The unsigned fashion-art rock band from Las Vegas, Palaye Royale, has entered the studio and is working on their first full length album. The band first gained notice when they won MTV's "Musical March Madness," a fan voted competition in 2014. Palaye Royale was the first unsigned band to compete and win. Their song, "Get Higher," was also featured in a Samsung Galaxy commercial.
Sebastian Danzig took a break from recording to talk to Kill the Music.
Members: Remington Leith, Sebastian Danzig & Emerson Barrett.
KTM: Give me a little bit of background on the band?
SD: The band formed in 2008 under another name. Then in 2011, Palaye Royale was created and named after a dance hall in Toronto where one of our grandparents met. Our debut single "Morning Light" produced by The Matrix at Henson Studios, was released in 2012 and we followed it up with a self-produced EP. This year has been busy. We have been a part of the High School Nation Tour and performed in front of 120,000 kids in 30 days, we shared the stage with the Smashing Pumpkins, signed with a booking agent at The Agency Group, and performed during Canadian Music Week. Now we are recording a full length album.
KTM: You certainly have a unique sound and aesthetic. How would you describe your fashion and your sound?
SD: Our sound is heavily influenced by the 1960s and is psychedelic. It is influenced by the Rolling Stones and The Animals. We describe ourselves as a fashion-art band because we create a lot of different kinds of art in addition to music. We also wanted to reflect era in classic rock when bands were iconic in their imagery; when their sound and appearance were representative of a lifestyle. Our image is created by not only our personal style but also combines fashion from the 1920s and 1960s. Our look and sound are influenced by Jimi Hendrix and The Rolling Stones.
KTM: What else is inspiring the music that you are making right now?
SD: Our sound is very organic and raw. We play vintage instruments from the 1960s and our sound incorporates musical qualities from that decade. We try to ensure that our music maintains the connection between musicians and the fans; we don't want to do anything that sounds overproduced.
KTM: What has been the highlight of the band's career so far?
SD: We have had a lot of highlights this past year from being unsigned and winning a fan-voted MTV award to playing onstage with Courtney Love and Dave Navarro to getting to play for and connect with 4,000 kids everyday on the High School Nation Tour. Through it all we have been able to keep the pure intention of our art alive. It is easy to become starstruck and lose sight of the art you set out to create.
KTM: If you could tour with any band past or present who would it be and why?
SD: In the past, it would be The Rolling Stones or Rod Stewart and The Faces because they have influenced us so much and now it would be the Arctic Monkeys.
KTM: What are the band's future goals?
SD: We want to finish the East Coast leg of the High School Nation Tour and finish the album to release it in the Fall. It should be done around October.
Palaye Royale has performed numerous sold out shows in Los Angeles, New York, and Las Vegas, participated in fashion shows, and created six independent art films. They have managed to connect with fans on a multitude of levels and have established a presence in the music, art, film, and fashion industries.