00:01
DJ Whippopatomus
What's good, Everybody? This is DJ Whippopatomus, aka Whippo. You are listening to WKNC 88.1 FM HD-1 Raleigh. We are a student run nonprofit radio station out of North Carolina State University. And today we are joined by Austin Royale, who is set to release an album in the near future. How you doing, man?
00:24
Austin Royale
I'm good man.
00:27
DJ Whippopatomus
Glad to have you, man. I know we've been trying to do this for a minute. For real?
00:29
Austin Royale
Yeah, yeah. It's good to be here. I've been wanting to come over here for a minute. WKNC been playing my music for, I would say since like 2017, I think. So it's been dope. I never been up here.
00:43
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, yeah. So it's dope. Yeah, definitely. Glad to have you.
00:45
Austin Royale
Yeah, it's dope. I appreciate you having me.
00:48
DJ Whippopatomus
You want to introduce yourself, tell people where you're from, what you do?
00:52
Austin Royale
I'm Austin Royal. I am. It's spelled like Royale, but I'm Austin Royal. I'm a Durham native, multi disciplinary artist, musician, producer, songwriter, you know, supporter of the community, all of that, you know what I mean?
01:12
DJ Whippopatomus
Hell yeah.
01:14
Austin Royale
Not much to me. Just what I do, that's all.
01:17
DJ Whippopatomus
Yes, sir.
01:18
Austin Royale
Yeah, yeah.
01:19
DJ Whippopatomus
I see you've been putting the work, man youg were one of the first artists to hit me up and yeah, I see you've been grinding. Just trying to get your name out there. Do what you got to do.
01:27
Austin Royale
Trying. Yeah. It's hard doing it all.
01:29
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah. For real. Independent, right?
01:32
Austin Royale
I mean. Yeah, I mean I have like a good team like around me to help. A lot of them are like, just are like friends that like have always been around and just are starting to do more.
01:42
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah.
01:43
Austin Royale
Like creative stuff and you know, we just doing everything together. Like it's fun, it's genuine and authentic. So that's what's important to me. But were really doing it all by ourself. Like no backing from anybody, just straight like on the concrete with it, you.
01:57
DJ Whippopatomus
Know what I mean?
01:57
Austin Royale
Like in the field with the people.
01:59
DJ Whippopatomus
No doubt.
02:00
Austin Royale
Yeah, yeah.
02:01
DJ Whippopatomus
You have a very unique genre bending sound. How would you describe it in your own words though, if you can? I mean, it's hard to put it into words, honestly.
02:12
Austin Royale
What's crazy is that I've been like labeling my music a lot as like hip hop and rap because I came from that background.
02:21
DJ Whippopatomus
Right.
02:22
Austin Royale
But like a lot of the artists that I see and that I like that rap even still, but their production and just how they do song arrangements and Just the texture and the aesthetic of the music is very. They list a lot of their stuff as alternative, especially, like the, like, very special projects.
02:43
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah.
02:43
Austin Royale
So it's like, I really been like, teeter tottering, like, back and forth about. I feel like I got a little loud on the mic, like. Yeah. Like, I'm trying to get too close, but I've been like, teeter tottering, like, back and forth between, you know, whether I wanted, you know, to call, quote, unquote, the music hip hop or alternative music or whatever. But it's like, you know, I'm rapping, but the production is very, like alternative, rap based. But a lot of, like, rock influences, a lot of electronic and experimental stuff, like, going on. It's a lot. I spend a lot of time on all the records. That's why I don't put out as much music as people probably would like for me to. But my album was about to come out and all of that. So, like.
03:32
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, I'm waiting on that.
03:33
Austin Royale
Yeah. Like, I really don't know how to explain it. I really just want to make it good and have people listen to it that care about it and we all gang up together and have fun facts. That's it.
03:45
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, no doubt, bro.
03:47
Austin Royale
Yeah.
03:49
DJ Whippopatomus
What type of topics or even type of energy do you bring with this next album?
03:55
Austin Royale
I mean, so the album is called Plan A. I've been making it. Okay. I'm really mixing it right now. It's pretty much done. I'm just mixing it right now. I spent like five years making it, producing it. Like, I co produced, like, or did like a lot of the, like, head arrangements and everything for almost every song on it.
04:15
DJ Whippopatomus
Hell, yeah. So you're very hands on with it.
04:18
Austin Royale
Yeah, yeah. And I redid, like, half of it, like. Yeah. Once or twice. So it's just like. I just. I really. It's all it is just a reflection of, like, what, like, a element in people that I feel like is gone. Like, for the most part, like, the whole concept of, like, last real ones left. Like, it's like, it's that. But, like, from an artist standpoint, like, I feel like people are really comfortable and people play everything really safe, which is fine. Like, I don't judge people. Like, that's my whole thing is, like, not judging everybody being who they are, like the best versions of themselves, not judging one another, being very accepting.
05:08
Austin Royale
But I see a lot of people really give everything and really give their entire life, every aspect of their life, to art and to the progression of art and a Lot of those people go uncelebrated, and I don't think a lot of those people go represented well. So I'm just. That's what this is about. It's just about not having a plan B. It's about, like, literally dying on what you stand on as an artist. So that's really what the whole approach was. That's why it's like my introduction that I wanted to have to the world. You know what I'm saying? So, like, it's. It's cool.
05:47
DJ Whippopatomus
You know what I mean? That's dope.
05:48
Austin Royale
Yeah.
05:48
DJ Whippopatomus
It takes a lot of sacrifice, for sure.
05:51
Austin Royale
A lot, A lot, a lot, a lot.
05:54
DJ Whippopatomus
How long you been working on this album?
05:56
Austin Royale
Five years. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
05:58
DJ Whippopatomus
Hell, yeah. It wasn't a long time coming.
06:00
Austin Royale
Yeah, yeah.
06:01
DJ Whippopatomus
No, that's.
06:02
Austin Royale
It won't take me that long for nothing else no more, but, like, you know, I've been broke, you know, facts, you know, just, you know, average underground stuff. You know what I mean? So. Yeah, yeah, it's just. I done made some of it in la, New York, here.
06:18
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah.
06:18
Austin Royale
Charlotte.
06:20
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah. You've been on a journey.
06:22
Austin Royale
Yeah, I got a lot of. A lot of. I got like, a lot of bigger, like, producers and artists on it as well. But, like, it took, like. It's all genuine relationships stuff, though. It's like people that I actually like, develop relationships with before.
06:39
DJ Whippopatomus
Right.
06:39
Austin Royale
So it's cool. Like, I'm excited about it. I feel like it's something that people gonna have to really like. Like, really listen to for a minute. It's not something unless you have my taste of music. It's not gonna hit you automatically, but you're gonna know it's good.
06:59
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah.
07:00
Austin Royale
And for you to understand it's just gonna take some listens sometimes. But I think those are like, the best albums to me.
07:06
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah. I mean, it's at least gonna sound different from what I'm getting and. Yeah, that's what people are looking for nowadays.
