Project Description
Interview with
CROOKED ROYALS
Interviewer – Vicky Hebbs
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Auckland’s five-piece Crooked Royals is set to release their EP Rumination on Friday April 19 and they’ve just dropped first single of the same name with a video in the lead up.
Rumination is Crooked Royals‘ sophomore release since their debut EP Intertwine in 2018. This first single is entitled ‘Rumination‘ – which means to be in deep considered thought. The EP itself is about analysing aspects of day to day life and how it takes a toll on people based on their own experiences. The single of the same name is a song about paranoia, control and the anxiety of how other people perceive you.
In almost two years, Crooked Royals have already made waves in the heavy scene. The band hit the ground running last year when five friends and musicians living in Auckland came together to form the metal core outfit that is Crooked Royals. In just the first year as an aspiring collective of musicians, the band were signed to Lukas Magyar‘s (Veil of Maya) management label, New Industry, and later recorded their debut EP, Intertwine, with the man himself in the USA.
Crooked Royals ability to craft songs with a combination of heavy and clean vocals mixed in with huge crushing riffs earned them a spot opening for London prog rock monsters Monuments in Auckland earlier this year. The band also frequent the live room at Auckland’s premier rock bar, Ding Dong Lounge.
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How did you all meet and decide to start making music?
We all came from different backgrounds and met either through the internet or through the local scene, Jake (Guitar) and Lee (Unclean Vocals) founded the band in early 2016, but from then on it just formed one by one. Conor (Bass) came next in late 2016, and Keane (Drums) & Christian (Clean Vocals, Programmer) came as a package deal in late 2017.
Who were the musicians and bands who influenced you the most growing up? Have your influences changed?
A lot of old school Metalcore/Post-Hardcore. Slipknot, Avenged sevenfold, Parkway Drive, Lamb of God, Dance Gavin Dance, August Burns Red; these influences are still very prominent for us.
You recently dropped new single, ‘Rumination.’ What inspired you to write the track?
Instrumentally it was quite straight forward, we wanted to create a song using the Ionian mode. Lyrically the inspiration draws from Paranoia, specially paranoia brought on by self-doubt. When heading to the US to record the first EP, Christian was convinced that we were getting Catfished all the way up to the front door of the studio in Des Moines, Iowa. He couldn’t come to believe that it was actually Lukas Magyar who asked us to come over, and he even drew up a contract just to insure that the company we sent our money to wouldn’t take it and run! He kept thinking “why us?”, “we can’t be that good, obviously it’s because we’re just some kiwis who are easy to scam”. In the end though, we weren’t Catfished (this time), Lukas, our manager Keith and everyone else and New Industry were accommodating and amazing to work with. In the end, the feeling that he felt still stuck around to inspire.
Where do you find inspiration for the music you make?
We’re pretty nerdy not gonna lie. Apart getting a basic outline from bands we listen to during the writing process, we flesh out the instrumentals by discussing different modes, and whether we’ve done a song with any specific time change or tuning. Moreover, our lyrics all come from feelings rooted in humanism. We always try to apply critical thought to our lyrics, and place a person’s ability to progress within a world of uncertainty as a cornerstone…also that time the school bully stole our lunch money is an inspiration.
Your new EP is scheduled for release Friday April 19. What can we expect from the EP?
Definitely something that’s built off of the sound from our last EP (Intertwine). We are still experimenting to a certain degree but you can expect something that is more definitively our own sound and style.
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What will be the first thing/s you do once the EP is out there in the world?
Lots of shows! We will be releasing the tour dates soon, but we can safely say we will hit every hub in New Zealand and some shows in Australia.
What was it like to play with Monuments?
It was surreal! It was our first international opener so a big step up for us. Hanging out in the green room with them was great, we got to know them and had an opportunity to pick their brain about how shows of that magnitude work. They are good dudes, and everyone that had a hand in making the show happen were professionals.
If you could perform live with anyone, Alive or Dead, who would you choose? And why?
Alive: Slipknot, Architects, Veil of Maya, Northlane, Nine Inch Nails, any of those would be amazing!
Dead: Audioslave and Linkin Park
What’s next for you once the EP is released? Will you be touring?
Apart from touring we will continue to write some more tunes. J
What are your longer-term goals or aspirations as a band?
The long term goal is to make music for as long as we can (or for as long as people want us around for) we want to continue to make music that listeners can find relatable and to keep things challenging for us as musicians. We also want to meet more listeners from around the world, get to know the stories they value in their lives and who they are. Whether listeners contact us through messages online or grab a pint with us after shows we want to meet them and be inspired by them!
Finally, a few questions for some quick answers –
FAVOURITE:
Album – Where Your Mind Wants To Go/Where You Let It Go
Artist – Dance Gavin Dance
Movie – Looper
Place to visit – Prague
Venue to play – Ding Dong Lounge (Auckland)
Food = Fre Sh Ava Ca Do
Drink – Pabst
Person in History – Is it too early to say Obama?
Tattoo – Sacred Tattoos (Auckland)
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Check out CROOKED ROYALS below
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