What are your names?
Viana, Alex and Brian. Nice to meet ya!
What is the band’s name?
ROYAL STREET
How did you come up with the band’s name?
Royal Street is our home and base of operations, so it was a pretty natural fit.
What is your genre of music?
First and foremost it’s definitely rock n’ roll. Beyond that, it’s funky, emotional, and a bunch of other things.
Give us a little bio about you as a band and individuals.
Hi, I’m Viana and I like spaghetti and meatballs. Hi, I’m Alex and I’m more of a ham man. Hi, I’m Brian and I like my coffee with a caramel swirl just for the heck of it.
What made you go into music?
We all fell in love with music early on in life and were luckily able to meet people with the same passion who wanted to write tunes, get on stage and have some fun!
Are you signed?
Nope.
You work with 25/8 PR, how did that come about?
We’ve had a relationship with Hope for a while now, she’s great!
You have your new album ‘Flavors’ out, tell us the meaning behind the title.
Flavors started out as an inside joke with us because of our appreciation of the many, many different varieties of bagels available nowadays. But we think this album showcases a few different sides of us as a band so the title fits it well.
What was the writing process like?
A lot of the time it starts off with an acoustic guitar and a melody and we turn it into a full song from there. That’s what comes natural to us so we just roll with it.
What was the recording process like?
Recording was a blast! John Dello-Iacono at Bridge East Studios is a great producer and collaborator that really helped us take this album to the next level. We started off by demoing the songs live and brainstorming some improvements, and we also had a lot of cool ideas come to light throughout the rest of the recording process. In the end, we think we came out with a record that has a lot of energy and flair, and we can’t wait for you folks to hear it.
Describe each track in two words.
We can describe every track in three words: Sexual Music Explosion.
You also have the music video for ‘Make Believe’ coming out soon, what was the making process like?
We worked with Rhys Santa Maria, an amazing videographer and great friend of ours. It sort of pokes fun at the way folks our age are living these days and the state of our relationships with each other, and we’re really proud of it.
Do you have any gigs or tours coming up?
Yes!
If so where will you be heading?
In June, you can catch us around New England and the Midwest with our great pals The Millenium, and stay tuned for more show announcements too!
Do you play any instruments?
Viana plays the hanging sax, Alex plays the skin flute, and Brian is a tromboner.
Who are your influences? We have roots in the pop punk scene, so there’s definitely a soft spot for Taking Back Sunday, Brand New and stuff like that. But we’re also huge fans of rock and pop music in general. Prince, Daft Punk, Beyonce, Bruno Mars…we’re all about it!
How do you get inspiration to write songs?
We obtain our inspiration from an ancient magical orb at the top of the highest mountain in Providence, Rhode Island. The location is known only to us.
Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
Still making awesome music and goofing around with each other!
When you’re not doing music, what do you do?
Viana is always eating Spaghetti and Meatballs, she loves the stuff. Alex is the top manufacturer of ham products in the tri-state area. It’s possible that Brian is a double agent but we don’t know the country of origin.
What was the song you listened to most that influenced you to go more into the music scene?
We’re glad you asked. Without a doubt it would have to be the Grammy award winning 1999 hit “Smooth” by Santana featuring Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty, off the multi-platinum album Supernatural.
What’s the best advice you have ever been given?
When we were young, our dads told us not to play with squirrels because they have rabies.
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians not about the industry and just as an artist?
Don’t give up on yourself. Keep trying to be creative even if it’s difficult.
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
“The law says you can’t touch…but I see a lotta lawbreakers out there tonight!” ~ Matthew McConaughey, Magic Mike
Where in your hometown is a must go to visit?
New York System Weiners! Hot dogs, Rhode Island style.
Your straight off tour;
1/ where do you go? To bed.
2/ who do you see? Our moms.
3/what do you eat? Spaghetti and Meatballs, Ham, Coffee Cakes.
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
Your gear, your beer, your dudes, your dudettes, and your game face.
If you had to give your younger self advice, what would it be?
I know it’s hard right now, but just hold on because when you get older the internet is gonna be way faster.
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
Say hi to us on instagram!