07:12
Austin Royale
For real? Yeah.
07:14
DJ Whippopatomus
What's your creative process like? Either when you're writing a song or when you get in the studio, Is there like a set process or is it different every time?
07:23
Austin Royale
I mean, I'm constantly trying to experiment with different methods. I started out just picking beats, rapping over and writing to it. Rapping over it. You know, straight pen to pad type stuff. But like, as, like, I got, like. I started making music when I was like. And putting out music when I was like 15 years old. So, like, I'm just. I just turned 26. What's today? Yes, Thursday. Yesterday. Yesterday was my birthday.
07:52
DJ Whippopatomus
Happy birthday.
07:53
Austin Royale
Appreciate you. Yeah, yeah. So appreciate you. Like I just, I. I really just been. As things progressed, like I wasn't getting the production that I wanted that I felt like just keeping it hot. Yo, I felt like I got really good at rapping really fast, like really young. Like me and my friend were like competing against each other all the time. One of my best friends from high school and I feel like I got really good at rapping really fast and like I wanted better beats to go to match how good I felt like I was rapping at that point. So I started getting into way more hands on, into the production. I was picking in the producers that I was working with and all of that.
08:38
Austin Royale
Which evolved into me not having money for studio time or having money to pay people for beats. So I have to learn how to mix my own stuff and I have to learn how to make my own beats. And then it evolved to like man, things digital, everything digital doesn't sound the best to me. I want to start working with instrumentalists. So I started getting instrumentalists in the studio and writing the parts that I want them to sing like do and like writing parts for other artists that I work with, like for certain songs on the album and stuff like that. So it's just really just me developing as an artist. And now it's gotten to a point where I'm able to do a lot of things.
09:11
Austin Royale
Like you can put me in a studio with a lot of equipment, like high quality equipment and I'll know what to do. But now like I start like I'm thinking of the song as I'm producing. Like I'm start with the production first most of the time. But like now. But as of lately I'm doing stuff like writing songs acapella and then making the music for that. Like so it just depends on the type of record that I want to make and how the inspiration hits me is different.
09:43
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah.
09:43
Austin Royale
So like I don't really. It just be depending. Yeah, it's just. I just really. I want to let the music make itself. Like that's how I've always been. Just let life be life and let the music make itself and go with the flow. You know what I mean?
09:57
DJ Whippopatomus
But yeah, you can already hear that in some of the music that you've already dropped too. So I'm excited.
10:02
Austin Royale
I appreciate it. Like the stuff on the album is like way more musical than the stuff that's out.
10:11
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah. Like you're saying with the Instrumentals, the live instruments. Like, that's definitely gonna set you apart.
10:16
Austin Royale
Yeah, I got, like, violins, violas, cellos, banjos.
10:22
DJ Whippopatomus
Violence.
10:22
Austin Royale
Going hard on a track, man. Yeah. I got pianists, everything. So, like, it's dope. I'm excited about it. I'm nervous. I'm nervous about putting it out. Cause I spent mad time on it. And, you know, I like to have, like a whole. You know, I like to have more to work with, to put it out. But, you know, like, that's. You know what I mean? Like, that's like, who cares, bro? Give them the pancakes, bro. You don't gotta worry about all the pecans and the sprinkles and the whipped cream and the chocolate.
10:58
DJ Whippopatomus
That people are hungry, man.
10:59
Austin Royale
Yeah, Just give them what they came to eat. Just give them that. You know what I mean?
11:03
DJ Whippopatomus
There's probably always gonna be something else you could add to it, right?
11:06
Austin Royale
I mean. Yeah, but we gotta have discipline as artists, man. Yeah, yeah, we gotta.
11:14
DJ Whippopatomus
Like, I feel that quality over quantity, right?
11:17
Austin Royale
We can't be selfish. We can't be. But I'm talking about withholding music. You know what I mean? Like, you can't be selfish. You can't be, like, yeah, you make the music for yourself. Yeah, it makes you happy. But if you're trying to be, like, a artist that makes an impact on the people or an entertainer, like, you gotta share it. Like, you can't waste time, like, trying to perfect everything. Cause it'll never be perfect. You might even overdo it. And I feel like that's a battle that I've been dealing with. I've been wanting to have this, that, and the third, and it's just like, I haven't even. Like, I put out mixtapes when I was in, like, younger, like, under a different name, but as, like, Austin Royal. Like, I haven't. I put out singles and videos and I've toured and, like.
12:05
Austin Royale
But, like, I'm like, I haven't dropped a project. So it's just like, I feel like it's very important for me to do that, no matter. And not be worried about this, like, this. This. This ideal expectation that I have for myself. You know what I mean? So, like, it's, you know, that's it. I just. I just don't want to put all that pressure on myself. I don't think nobody should be putting all that pressure on me.
12:35
DJ Whippopatomus
So. Facts. Yeah, yeah, that'll definitely affect you, too. Your mental health.
12:40
Austin Royale
You have no idea. You have no idea. You have no idea, bro.
12:46
DJ Whippopatomus
Facts.
12:47
Austin Royale
No cap.
12:48
DJ Whippopatomus
So what is American Millennials?
12:51
Austin Royale
It's. So American Millennials is. It's my production company. It's an event in. Music production company.
13:00
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah.
13:02
Austin Royale
So it's. Right now it's all about just like getting vibes out. Like, you know, whether it's like songwriting or producing music, producing or throwing like, shows, events. Producing films. Producing music for films.
13:25
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah.
13:26
Austin Royale
Like, it might be some short films coming. I mean, stuff like that. So it's just like, that's. But I wanted to evolve into something bigger, you know, so like, I really wanted to evolve into more like a creative, like, house for like, our community here. Like, I want American Millennials to be something that's very tailored towards helping immersion artists who are like, there's a lot of artists like me who are able to do a lot for themselves and work with the people around them to do a lot for themselves. There's a lot of artists and groups of artists who don't need anything but money and direction and legal help. You know what I'm saying?
14:08
DJ Whippopatomus
You got the talent.
14:09
Austin Royale
Yeah. So I want to. There's a lot more. I want to create a bridge to like, give that to people in areas that aren't that don't live in New York and LA and, you know, Miami and stuff like that. So it's just like, because those people matter too. So that's really what American Millennials is about, is just like bridging the vibes, you know what I'm saying? And really artist empowerment, it's really a formless entity that is centered. It's a formless entity that favors around art.
14:42
DJ Whippopatomus
Okay.
14:42
Austin Royale
So that's all it is, like, basically, like. But when you see American Millennials, that's me, my people, who I rock with. Yeah. Trying not to say other words.
14:54
DJ Whippopatomus
That's tough though. It seems like you're kind of building sort of arts infrastructure for local artists out here. For sure.
15:01
Austin Royale
I mean, that's the goal. No, that's the long term goal.
15:04
DJ Whippopatomus
People need that. Especially, like you said, like, we're not exposed to these larger markets like New York, Louisiana. Like, they already kind of have that established. Like, but I seen that's kind of been building up out here over the past like five years or so. The. The arts infrastructure out here.
