Off the back of 2017’s First EP, local party starters Royal East are back with their next cut of hook-heavy indie-pop. ‘Gin’ opens up with some flickering guitar hits that jut in and out, as frontman Patrick O'Bryan weaves a winding melody with his buttery vocals. The rest of the band quickly kick in and find a steady groove, full with dancing guitars and bouncing bass lines. As soon as the chorus bursts open, we’re hit with an explosion of sound, and Royal East ride the song out in style - serving up hook after hook amongst shimmering guitars and singalong vocals.

To match the new single is a gloriously pink video-clip, that sees the band pampered and primed, blurring the line between indie-rock and pop stardom. Created by Giulia McGauran, the clip cleverly never quite reveals how seriously the band are taking things, but complete with a luscious food montage and a dance routine, it’s an excellent watch that works surprisingly well with the track.

To celebrate the new clip, we had a chat with Royal East to find out about ‘Gin’ and what else they have going on.

TJ: Hey Royal East, tell us about yourselves?


RE: We’re just a bunch of good mates who are one step away from putting a ring on it. Most of us met at Melbourne Uni and then we met our beat master, Nick, on the Melbourne gig circuit, somewhere between Grumpy’s and the late, Public Bar (rest its poor soul, our first ever rider). We’ve played together for about 4 years but from late 2017 we really up’d the ante with a new writing method, more equipment and studio time penciled in before the end of the year. We’re always keen for a good time and we make sure it comes through in our music :)


What’s the story behind the new single ‘Gin’?


‘Gin’ is a cocktail of pent up feelings: excitement, nervousness and conflict. When Frase came to me with the riff, we played around with a few different vocal lines, but it wasn’t until we overlayed the riff with this particular narrative that it really came together. It’s that familiar story of wanting something that you know so well, and hoping that you can make it work, but knowing that the timing isn’t right. ‘Gin’ captures a collection of emotions that felt important to share - memories, thoughts and experiences. This track is brimming with nostalgia and hope.

The new clip is really something else - how’d that come about?


The aim was to create something striking, full of character and fun. We also really wanted to collaborate and create something colourful with Giulia McGauran, who is becoming an absolute legend in the Melbourne music scene. After some interesting, collective soul-searching exercises in the bandroom, Total Giovanni videos on repeat, and a budget predominantly spent on the pinkest, fluffiest, dressing gowns, the clip for ’Gin’ was created.


It’s pretty interesting hearing local acts taking on huge pop music, because even though it’s a style of music that feels very present, it’s quite unique to hear at such a grass roots level. How do you feel about modern pop music and where do you think Royal East fits in amongst the current music scene?

Modern pop is a really exciting space. There are some traditional traits of the genre that we aspire to: brightness and depth of sound, rhythms that encourage movement and vocal lines that invite people to sing with us. However, the ability to distribute music literally globally at the click of a button has the effect that the term “pop” doesn’t carry the same meaning that it might have done a decade ago. The genre has started to fracture – great news for bands and fans, because a broad spectrum of sounds and influences are pouring in through the cracks and providing a wider offering for listeners.


Royal East is heavily influenced by the enormous breadth of talent in the Australian and UK music scenes. We’re pretty band-obsessed ourselves. Within the band, we’re always sharing music that immediately captures our attention, yet continues to reveal itself the more times we listen. That’s the kind of music that Royal East hopes to offer listeners: a sound that inspires their joie de vivre and makes you want to move, but speaks to human experience as you listen a second time.

What’s coming up next for Royal East?

We’ve got a launch party with some unreal supports that’s unannounced, so stay tuned 😉 But generally, we’re in the writing stage, well and truly. Our new method of writing, recording straight into Ableton and workshoping remotely, means we’re reeeeaaaallll close to going back to the studio, and we can’t wait.