1. Hi Royal! Please introduce yourself to those who might not know you. 
I’m Royal - First of Her Name, Slayer of Serpents, and Mother of Rats. Facer of Truths, Voice of the Broken, and Queen of the Empty...
HA Sorry I’ve been locked into a Game of Thrones marathon this week… 
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2. When did you first realize music was your path? Was there a specific moment or influence that solidified being an artist as your dream?
The Lizzie Mcguire movie. Hannah Montana. Going to see Britney Spears as a child for my first concert. My first dance recital. Seeing RENT on broadway... So many little moments throughout life have shaped me into who I am today.
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3. Being in the alt music scene, which is usually pretty male-heavy—what does that experience mean to you? How are you navigating the space?
I love being a woman. We’re hot, we’re powerful, we’re MAGIC - especially when unified. I feel lucky to be a woman in this space more than anything - we stand out, we stick together. It’s a wonderful time for women in music and we owe it all to the trailblazers that came before us. AlI I can aim for is continuing to forge a path for generations of women to come.
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4. You’re about to make your Warped Tour debut this summer, and you're headlining our Warped Warmup Show at The Echo on July 24. How does it feel to be stepping into this iconic punk legacy for the first time, and what are you most hyped to bring to the stage? 
It’s gonna be a blast. So many friends playing, so much nostalgia. It’s an honor! I’m most excited to debut some of this new music live for the first time.
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5. You’ve said before that your songs are like journal entries—what’s the most personal song you've released, and was it hard to let that one go into the world?
OMG. lol… too many. All of them?! It’s hard to pick just one. Maybe Happier In Hell? Overwhelmed? So many of them came from deep troubled parts of me. It feels good to put out music from a healthier place lately.
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6. ‘Overwhelmed’ was a breakout song for you. What was it like watching that song connect on such a huge scale, and did it change the way you saw your own music?
It was such a blessing. I felt so connected to the listeners. Whatever the opposite of alone is - that’s how it felt. It opened my eyes to the impact music can really have on people. It’s a big reason pushing me every day to never give up.
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7.  You were at the AMAs this year where Arcane: League of Legends won Favorite Soundtrack—how did it feel to be part of a project that brought home that award, and what was it like blending your sound into such an epic world?
Wow what an honor! I’ve said it a million times but I LOVE the show Arcane. Getting to be a part of it was a dream. Such a hard working and dedicated team making it come to life - so inspiring. I feel really lucky for the opportunity. The song itself came so naturally, I loved getting to tap into Jinx’s emotional psyche. I felt like I could really relate to her.

8. Which artists helped shape your voice—not just musically, but emotionally or aesthetically? 
Nirvana, Lorde, Frank Ocean, Stevie Nicks, Radiohead, Daughter, Bon Iver, Aurora, MGMT, Alanis Morisette, The Lumineers, FKA Twigs… I could go on forever.
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9. If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be?
 Kurt Cobain.
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10. What would the movie of your life be called, and who’s starring as you?
Something simple and unsettling like - “RAT”... starring Hunter Schafer if I’m lucky!
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11. If you could pick one album as the soundtrack to your life, what would it be?
 OK Computer by Radiohead or Channel Orange by Frank Ocean
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12. What’s a personal achievement from this past year that you’re especially proud of?
 Spending more quality time with my loved ones.
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13. What’s next?
‍THE ALBUM.
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