15:20
Austin Royale
Yeah, but we need these companies to get with these artists, though. Yeah, that's big.
15:25
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah.
15:26
Austin Royale
Shout out to your Korean yo. She did like a Bojangles commercial, bro. So that was dope going wild. Like, that's something that's like, there needs to be More things like that. Like, I want to see, like, Dame's Chicken and Waffles. Like, do a commercial and have, like, I don't know, like, Juice Lord. Do the. Do the. Do the music. You know what I'm saying? Like, I want to see stuff like that. You know what I mean?
15:44
DJ Whippopatomus
That's tough.
15:47
Austin Royale
Shout out to. There's this company out here in Raleigh. They do, you know, you ever. You know, like, people who do, like, the little short films on YouTube where they build the small Gundams but make it look big and stuff like that. It's like the little shows or whatever. It's a company that's like the head, like, Gundam builder. And they do like, a lot of like. Like merchandising stuff called Holy Mountain. And it's in. The guy who's on it is. He has this company called True Gun that does, like, a lot of stuff on that Gundam type wave on, like, the. I don't know. It's a. It's a. It's a term for it. It's like. Okay, it's like. It's figurine. It's like the figurines and stuff like that, you know? I mean, so it's just like, they, like.
16:30
Austin Royale
I reached out to them and they sent me. Like, they blessed me with some gear. Like we. They liked what I was doing. Like, I want to do like an event with them. Like, I want to. They're doing like a con. Like doing a convention or something. Like, I'm trying to perform at that.
16:43
DJ Whippopatomus
You know what I mean?
16:43
Austin Royale
Like, I'm trying to do, like, there's a lot of companies around here who are really dope and creative that are doing well, but it's just like, I feel like I said earlier, people just be playing it safe. And it's just like. I get that. Like, I understand that, but it's like, for alternative artists or, like punk artists or for like, you know what I'm saying? Like, really loud artists. Like.
17:10
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah.
17:10
Austin Royale
Is there space for them here? Yeah, like, where's their space?
17:14
DJ Whippopatomus
Facts.
17:15
Austin Royale
So that's. That's kind of like. Or just the really, like a collective alternative artist. Like, where's their space? People that doesn't want to just, like that don't just sit down with acoustic guitar and like a hat and just play. Like, for a coffee shop or a lounge. Like, where's the room for everyone else? Because, like, they're like, you know, between Covid and everything else. Like, you know, the whole venue show thing is mad, iffy right now. So it's a lot of factors and gears that I just be looking at. It's just like I want to do my part to help. You know what I mean?
17:48
DJ Whippopatomus
Absolutely.
17:50
Austin Royale
Yeah, like, a lot. Like, I want to do stuff with the youth and everything, so. So.
17:53
DJ Whippopatomus
Hell yeah. Yeah, I love that. Yeah, you definitely provide an experience for. At your show, for people that attend your show. You really bring the energy, and I really appreciate that. Yeah. Last time I seen you perform was at a Juice Lord show. Yeah, you really went off.
18:10
Austin Royale
Yeah, I feel like I went. I was a little too aggressive. I feel like I was a little too aggressive.
18:16
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, it'd be like that.
18:17
Austin Royale
I mean, like. But like, at the same time, you know, like, I don't apologize, but at the same time, I'm like. I'm like. I want to create a welcoming environment at the shows for people to be themselves. Yeah, that's really. That's the most important thing to me. If you don't want to mosh, if you don't want to let go or whatever, you don't wanna do that. You wanna chill on the sidelines, drink your drink, watch the show, be amazed, do that. You know what I'm saying? Like, I'm not trying to judge people for that. So I wanna. What I do apologize for is. Cause it wasn't just that show. It was other shows that I've had that where even I might've done a good job performing or people might have enjoyed it. I felt like I was very, like, pushy with the energy.
19:24
Austin Royale
And when I say pushy, I don't mean, like, literally physically pushing people. I mean, like, trying to. And I've had. I've toured with, like, bigger open for bigger artists and like, who really, like, rock with me, like, and, like, got support for me, like, shared, like, certain things. Aspects about my performances and how they're good, but it's just like, I got to. I want to do, like. I'm so. I guess. Okay. Okay, I'm sorry. No, I guess for me, like, for me, how I respond to, like, releasing things within myself that make. That I need to release to make me feel better. The way I respond, how that even happens is from, like, the world and life, like, causing things to happen around me to force that to come out of me.
20:11
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah.
20:11
Austin Royale
Like, it's almost like I learned the hard way about things. And I think that I sometimes subconsciously might project that in my performance, you know what I'm saying? Which is really. Which is really weird, you know what I'm saying? So it's just like, I want to, like, people really like coming to my show, so I want to just do better and keep being more cognizant and aware about what's going on, what I'm doing all these things just to provide a better experience for people because, like, yeah, like, I'm not trying to be bored performing, but I'm trying to have fun. And I'm trying to make sure it's important for me to have fun. And that's the, like, as an artist, like, you have to enjoy what you're doing. It's not just. Yeah, you're. You're.
20:52
Austin Royale
You're giving yourself to others in a lot of different ways, but it's the most. It's so important for you to, like, still have fun, because you're just gonna lose everything else if you're not. Like, everything else is just not gonna mean anything. So. I wanna still rage, still do what I'm. You know, what I do and what people love from me at my shows. But, like, I wanna. I want them to do it. I don't wanna. You know what I mean? Like, participate. Yeah, I want them to participate in it. I don't want it to be like, oh, man, he wants us to do this. It's like, nah, it's like, yo, I'm here for y'.
21:32
DJ Whippopatomus
All.
21:33
Austin Royale
Y’all here for me.
21:34
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah. You feel me create that experience.
21:36
Austin Royale
Yeah. Let's raise these vibes. Like, let's do it. You know what I'm saying?
21:42
DJ Whippopatomus
Makes it memorable.
21:43
Austin Royale
Yeah. Yeah. So I really been thinking a lot since that show, and I texted Juice about that, and I was like, yeah, like, I really been thinking about the show and that show in particular and, like, other past shows, and just really thinking of, like, new approaches while I'm on stage. Like, it's still going to be the same vibes. Of course they're going to be even stronger for real, but it's just going to be more, like, instead of so aggressive and militant, is going to be, like, very, like. Like aggressively spiritual. Aggressively. Like. Like. Like, it's going to feel like fellowship. Fellowship, like church. You know what I'm saying? Like, I'm not about to do no Christian records and nothing like that, but, like, it's going to be. It's gon feel like that.
22:32
Austin Royale
Like, it's gonna feel way more elating, you know what I mean?
22:35
DJ Whippopatomus
No matter if you're religious or not.
22:36
Austin Royale
Yeah. So I wanted to be like that because, you know, like, I wanna. I want everybody to feel, like, comfortable to do Whatever. At my shows, it's not harming anybody else.
22:50
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah.
22:50
Austin Royale
Like, literally, if it's not harming anybody, do whatever. I don't care. Like, jump off the stage, like, do whatever, like, you know what I mean?
