Project Description
Interview with
LAWSON DOYLE
from
PORT ROYAL
Interviewer – Vicky Hebbs
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When did you meet and decide to become Port Royal?
Port Royal came about as a post high school project between our drummer – Arnie – and myself in 2015. We had played in a high school band that naturally disintegrated on its own post graduating. It came about as a passion project for the love of rock & roll and very quickly developed into something we wanted to take to the stage.
How would you say your sound has evolved since your debut release, The Express, back in 2016?
We are still at our core a blues roots rock and roll band. Over the years, with the inclusion of different members and different textural elements such as saxophone, piano and trumpet, we’ve branched into areas of Jazz, Funk and Soul. Recent releases have also included elements of more pop based melodies – pretty well taken straight from a early 60’s Beatles record. The guitars are still bluesy Rolling Stones style in their tonality, with hard hitting ACDC inspired rhythms.
Why do you think people resonate with your music?
Rock and roll has always been about honesty, and I think our music is honest. Most importantly it’s relatable and there’s not one song in the set that isn’t about something real that’s happened. I think people are crying out for honesty in their music, as well as music that empowers them. I think the Port Royal catalogue does a good job at ticking both of those boxes.
You have just released your new single, “That’s How You Want It To Be”! What inspired the song?
The song I actually wrote with a close friend of mine, Kahlia Ferguson from another Brisbane band The Fergies. The song we wrote as the story of the push & pull between 2 lovers. The verses speak of a situation – ‘I’m into you, but don’t want to make that too obvious, are you into me? I can’t quite tell. I need to sit on the line and not seem too keen whilst also just the right amount of interested’. The pre-chorus and the chorus is about breaking through this mind game and not being afraid to let that person know how you really feel. It is inspired by the frustrations of insecurity and the power to overcome such.
What did the process of writing the song look/sound like?
It all happened pretty quickly to be honest. Kahlia and I were having a few drinks and had guitars in our hand. The next thing she had this melody and these lyrics coming out of her. Funny story with the riff – on the night we wrote this song it was just the 2 of us. I had the main riff put over the chords. I didn’t know where I’d got it from but it worked perfectly. Turns out it was something Liam had come up with in a rehearsal room months earlier… we argued over this for a long time. The chorus and pre-chorus came about after we established the line ‘if that’s how you want it to be’, it all made sense after that.
What do you hope listeners might take away from listening to the single?
I hope it empowers our listeners to be honest with their emotions and if you’re into someone, let them know! Life is too short to play childish games.
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Do you have any more new music in the works?
Oh boy do we. We’ve been working on our third EP on and off over the past 4 months. ‘That’s How You Want It To Be’ is to be the first single off that EP. We’ve got a broad selection of music to come. Something for all different lovers of rock & roll, from early 60’s roots through to modern day. There’s an Oasis-y type ballad in there ‘Golden Years’… could be the biggest song off the EP. The exact timeline for release we’re not sure about yet, looking to make everything count going into 2020.
Do you have any plans to tour in 2020?
It’s all a bit under wraps at the moment. We’ve got a few exciting festivals slots lined up and some real exciting showcase stuff on the way. We’re re-strategizing for the new year – keep your eyes peeled.
If you could perform with any music artist, Alive or Dead, who would you choose? And why?
I would love to perform alongside Chuck Berry. He’s such a huge icon for rock & roll. I know he’s an absolute showman and would teach me a thing or two. Rock and roll at its best.
What else have you got planned for 2020?
We’re looking to fully restrategize in the new year. Exclusify the live shows a lot more. Play less live and spend more time focussed in the studio, working on the music.
Who are your rock, or rock n roll music inspirations?
The Rolling Stones would have to be one of our biggest ones. That never say die attitude accompanied by the free love prowess of the music is incredibly empowering. The ACDC hard hitting power chord sound mixed with the lyrical confidence of Oasis and the love driven mantra of the Beatles, makes for a powerful sound.
Do you have any long-term goals or aspirations as a band?
I think as a band we want our audience to feel inspired by our music in the way we have looked at our idols. To be able to play sold out shows to massive numbers is obviously something to strive for, but ultimately having those one to one relationships with your audience where you can see the literal positive impact you are making – that is the ultimate goal. I think we’d like to see an exit out of Australia in the next two years too, take this international and see that our hard work on the ground here stretches beyond our geographical confines.
What is the best thing about performing to a live audience?
Having people sing back lyrics to songs you wrote in your bedroom. Just knowing the positive influence you are having in that moment and having the audience give that back to you – that’s something words cannot begin to describe.
Finally, a few questions for some quick answers –
FAVOURITE:
Album – (What’s The Story) Morning Glory by Oasis
Artist – The Rolling Stones
Movie – Clockwork Orange
Place to visit – Freshwater Beach Sydney
Venue to play – The Triffid, Brisbane
Food – Indian
Drink – Jameson Irish Whiskey
Person in History – Shakespeare
Tattoo – (If you don’t have one, what would you get?) The Rolling Stones Tongue Logo
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‘THAT’S HOW YOU WANT IT TO BE’
Single release
Remaining Tour Dates
Byron Bay Brewery – Byron Bay, NSW
Saturday, Nov 23, 2019
The Pacific Hotel – Yamba, NSW
Monday, Dec 30, 2019
Elephant Hotel – Brisbane, QLD
New Years Eve
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Check out PORT ROYAL below
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
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PORT ROYAL
champion the idea of
doing things your own way
on new single
THAT’S HOW YOU WANT IT TO BE
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN
Brisbane rock band Port Royal have put in the hard yards and made a name for themselves through honing their craft of live performance and sweating it out on stages all across the country. Sold out shows at venues including The Zoo and Lefty’s Music Hall in Brisbane are a testament to the band’s live chops. They’ve also appeared at Bluesfest 2019, St Kilda Festival 2019, and will later in the year will be performing a headlining spot at the Caloundra Music Festival. They have supported international heavyweights Dead Kennedys (US), Supersuckers (US), and Australian favourites The Delta Riggs and The Jungle Giants.
The band has two EP’s to date. Their first, The Express was released in 2016 and Love, Passion, Satisfaction in 2018. Amongst both EPs were a collection of catchy singles, including fan favourite “Rock & Roll is Dead”, which reached #3 on the 4ZZZ Hottest 100 in 2018 and a month long feature on Rage.
Port Royal’s January 2019 single “Don’t You Forget About Me” received enthusiastic support from their fans and met critical acclaim, scoring airplay on Triple j. The band hit the road for a 17 date tour up and down the East Coast earlier this year in support of the single, selling several hundred tickets.
Their sound makes for a musical flavour that evokes a joyous celebration of song and dance. Recently the band bunkered down in their Brisbane studio and have now emerged victorious with new single “That’s How You Want It To Be”.
“‘That’s How You Want it to Be’ inspires the attitude of playing it your own way; not buying into the fickle social games we all play (romantic or otherwise), and expressing your emotions with confidence and honesty.” – Lawson Doyle (vocals, rhythm guitar)
“‘That’s How You Want It To Be’ is another massive step for us as a band. We have been sitting on this track for a few months now and we are very excited to put out what we believe is our best work to date.” – Connor Arnold (drums, backing vocals)
Formed over a shared passion of classic rock n roll culture, Brisbane’s Port Royal are fast spreading their message of self belief and unity through their music.
The single is taken from Port Royal’s forthcoming EP Golden Years scheduled for release in 2020
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