Los Angeles-based duo Royal She, comprised of vocalist Alison Freed and multi-instrumentalist Alexandria Reyes, blends an eclectic mix of rock, pop, hip-hop, and electronic influences on their newest single “Karma.” With a sound reminiscent of PVRIS and Paramore, their vibrant energy and sharp lyricism have quickly garnered attention since the 2019 release of their cover of Billie Eilish’s “My Girl,” produced by South African producer and hit-maker, Esjay Jones. Known for their catchy hooks and dynamic productions, Royal She is poised to make a significant mark on the music scene as they prepare to release their debut album “Befores and Afters,” in early 2025 hot off the success of the projects first singles, “Worth It” and “My Ex.”
Their new single, “Karma,” is a feel-good rock anthem that delivers a playful yet piercing take on retribution. Crafted for those who’ve been wronged, this addictive track captures the essence of karmic vengeance wrapped in a trilling beat, soaring guitars, and powerhouse vocals. Its catchy melody and satisfying hooks make it the perfect soundtrack for reclaiming your power, whether you’re blasting it after a breakup or just enjoying the ride of life’s ups and downs. “Karma” is not just a song; it’s a vibrant celebration of karmic justice that leaves listeners humming its infectious refrain long after the last note fades. Check out Royal She’s newest single “Karma”.
Ladies welcome to OLC! “Karma” has such an infectious energy—what inspired the theme of karmic retribution in this new single? Was there a personal experience behind it?
Alison: Oh yeah. This was firstly inspired by my wonderful ex. She has a few songs dedicated to her on this album. And then as other really wild, messed up things happened, this song became dedicated to certain others, too.
Alex: There are several experiences that inspired this song. To those who cause harm – whether that’s ex friends or lovers, horrible bosses and colleagues, corrupt governments and the patriarchy… it’s all there for them to hear. In the end they’re gonna get what they deserve.
Your sound blends rock, pop, hip-hop, and electronic elements. How do you approach creating such a diverse mix of genres while maintaining a cohesive sound?
Alison: I love that these questions are coming up, because I feel like we really found our sound. We are both such huge music lovers, and all these different styles of music impacted us greatly. They organically just blended and came together as we were writing and recording. I would tell Alex and Logan “I have a rap for this.” They were very hesitant at first (understandably), but ultimately that element became a big part of this album.
Alex: Since our music is usually written on an acoustic guitar first, we have that quintessential rock sound. Once Alison has a hold of the vocal melodies and lyrics, we introduce elements bit by bit. Some things fit – some things don’t – but the end result is a testament to our favorite genres.
Your upcoming album “Befores and Afters” is set to release in 2025. Can you share a bit about the creative process behind this project and what listeners can expect from the album?
Alison: The creative process behind this album was truly therapy and therapeutic. We both went through very difficult times and the music just flowed. It was the easiest songwriting we have ever experienced. We would sit and write and record and one particular night, we wrote four songs. All ended up on the album. You can expect all of the emotions. We take you through the full journey with us.
Alex: When we first got in the studio with our producer, we were coming out of 2023 and had a beat down of a year. It felt good to transcend the ugliness and pain, and pour it into the creative process. The album was written seamlessly, in that, some songs were written completely in a few takes, or half written and finished up during recording. Expect a diary of what we lived through in the past year.
You gained attention with your cover of Billie Eilish’s “My Girl.” How did that collaboration with Esjay Jones come about, and what was it like reimagining that song?
Alison: We’ve been friends with EsJay for a very long time- over fifteen years. We love getting together and doing music. It was a lot of fun doing that one together.
With influences from bands like PVRIS and Paramore, how do you carve out your own unique identity within the alternative rock scene?
Alison: I think it ultimately happens when you’re incredibly authentic and not trying to be like anyone else. I feel like being older now, we know who we are and who we are not. And who we are is unique, as is our music. So I think that will hopefully happen naturally.
Alex: We carve it out by blending all of our influences and not overthinking how we should sound. We don’t try to sound like anyone, but we understand that our influences are telling.
“Karma” has such a strong, empowering message. Do you find empowerment to be a recurring theme in your music, and how do you hope listeners connect with that?
Alison: Yes, absolutely. Our greatest hope is that listeners come away feeling empowered. We all go through tough times, and it’s about knowing that you’re not alone and what matters is what you choose to do with what happened. You can take any difficult situation you’re in and grow from it and realign and be empowered.
Alex: Absolutely! Empowerment IS our theme. It’s what our band name represents – it’s the main message that we want to get out. We want our listeners to be empowered by our music, whether connecting with songs that clap back to injustice, or embracing the vulnerability of our lyrics and allowing it to move through them.
As a duo, how do you balance your roles in the creative process? Does one of you take the lead in certain areas, like lyrics, production, or instrumentation?
Alison: We’re a really great team and it’s a very collaborative experience. We get together and write – Alex plays the guitar and I sing and hum, writing down lyrics as we go. From there, we work on arrangement and production together.
Alex: There’s a good balance, but Alison is the storyteller of our music book.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your journey as Royal She so far, and what challenges have you faced along the way?
Alex: The most rewarding part of the journey has been the whole experience of our upcoming album, beginning to end. Alison and I were already best friends, but writing this album has taken our friendship to another level. I have so much respect for her and what she’s come up with musically and lyrically, especially after the year she had (proud is an understatement). Collaborating with her on this album has been one of the best accomplishments of my life. I have a few albums written under my belt, but “Befores and Afters” is hands down THE album I am most proud of writing. As for challenges – wow! There’s been a lot! Like an agency who completely robbed us, to crazy production setbacks. One thing that helps me face these obstacles is knowing that Alison and I have each other’s backs. Knowing that we’ll pull through no matter what.
Alison: Wow, Alex’s answer has me almost in tears! Thank you, Alex. There have been so many rewarding parts of our Royal She journey so far. Playing that first LA debut show to a sold out 800-1K people was so incredible and so much fun. Writing and producing this album with Alex and Logan has been therapy for my soul. It provided somewhere to release the pain and start to heal. This album is also what I am most proud of in my life thus far. As for challenges, there have been many. Being taken advantage of is one of the worst feelings. But you move forward, learn what needs to be learned and keep going.
social media:
IG: @royalsheofficial
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YouTube: @royalsheofficial
Email:neill@outloudculture.com
Socials: @neillfrazer