22:58
DJ Whippopatomus
That's how y’all get down, you.
22:59
Austin Royale
Know what I'm saying? Like, do whatever, bro. You know what I'm saying? Like, if somebody falls, pick them back up. If somebody, like, you know, if somebody needs some help them, you know what I'm saying? Somebody drop something, pick it back up, give it to them, get back to what's going on, you know what I'm saying? Like, just really laying the foundation for freedom of self expression, you know what I'm saying? It's really important.
23:23
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, it's dope. That you have that awareness about yourself and about your work too.
23:28
Austin Royale
I try, man. I've been doing this for a little, like, not, you know, I'm still young. I've been doing this for. And learning on my own as I go, like, for a little minute. And I'm blessed to be where I'm at and to know what I know and to have so many opportunities, like, ahead of me. So it's dope. I'm really grateful.
23:52
DJ Whippopatomus
You want to talk about a little bit about the journey you kind of went on, like, within the past five years when you went out to LA and toured and all that?
24:01
Austin Royale
I mean, so. I was doing a lot of stuff locally around the Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Durham area from when I was like, 15 to when I was like, 19 years old.
24:14
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah.
24:15
Austin Royale
And, like, I had a lot of stuff that I was doing that caught the eyes of, like, 9th Wonder and like. Like, who got hip to my stuff from, like, some college, some, like, Central North Carolina Central employees, as well as, like, the head basketball coach of North Carolina Central, Lamont, and stuff like that. So, like. Cause I. When the year Obama won the first year BET was doing this thing called Respect My Vote campaign where they were going to all of the, like, mad high schools, like throughout the country and doing, like, little mini concerts to, like, promote voting, like, for the high school seniors that were 18 that could vote. And they booked me and, like, my collector to perform at my school when they came.
25:04
Austin Royale
And when I performed, like, you know, the coach or whatever was there, he gave the mu. He gave my music the 9th. And like, that was dope.
25:11
DJ Whippopatomus
And it's crazy how things work like that.
25:14
Austin Royale
Yeah, it was. Yeah, it was cool. But I was really, like, doing a lot of, like, boom bap stuff, like, stuff that I Don't really do, like, that right now. Yeah, but, like, that evolved into, like, me leaving and going to Greensboro for college.
25:25
DJ Whippopatomus
Okay.
25:26
Austin Royale
Like, and there's. When I met my homie, JK the Reaper. I met my dj Paulie Guop.
25:34
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, yeah.
25:34
Austin Royale
Excuse me. And that's when I really started getting into, like. Like, before, I was listening to, like, Currency and Wiz and, like, Joey Badass and, like, okay. You know what I mean? Like, Smoke Dizza, Big Crit, stuff like that. Big Sean, you know, of course, Kanye Cudi, stuff like that. So I was really into rap. Rap. You know what I mean? So. But then, like, around, you know, like, 2013, 14, I started really getting. That's because 2012, we was really in. We got into ASAP Rocky and stuff. That was cool. So we was really just doing a lot of, like, mischievous. Mischievous things, like, for a couple years. And then, you know, like, I got into, like, Travis Scott and, like, I got into, like, a lot of, like. Like, I came from a very, like, urban area, bro.
26:22
Austin Royale
Like, I grew up straight around, like, just straight black people, bro. Like, I went to Hillside in, like. And then I went to Shepherd Middle School, Easy School in Durham. Like, so, like, I was around people, and my parents, they never listened to rock music and stuff like that. So, like, I found out about that from, like, I really was, like, low key, really obsessed with, like, Kid Cudi and stuff like that. Like, I really love. It's one of my favorite artists ever.
26:48
DJ Whippopatomus
So he definitely carried me through my childhood.
26:50
Austin Royale
Yeah. So he put me on to, like, mad stuff that I wouldn't have known about otherwise, like Nirvana and all these things, which got me into punk music and got me into mosh pits and got. And I was really rocking with Travis sky at the time, and I was really, like, getting into that, so I started making different types of music. So I was hanging with my homie JK the Reaper, a lot, and he was doing a lot of shows. He just got off tour at the time with Denzel Curry, who's also a friend of mine.
27:18
DJ Whippopatomus
Okay.
27:18
Austin Royale
And he. I just started doing a lot of shows with him. We went to A3C in Atlanta. We did that festival during, like, it was like, a North Carolina artist stage that they had down there.
27:30
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah.
27:32
Austin Royale
And you. Like, it's just. I just started doing more, so getting into the vein of the things that I do now. Producing more, like, engineering more, all of those things. So it just really evolved. Like, it just went from literally me riding the bus. My mom made me quit the Football team. Cause I was getting in trouble in school. My homie was rapping. I lied to him, told him he was good. Went home. I thought he was trash. I went home and started writing my own raps and then started comparing with him. And then we started a little rapping collective or whatever with my homie Jay, who's over there. And, like, you know what I'm saying? That evolved into another thing and another thing. And now we're here, so it's just really it. Like, oh, and you asked me about la. Oh, yeah, yeah.
28:22
Austin Royale
So how that happened? I was already going when I put out, when I started, like, making a lot of music with a lot of my homies in Charlotte and, like, making music with JK and, like, tap. Like, you know, linked up with Denzel and stuff. Like, I was getting to know him and a lot of guys in Miami and, like, Ronny J. And stuff like that. Really hanging out with those guys, doing shows in LA with them, going to shows in Miami. Like, I opened up for Denzel at Cat's Cradle with, like, Boogie west side Boogie. Me, Me, Yoshi Tompkins and Denzel. And, like, I opened up that show.
28:59
DJ Whippopatomus
How was that?
29:01
Austin Royale
Were you there? Yeah. Like, how do you think it was? That was. It was bananas. It was bananas. It was one of the craziest shows I've ever had in North Carolina. Like, it. It was wild.
29:15
DJ Whippopatomus
Y’all turned it up.
29:17
Austin Royale
Yeah, me and Paul. Yeah, Paulie Guap, we turned it up. Like, it was crazy. Like, it was real crazy. Like. Cause I was the first person.
29:24
DJ Whippopatomus
Hell, yeah.
29:24
Austin Royale
It was sold out, but I was the first person on. So when I went on in, like, the big stage of Cats. So, like, it was. When I went on, it had to be, like, maybe, like, 250 kids, 300 kids already there, and, like, killed it. Crowd surfing. Like, when I left, I went outside to smoke and, like, kids came outside. Like. Like, yeah, kids came outside. Like, literally, like, 25 kids came outside, bro, just to, like, talk, chop up with me. It was dope. And, you know, so that led to me, like, doing a show. I did. We did. We did. I did, like, a couple of shows, one or two shows in la. And it just.
30:06
Austin Royale
I was going back and forth out there a lot because, like, other than North Carolina, like, I think the top city that was listening to my music was la, then it was Charlotte, then it was New York at the time.
30:18
DJ Whippopatomus
That's dope that you could see that too.
