. It is angry and gritty and even features bassist Tom Guildford for the first time, who provides heavy vocals. Meanwhile, “Killer” is softer and contains more of an open sound. The band’s energy is still there, but the song lends itself to craftier production moments. All the while, vocalist Luke Smithson warns us about this “stone cold killer” who may look warm on the outside but is cool to the touch.
About their return, Luke shares,
“We knew people would be excited about the comeback single…so why not give them two? It’s almost our way of saying thank you for sticking with us and caring about what we do, and to show that there is more than just the odd single in the works. These days, fans know the rollout game. A band wipes their socials, posts a cryptic teaser, and a single drops. We’ve done that before, and we’ll be doing it again. But this time, we wanted to mess with expectations in a good way. This is a turning point for Royals, and we wanted that first step to feel like a statement.
“‘Killer’ felt like the perfect track to lead with because it captures so much of what we’re about—it’s catchy as hell, full of energy, and has those little production moments we love. But ‘Spinning Out’ dropping alongside it allows us to show a bit of a different flavor—it’s got the heavy section but it’s also melodic; it’s angry, political, and leans into the kind of intensity people might have seen from us live but haven’t really heard on a release before.”
You can listen to “Spinning Out” and “Killer” here.
Catch Royals on tour here.
Keep up with Royals: Facebook // X // Instagram // YouTube // TikTok // Website
