What are your names?
Royal Castles are alphabetically Jordan Gabriel, AJ Johnson and Katrin Sawatzky. Reverse alphabetically we are Katrin Sawatzky, AJ Johnson and Jordan Gabriel.
What is your bands name?
We dub ourselves Royal Castles.
How did you come up with the bands name?
When we started the band, we were coming off of another project that Katrin and Jordan had played in. So we were able to get a show booked pretty quickly. But Katrin was away in Northern Ontario in a place with very little Internet Service. The promoter was hounding us for a name he could put on the poster. Jordan sent a list of possible names to Katrin in hopes she would be able to see them. Luck would have it, she did. “Castles” was the agreed upon moniker. So we sent that off to the promoter and onto the poster it went. Two days later while driving, Jordan’s ears perked up to a song on the radio. It was by a British band named ‘Castles.’ Damn it. So we had to pivot and we threw the “Royal” descriptor out in front because we are from Guelph and Guelph is the Royal City. And so Royal Castles stuck and began.
What is your genre of music?
Pop-inspired 90s Garage Rock
Give us a little bio about you.
Energetic, hard hitting and hooks for days, Royal Castles make nostalgic but contemporary garage-pop. Hailing from the Royal City of Guelph, Ontario and featuring the power trio of AJ Johnson (Juno- nominated Cuff the Duke), Katrin Sawatzky and Jordan Gabriel, Royal Castles blend riffy guitar licks, wooly bass and candied harmonies to deliver new wave earworms. Royal Castles have experienced strong momentum in Canada and abroad with sold out headlining performances in anchor markets, supporting positions at mainstay music festivals, and editorial playlist support from Spotify’s New Music Friday, Fresh Finds Rock and Indie Allstars.
What made you go into music?
Music is maybe the greatest thing in the world. We all grew up around it and we couldn’t not play it. We still can’t not.
Who are your influences?
Weezer. The Beatles. Nirvana. The Cars. Bowie. The Weakerthans. Constantines. Robyn. Bleachers.
Are you a signed?
Nope. We are true blue independent.
You released your new latest EP ‘Singles Night’, tell us more about the EP and the meaning behind the EP.
Royal Castles recently entered their third album cycle with ‘Singles Night’ (2024), an EP showcasing their sonic evolution. Recorded at North Of Princess Studio with producer Zane Whitfield (Glorious Sons, Blue Stones). Singles Night combines elements of art rock and garage pop on bangers like ‘Bad Business Barbie’ and ‘Stage Fright’. In the Spotify reprised era of releasing Singles we wanted to lean into the idea that every song gets to stand alone – even for a hot minute.
Describe each track in two words.
Stage Fright = Shitty Bosses
Bad Business Barbie = Bold Secrets
I Don’t Think I Like You = Un-friending
Hunny Bunny = Lover TimeSweet = Welcomed Distractions
What was the writing and recording process like?
Very very very collaborative. From rehearsal space to studio time, we work as a unit, each contributing to songs, all in the pursuit of making them as best as they can be.
Who did you work with on the EP?
Zane Whitfield—Producer | North of Princess Studio
Joao Carvalho—Mastering
Spencer Shewen—Management Consultant
David Tysowski—Canvas Media | Radio Promotion
Andrew Kovaliov—Publicist | MusicfyPro
Sarah Litt—Booking Agent | Independent
Can we expect a music video and if so tell us more about the making.
We got loads of videos.
Stage Fright: https://youtu.be/5wl9Lwjjfr4?si=DFsz1moLUvtpfpQu
Bad Business Barbie: https://youtu.be/gsjetcQETGM?si=7_8dpOHSsJpKR6wK
I Don’t Think I Like You: https://youtu.be/gjXkiVFmmZg?si=xjQ-NR3NnCistqv4
Sweet: https://youtu.be/OVwz93l_rxE?si=AJ2mAm0vheFRJzKc
Do you have any live shows coming up?
June 1st — Meadows Festival (Fergus)
June 7th — Mills Hardware (Hamilton)
July 5-7 — Mariposa (Orillia)
Aug 17-18 — Back To The Farm (Kingston)
Let us know where we can get tickets if so.
Right Here
What else can we expect in 2024?
Possible tour in the fall with Cuff the Duke
Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
We are going to keep cranking, keep writing, keep touring. And we are gonna be all over the radio.
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
We do our thing.
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
Water.
Capo.
Neon Heart lights.
Back-up power supply.
Pink sunglasses.
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
Instagram
TikTok
Facebook
Youtube
BandCamp
Website