30:20
Austin Royale
Yeah. So, like, my soundcloud was booming at the time. So I went. So I was just going back and forth to la and then I eventually just was like, I dropped out of school. Cause I was traveling so much. I really didn't drop out. I just stopped going to class because I was traveling so much. I didn't have time to go. So I just stayed in my apartment till the least end at like, my mom with my mom that I told my mom that I was going to class, lying to her. And when it ended, when. It just so happens that when my lease ended, like, I wasn't traveling as much. So, like, I went home and she made me get a job because I left like school or whatever. Because, like, I was like just making just enough to like. Like, I didn't.
31:00
Austin Royale
Like, I was making money from shows, but not enough to live off of like, you know, and have him invest. So like, I moved it back in with my mom's. Like, when I dropped out of school and she made me get a job or whatever and I was traveling, taking days off or whatever. And it was a horrible job. It was at a health clinic.
31:19
DJ Whippopatomus
Oh, damn.
31:19
Austin Royale
But it was like a health clinic that went to people's houses. But I was in like the call office in a cubicle. So every day I used to, like, It was miserable every day I used to try to just have to repair the damage that I had done to myself that day from sitting there all day mentally and then prepare mentally and decompressed for the next day to do it again. So eventually I just got. So I was like, I'm about to save up and I'm about to move to Cali. I couldn't even wait long enough to save up. So when I had like 1400 bucks, bro, which is nothing, I just left. Yeah, like, I literally just left. And I was there for like half a year. I came back to shoot some videos and I was supposed to go back.
32:07
Austin Royale
Cause I had a management contract out there.
32:10
DJ Whippopatomus
Oh, word?
32:11
Austin Royale
Yeah. So. But I ceased that because I wasn't like, bro was cool, but like, I didn't really like his insight or like how he approached certain things. So I ceased that. But when I came back here, I got in some trouble. So I couldn't even go back to California. Oh, damn. So I. After that blew over, like, I was here and I was, you know, doing like right before the pandemic, I was just like, okay, my whole goal. Because like I said, like, I. I left and went to Greensboro and then I was like in LA and in New York and yada, Atlanta, Miami, and stuff like that. So I didn't really do, like, with this new wave stuff that I'm doing now, I didn't really do any of that stuff much here in where I'm from, like, the. Like, the RDU area. Like.
33:01
Austin Royale
Yeah, like, people just thought I left, you know, I mean, whatever. So I was like, you know what? I'm a rock out and kill stuff for a year, you know, I mean, and then I'm a move to New York. And right when it was time for me to move to New York, because I was paying my bills from shows, like, I was getting booked, like, three, four times a month, getting paid for all of it, you know, I'm saying, paying my bills, whatever, saving money. And then right before, right when I was about to move, I was gonna move in January. Covid hit in what, October, November, something like that. So then that's when I. Stuff got really rough for me because I wasn't doing shows. That's literally how I was making my money.
33:38
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, that's your lifeline.
33:39
Austin Royale
Yeah. So, like, it got really rough for me during that period for, like, the first four months of COVID Yeah.
33:45
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah.
33:46
Austin Royale
So it was tough. So, like, that's really. And you know. You know where we're at now. So it's just like, that's where that's really, like, the whole story of, like.
33:55
DJ Whippopatomus
No, that's tough, bro.
33:56
Austin Royale
Yeah, it's a lot.
33:57
DJ Whippopatomus
Like I said, that's a journey.
33:58
Austin Royale
It's a lot, bro. But, like, I'm so blessed and thankful because I done learned so much and learned it the hard way and really, like, got my hands dirty, and I'm still getting my hands dirty. So I really respect, like, the people around me and myself for that. So it's dope. But it's still the beginning, bruh. You know what I mean? This is, like the tip of the iceberg. So it's gonna get real crazy, and soon, like, it's gonna be real crazy. Like, so, you know what's been.
34:30
DJ Whippopatomus
What's been one of your favorite performances?
34:35
Austin Royale
Okay, so I performed at the Roxy in la.
34:38
DJ Whippopatomus
Okay.
34:39
Austin Royale
I don't know if you ever heard of the Roxy. No, it's like a historical venue. Like, everybody who's anybody, like, okay, perform there like. Like Nirvana. Oh, damn. Like, Pink Floor. Anybody, like, it's on. It's on, it's on. Is it on Sunset or is it on West Holly? It's a. You can look it up, bro. Like Queen. Anybody, like, anybody. Everybody's performed there. So I performed and I wasn't supposed to. Like, what happened was. Is I was there. Denzel has dropped his first album, and I was there for the show. Cause JK was opening up.
35:13
DJ Whippopatomus
Oh, that's so tough.
35:14
Austin Royale
And I was there, and he was like, man, I'm nervous, bro. We about to do the Roxy. It's sold out. Like, can you perform with me? I'm like. I'm like, word. And I'm like, word. It's all good, bro. I'm like, word. You know? And I'm like, excited. I'm nervous. Like, Coach K from QC was there. Alex Glass was there. You know Alex Glass from Crystal Castles?
35:42
DJ Whippopatomus
No, I don't actually.
35:43
Austin Royale
Alice Glass is, like, so dope. Like, we both. Me and JK both love, like, okay, the original Crystal Castles. But, like, yeah, I love Alice Glass. She was there. Alice, like, Alice in Wonderland bad. Yeah, but, like, Alice Glass, she's dope.
35:57
DJ Whippopatomus
To her on the way home.
35:58
Austin Royale
Yeah, she's different. It's like some super electronic, experimental, like, scream music.
36:02
DJ Whippopatomus
Word.
36:03
Austin Royale
Yeah, different. Like, she's like. She's like. Imagine like, how a harpy would, like, sound, like, on a record. Like, she sounds like that sounds. Sounds dope.
36:13
DJ Whippopatomus
I've been looking for something different to listen to.
36:15
Austin Royale
Yeah, yeah, she's dope. You like Amnesia Scanner, you know, that is. You should check them out. Yeah, they're dope. They're. They're like an electronic group from, like, Eastern Europe. But, yeah, like, she was there. Like, a lot of people was there. Ronnie J was there. DJ Carnage was there. It was dope.
36:32
DJ Whippopatomus
Wow.
36:33
Austin Royale
Like, yeah, I met Carnage a couple different times. He's cool.
36:35
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, he's.
36:36
Austin Royale
He's. He's real crazy. Yeah, he's cool, though.
36:39
DJ Whippopatomus
That's what's up. He gets down.
36:40
Austin Royale
Yeah, that was probably my favorite. I mean, I feel like the. The most fun one was the one at Cat's Cradle I was talking about. But that one at the Roxy was just like a. A moment for me. Like, you're supposed to be doing this.
36:53
DJ Whippopatomus
Oh, yeah.
36:54
Austin Royale
You know what I'm saying? Like, so I really enjoyed that. That was dope.
36:58
DJ Whippopatomus
How's the crowd out there?
