London rapper, singer and drummer Royal, is a fast emerging talent who first came through as drummer of Kings of the City. Since 2015 he’s released a series of videos and most recently ‘Power’ which is all about overcoming adversity. We spoke to him recently, where discussed the ideas of overcoming adversity, why it’s important to be master of one thing and more!
If you could create your own Laws of Power, what would be number one? (check them out here)
Master one craft. Instead of focusing on loads of things at once, focus on one and run with it in order to be the greatest at what you do.
At what point in your life did you realise you needed to make change and turn the negatives into positives?
I don’t think there was a point in my life where I suddenly wanted to make change, because as people I feel like we are always naturally taking steps to be a better people. Bearing that in mind, I think it was probably a couple of years ago when I realised I had the tools and the people around me to enforce a change and make something happen for my self, but I just wasn’t utilising them.
How important do you think it is that mental health is discussed so openly within music?
Mental health is something that many people struggle with, so with that in mind it should be openly discussed all the time and anywhere, regardless of what industry we are in.
Have there been any stand out names for 2017 that have inspired or left a positive impression in your mind?
Mainly the people around me, If you see me with them on road, you know its for a reason because only people that have a positive influence on me are rolling with me, its that simple. Many people got left behind because they were negative thinkers, not progressive.
Changing the world for the better seems to be a common theme throughout the track. If you could change one thing in the World and one thing within yourself, what would they be and why?
If I could change one thing in the world it would be the starvation. I’m seeing the wealthy with 10 cars, 3 houses, yachts, all of those things. But there is still people somehow, somewhere starving. It shouldn’t happen. And within myself I couldn’t say one specific thing I would change. I’m changing, and learning all the time in different ways so I couldn’t pinpoint one in particular.
What can we expect from Royal in 2018?
Just don’t sleep on me, there is a lot that me and the Lonesome Dog team are planning on doing so keep watching, its going to be a journey.
Listen to Royal’s new song ‘Power’ via all streaming platforms here.