37:00
Austin Royale
Oh, LA shows are always ridiculous. Yeah, ridiculous. Or like, Observatory, like, in San Bernard. What is it right outside of LA is San Bernardino. I think that's what it is. Yeah, it's Observatory. The Observatory Santa. Is it Santa Ana or is it San Bernardino?
37:20
DJ Whippopatomus
I'm not sure.
37:20
Austin Royale
Something, like, familiar with the area.
37:22
DJ Whippopatomus
Honestly, I don't know.
37:25
Austin Royale
I don't have my phones over there. But yeah, like, yeah, that was like LA's Cali shows. Crazy. Yeah. Yeah, I like him a lot.
37:35
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah.
37:35
Austin Royale
I haven't performed in New York yet though. I'm trying to lock that in before the end of the year. Yeah, yeah, I'm really getting. I get a lot of love out there and I'm trying to do like a lot. I'm trying to do something on the punk circuit out there.
37:46
DJ Whippopatomus
Yo.
37:47
Austin Royale
Because I've been doing a lot of shows with punk bands lately too.
37:51
DJ Whippopatomus
Okay.
37:51
Austin Royale
So.
37:52
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, that's tough. Yeah. It was really cool to see what Juice Lord did with. With the drummer and the guitarist on top of all that. Like, that went crazy.
38:00
Austin Royale
That's different. I did a performance in a lot in the. So the town of Chapel Hill paid me to do a performance in the library.
38:08
DJ Whippopatomus
Yes.
38:09
Austin Royale
That was crazy. I really, like, I was rehearsing a lot for that and it sounds really good. So, like, I want to do that live, like at all my shows if I can, like, shout out to Soul and Jake Buchanan and David Protoss, man, they're dope. Like, those are. Those are the. Those are some really talented guys, man. For sure. That's what's up. Yeah, Soul be playing with like Rhapsody and like he be doing. Yeah, he's in. He's a part of like, he does a lot of stuff with her, so he's dope with Jamla. But yeah, like, I don't know. I love performing, bro. Like.
38:44
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, I mean, it looks like you're having fun. Yeah.
38:47
Austin Royale
The couple times I've seen you.
38:48
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, I seen you at Bad Kitty too.
38:51
Austin Royale
That was fun. That was my first show since the start. Since the Pandemic.
38:55
DJ Whippopatomus
Right, right. Yeah, yeah, that was. That was a really cool show. I just love the collaboration of art and music and all that. Really.
39:02
Austin Royale
I got some more shows coming up. Okay. I don't have dates yet, but I'm trying to do something in Charlotte and I want to do something in Chapel Hill, so.
39:11
DJ Whippopatomus
Okay.
39:11
Austin Royale
I want to do something. I want to do like a real intimate, like, punk band situation in Chapel Hill. I had a word out for that.
39:21
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah.
39:21
Austin Royale
Like, I'm really. I'm really. I don't know. I'm really trying to feel everything that I'm doing, bro. Like, yeah, like world. The world be mad boring for real. Like, so it's just like I'm trying to like, just feel everything that I'm doing. Like big shows, small shows, like pop ups, like doing shows and clothing stores, like whatever. Creating all opportunities. Like, I'm not Waiting on anybody to give me anything, bro. Like, I'm off that. I ain't waiting on anybody to give me anything at all. Like, I got what you want. I got. If you want some. If you want something hard, if you want something free, like, if you want an experience and you're in the 919 area or you're in North Carolina, you need to be rocking with us.
40:12
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, no doubt.
40:13
Austin Royale
For real. Me and, like, my peoples, you know, Crossbones, you know, Brio, Paulie Guap, like, Jazz Milan. You know what I'm saying? Like. Like, I love her. It's a whole. It's a whole 3am sound, like. Like, cross. Like, Cross said crossbones. But it's just like. Yeah, like, we got the. Like, this is. This is. This is a whole vibe. You know what I mean? Like, it's a lot of artists in Charlotte that I like, too.
40:39
DJ Whippopatomus
Okay.
40:40
Austin Royale
Yeah.
40:41
DJ Whippopatomus
I don't know too much about them, actually. I've been focusing on the 911, but,
40:44
Austin Royale
Yeah, I mean, yeah, Charlotte got their own thing going on. They show me a lot of love out there, though.
40:49
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, that's what's.
40:49
Austin Royale
Yeah, they show me a lot of love out there. So, like, I'll. It's a lot of producers and a lot of artists out there that I rock with, but I really don't. In North Carolina, I don't see a lot of alternative. Like, when I say alternative, like, rap or experimental stuff, I mean, like, I don't mean just because it's loud and it's weird. Like, I mean, like, yeah, like, real, like, musical things going on. You know what I'm saying? And it's literally a handful of artists that I really see doing that are from North Carolina. Like, you know what I'm saying? Most of them I know. So it's just, like, I'm really. I'm a music head, bro. I am, like, a fiend for good music. Like, literally, like, there's nothing more that gets me off more than, like, crazy, like, vibes, like. Like sonics.
41:45
Austin Royale
Like, crazy, like, instruments. Like. Like tech. Like, crazy music. Like. Like, vocal and sound like sonic textures. Like, Like, I'm really. I really love this, bro. Like, I'm trying not to, like, say, I love this. Like. Like, I really. I really love this, bro. Like, I really do this. Like. Like, I done did. I done dropped out of college. I done, like, moved away. I don't. Went broke, got money. Went broke, got money. I didn't, like, said no. I done got. Said no. I done said no to other people. Got no. You know what I'm saying? Had no said to me. And it doesn't stop here. It's just like. It's just like, I really want people to feel empowered about the things that they care about. Just like I am. So that's the whole vibe and whole, like, motion that I'm pushing.
42:37
Austin Royale
You know what I'm saying? This whole interview, been on Instagram live. I've been having it. Like, I don't even know if I'm gonna save it. I don't even know if anybody tapped. I just let my phone charge and had it up. But yeah, like, yeah, man, that's. That's me, bro.
42:51
DJ Whippopatomus
Like, yeah, that's tough, bro.
42:53
Austin Royale
That's me.
42:54
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, people need that. For real.
42:56
Austin Royale
Yeah, I know. And you know, I want people to know what they need.
43:03
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, for real. You make it easy for them.
43:05
Austin Royale
Like, I just want people to know. They just gotta tap in what they need. You know what I'm saying?
43:09
DJ Whippopatomus
Get it?
43:10
Austin Royale
You know what I'm saying? Don't wait on it.
43:12
DJ Whippopatomus
Exactly.
43:13
Austin Royale
Yeah. Straight up.
43:18
DJ Whippopatomus
So it's crazy. You were actually born on Friday the 13th.
43:22
Austin Royale
Yeah.
43:22
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, I saw that on your Twitter. I just. That's why I love Friday the 13th.
43:25
Austin Royale
Really? Yeah, I put that on there.
43:27
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah. I dove deep into it. No.
43:30
Austin Royale
Oh, okay. I got something else. You must have typed some in or something. You must have searched.
43:34
DJ Whippopatomus
No, I just. I was just scrolling through and just looking.
43:36
Austin Royale
I was born on Friday the 13th. Like, when I tell girls that, they be like, oh, really? They're like, all like, there you go. Like, oh, you're mysterious. Like, it's weird.
43:47
DJ Whippopatomus
You got Friday 13th vibes.
43:49
Austin Royale
Maybe, bro, I should probably get, like, the font from the movie tatted on me somewhere. Oh, yeah.
43:56
DJ Whippopatomus
That would be tough.
43:56
Austin Royale
That would be hard, right? That would be hard, right?
44:00
DJ Whippopatomus
I was actually digging through some more of your tweets and I found it was a little cryptic. I was wondering.
44:04
Austin Royale
Crazy tweets, if you dig back far enough. I probably said something really irresponsible in, like, 2012.
44:11
DJ Whippopatomus
Now you'd be speaking some truth on there.
44:12
Austin Royale
For real sometimes.
44:14
DJ Whippopatomus
But there's this one. I wasn't really sure what you meant by it, but you said when it's late, the flesh takes over.
44:20
Austin Royale
Oh, my God. Oh, my God. That's real, bro. Why do I have to explain that one? Oh, you don't got that unique. That's self explanatory. No problem. That's. That's like. That's like, yo, like, I don't know, like, at the end of the day, when you went through the day and you did your work through the day, you just want to please yourself. At the end of the day, that's more so. I guess that's what I mean. Like, you know how people. Like, some people go home and, like, you know, have a glass of wine, whatever. You know what I'm saying? But sometimes for someone else, it's something a lot more extreme than that. So it's just, like. It just depends, you know what I mean?
45:05
DJ Whippopatomus
We all got our vices. Yeah.
45:07
Austin Royale
So. Yeah, that's that.
45:12
DJ Whippopatomus
No, that's tough.
45:13
Austin Royale
That's that, bro. That's a real simple one.
45:18
DJ Whippopatomus
You were telling me before that you feel like we're kind of in the roaring twenties now. Yeah.
45:23
Austin Royale
How?
45:23
DJ Whippopatomus
Like, history kind of repeats itself. What do you mean by that?
45:28
Austin Royale
Everything's bleeped up, man. You know what I'm saying? Like, everything's. Everything's. Everything's wild. You know what I'm saying? Like, pandemic.
45:41
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, yeah.
45:42
Austin Royale
People financially unstable. Unstable. Sorry. Like, financial instability is what I meant to say. But, like, it's like Covid. Babies.
45:54
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah.
45:55
Austin Royale
You know what I'm saying? It's everything that. Baby boom. Yeah. Like, it's everything. It's. It's. It's like people being, like, one wanting, like, people protesting people, like, all these different views. Like, it's just, like, it's. And there's a lot of dope art. It's the overflow of dope art right now. Like, you can't even catch up with all the, like, fa. Stuff that's happening right now, like visual art, music, whatever.
46:21
DJ Whippopatomus
It's a shame that you can't. It's, like, so hard to tap into.
46:25
Austin Royale
It all unless, you know it's too much. You'll never have it all, man. And I think that's a good thing. That's something that.
46:32
DJ Whippopatomus
It's a life lesson.
46:34
Austin Royale
It's a lot of, like, overwhelming stuff about the Internet and social media and all of that. But, like, one thing that is true, that does remind you is that you cannot have it all. You know what I'm saying? So, like. Yeah. Was I, like, yelling earlier? I feel like I was yelling. Yeah.
46:50
DJ Whippopatomus
I'm gonna check it out. I always have to end up editing the audience.
46:56
Austin Royale
Yeah. When? Yeah, bro. Like. Yeah, that's why I just. I just feel like it's like a real new, refreshing time, new vibe.
47:06
DJ Whippopatomus
That's tough. So you talked about a little bit,
47:09
Austin Royale
But, like, handing me my. Whoa. You mind handing Me, my phone. Yeah, yeah, I got you. Can you stretch over there? Oh, you gotta take your headphones off. I could have got up. It's just doing. Is just doing this. I have a. I have an Instagram time limit, so I'm not.
47:26
DJ Whippopatomus
That's smart, man.
47:27
Austin Royale
I need to put that on time.
47:29
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah.
47:29
Austin Royale
So I don't waste time.
47:31
DJ Whippopatomus
It'll suck you in for sure with.
47:34
Austin Royale
All the jack, horse, jack, bojack, Horsemen, you know what I mean? Yeah, dude. It was just, like, leaned up to where you could see me. I don't really know. Boom.
48:01
DJ Whippopatomus
Okay, so you touched on it earlier, but, like, who are some of your influences? Who are you listening to growing up? And who do you think shaped your.
48:10
Austin Royale
Music or helped you?
48:13
DJ Whippopatomus
You mentioned Kid Cudi, man.
48:15
Austin Royale
Kid Cudi ain't help me, man. Yeah, yeah, I'm playing, I'm playing. It's like, not like I know him yet. You know what I mean?
48:23
DJ Whippopatomus
Facts.
48:24
Austin Royale
But, like, I mean, bro, like, I could say a lot of people influenced my music. Cause I'm a music head, bro. I'm really a student. I'm dead serious. I didn't go. When I tried to go to college, at first I was like, yo, I feel like I'mma blow up. Like, I'm 17. Like, yo, I'mma blow up. You know what I'm saying? So I'm like, I'm going to go to college, just buy time and just get more fans at my school, have everybody rocking with me, yada. And I wanted to go to Full Sail or something like that so I could learn more about how to make music.
49:01
DJ Whippopatomus
Okay.
49:02
Austin Royale
And you know what I'm saying, my parents weren't really seeing eye to eye with me on that, so I ended up going to uncg. And like, it's. It's. I just. I learned. I was just listening to a lot of different stuff, but, like, I don't. At first I was really rapping and I was really listening to a lot of, like, just experience. Like, like. So I'm sorry, I got. I went off on a tangent, but because. Because I didn't go to school for music.
49:37
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah.
49:37
Austin Royale
And because I. No one growing up ever taught me about music and culture me about music and all these things, and I never was an instrumentalist. I taught myself everything based off instinct and what other people said they thought was cool, whether it was my friends or people I looked up to or whatever. So I was really into, like, hard hip hop, like, just traditional hip hop stuff. Like, Most Def and Nas and Wu Tang. And, like, I really liked Common a lot. Like, I really like the way he. The way he. Like, it's like he. Like the way he goes over records. It's like. It's like he's like a wizard. He's like a lyrical wizard. He's like. It's so easy for him. He can go anywhere on any record doing anything.
50:25
Austin Royale
Like, he can sound really aggressive on a record, like, in serious, and then he can sound like something you would play for your child. Like, he's a versatility. He's a really dope artist to me. So I was really into stuff like that, you know, of course. Stuff everybody likes, like, Kanye. Like, Lil Wayne was one of my favorite rappers at one time. Like, I was really into Drake, you know what I'm saying? Like, J. Cole, like, lyricist Kendrick, you know what I'm saying? And then, you know, the taste just kept evolving. So I just really think that it wasn't like, anybody particularly that influenced me just sonically, you know? But it's. It's. It's like.
51:07
Austin Royale
It was more so, like, personal influences, like, people that I connected with, like, as far as how they, like, showed themselves as people like Cudi or, like, Kurt Cobain or, like. Like. Like, I don't really like. I like Bob Marley's music, but, like, I listen to the same songs, but I really like what he was talking about.
51:27
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah.
51:27
Austin Royale
Like, I really. Like. There's a lot of people. I really just like what they stood for and what they were talking about, but I didn't really listen to a lot. A lot of their music, you know what I'm saying? So it was just. It was just, you know, it's a lot of influences, man. Like, I get it. Like, it's a. It's people who aren't even huge artists that inspire me. Like, Shirt is an artist from New York named Shirt, who's really big in, like, the museum and, like, visual art community. But he's a rapper. But he has worked in museums and has, like, an honorary, like, arts degree from, like, a school in Switzerland and, like, graduate, like, dropped out of high school and got referred to this school by, like, a poet from mit, Like, a poet and professor named Kenneth Goldsmith. Mit.
52:14
Austin Royale
Like, he inspires me, stuff like that. So I'm really. I'm really into, like, mad different stuff, bro. Like, Basquiat and, like, Francis Bacon, stuff like that. So it's just like, I'm really.
52:27
DJ Whippopatomus
You got the knowledge. Yeah.
52:29
Austin Royale
Like, I'm a student of art, bro. Like, I literally, like, breathe. Like, I don't really. I'm not saying this just to say it. Like, I'm. Like, it's a problem. Like, it gets into, like, it gets into the middle of my relationships, like, how serious I am about what I love to do. So it's just.
52:46
DJ Whippopatomus
It's serious.
52:46
Austin Royale
Yeah. So it's not like, oh, man. Like, yeah, Wayne just had me. He made me wanna rap. Like, nah. Like, it was my homie on the bus that made me wanna rap, bro.
52:57
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah.
52:57
Austin Royale
Feel me? Like, I just be following the path God be laying out, bruh. You feel me? Like, I'm just. I'm just doing what I like to do and just enjoying it and just enjoying the people I'm doing it with. I ain't tripping, just trying to get better.
53:10
DJ Whippopatomus
You know what I mean?
53:11
Austin Royale
Like, that's beautiful. Yeah. Like, I don't know, that whole who influences you thing, that's like mad pressure. Yeah. I just be like, yo, like, I don't know, like. You know what I'm saying? Like, it's a lot, you know?
53:24
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, no doubt.
53:25
Austin Royale
But a lot of people say to my music, you know, oh, this like some Kanye or some Cudi type stuff just because it's different or experimental or like, okay. Or I'm like Travis Scott because I like to marsh or, you know, it's very like surface level, like connections.
53:40
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah.
53:40
Austin Royale
It's a good way to. So is. Is.
53:43
DJ Whippopatomus
It's definitely deeper than that.
53:44
Austin Royale
Yeah, it's. It's. I literally spent mad time figuring out me, myself, what I like, and just taking all of that and making it in audio form.
53:53
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah.
53:53
Austin Royale
That's why it took five years. Yeah. Like, it's not going to take me five years to make another project because I found out who I am as an artist. You know, I'm constantly changing as a man, but I found out who I am as an artist already and I want to show that to the world. So that's. That's. I think that's super important for, like, longevity because people just make songs and put them out and then they just go with the motions and it's just like. So you're not gonna, like, you're not gonna have fun. You're not. I don't know. I don't know how they do it. That's why they're them. Exactly on me. So that's cool. Yeah.
54:28
DJ Whippopatomus
I'm gonna wrap things up real quick. What's the name of your album again?
54:32
Austin Royale
It's called Plan A. You know I'm just say, leave it at that. It's just called plan. It's called plan A.
54:40
DJ Whippopatomus
They're coming out this year.
54:43
Austin Royale
That is the plan. All right. That is plan A.
54:46
DJ Whippopatomus
Hey, can't rush perfection.
54:49
Austin Royale
That is plan A. But it's gonna be out. It's gonna be out. Like, you know, it's gonna be out before the end of the year at the latest, before it gets hot again. It's gonna be out. Y’all gonna be bumping it. Y’all gonna be sitting with it. I already know I got some more stuff other than that. That I got coming, too, though. Like, I'm. I'm trying to really, like.
55:10
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah. Anything else you want to let the people know.
55:17
Austin Royale
I have. You know, if you search my name, Austin Royale on everything, you'll find me on everything. Social media, YouTube, all of that, if you happen to want to go look.
55:29
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, for sure.
55:30
Austin Royale
But other than that, you know what I'm saying? Like, pull up to these shows when you see them.
55:35
DJ Whippopatomus
Yes, sir. You know you're gonna have a good time.
55:37
Austin Royale
Yeah, you're gonna have a good time when you see them. If they interest you, pull up. You know, any opportunity you have to come talk to me. I'm always. I like talking to new people. I don't like texting. I don't like DMs.
55:51
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah. Just.
55:53
Austin Royale
I don't. I really don't like emails. It's probably why, like, I need a manager. You know, something. Cause, like, I don't like emails either. I like talking to people. I like sitting with you and making music. I don't even like when people send me music. I like, when we're making stuff, do it in person. I'm a very, like, real person. Like, I'm. I'm really tapped in with my human.
56:16
DJ Whippopatomus
Your humanity.
56:17
Austin Royale
Yeah. You know what I'm saying? Let's get rid of these screens, man, and get into the vibes.
56:26
DJ Whippopatomus
Get back in the real world.
56:27
Austin Royale
Yeah. That's what it's turning into.
56:30
DJ Whippopatomus
Yep.
56:30
Austin Royale
People tired of searching down the rabbit hole on the Internet. They want to know who's down the street and got what they want. You know what I mean?
56:37
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah. Facts. Tap into your local artists.
56:39
Austin Royale
Yeah. Support your local artists. If you think they're dope. You don't got to fake the phone.
56:43
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah.
56:44
Austin Royale
Facts, you know, straight up. All right, man.
56:48
DJ Whippopatomus
I really appreciate you coming, having. Having a conversation, sharing your. Your story with us.
56:53
Austin Royale
I appreciate you, bro, because I've been emailing people over here For a minute. And people been playing the stuff, but no one's ever like, you're the first person that came to a show. You're the first person that's like, yo, come do an interview. And we can still do a lounge set if y’all want to do that. Like, yeah, I can really update on that. Yeah, we can do something. So just let me know.
57:10
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, no doubt.
57:11
Austin Royale
But I appreciate being here, you know? Yeah, bro, it was lit. Good conversation, great questions, you know? Yeah.
57:20
DJ Whippopatomus
All right. You are listening to WKNC, 88.1 FM HD1 Raleigh. You just listened to Austin Royale.
57:29
Austin Royale
Chill.
57:32
DJ Whippopatomus
I appreciate y’all for listening. Y’all be easy, love.
57:45
Music
[Austin Royale]