UNSIGNED SPOTLIGHT: GINA ROYALE

Gina Royale

Gina Royale is a contemporary singer-songwriter from rural New Jersey. She released her debut EP entitled “Heir” in June 2015. She also recently released a music video for her song “Walk Without Gravity” off the album. Inspired by a teacher, an ex-friend, and a guy, Gina pours her heart into the EP, drawing inspiration from a wide variety of artists such as Stevie Wonder, The Broods, P!nk, John Mayer, Michael Jackson, and The Beatles. Keep reading to find out more about Gina Royale.1. How did your interest in music begin? What made you choose pop music?

My father is a songwriter and a pianist, so there was always music in the house. Like, all hours of the day and night. I remember sitting down with my dad at the piano and just singing as loud as possible; I guess that’s where my interest came from. I chose to pursue pop music because I love it! Some people feel that it’s too “mainstream” or “annoying”, but I think it’s awesome.

2. How has attending college helped you for your music career so far?

Being at William Paterson University has been really great in terms of my music. There are some really talented people here, and it’s so inspiring to work with them. There’s a lot going on musically on campus; I’m in a few music-oriented clubs and I’ve already had some great opportunities here.

3. In June you came out with your EP “Heir.” How’d you pick the name for it and how was it recording it? Anything you found easiest/most difficult?

Since my name has this whole regal thing going on, we tried to find a name for the EP which reflected that. “Heir” was the perfect fit. I want to dive into the music industry headfirst, and “Heir” symbolizes the power that comes along with that.

4. What’s your favorite song off your EP and why?

My favorite song off the EP is probably “Whisky”. It’s such a personal song, and I really got so enveloped in writing it. It’s a product of raw emotion, sitting at the piano letting everything come undone so I could piece it back together in a song. I let it all out writing that song.

Gina Royale

5. You also recently came out with your music video for “Walk Without Gravity,” what was it like filming a video for the first time?

Filming my first music video was a lot of different things. I never knew what to expect. It was really tiring; at one point I had to lay across fishing lines in a pool so I could float and sing at the same time (that part ended up not being in the finished product). While tiring, it was still so cool. “Walk Without Gravity” is another really personal song, so I was able to really connect and get into character. It was pretty awesome.

6. Did you get help filming this one? If so who helped you and how was that experience?

I got help from a few people actually. The incredible director, James Campion, was a pleasure to work with. He’s so dedicated. Our cameraman, Roberto Tatis, was not only an awesome guy but he was so knowledgeable. He worked the lighting and angles like a pro. My dad was involved in producing it, and he had a lot of great critiques and ideas. My two friends, Ian and Chris, even helped with the pool scenes. They constructed an entire floating mechanism out of wooden stakes and fishing lines on the spot. Oh, and we can’t forget my brother, Steve, who hit the play button.

7. You got about 1,777 views on your video so far, what do your fans mean to you?

A lot of my fans are family and friends, so I know most of them pretty well. With that being said, I love my fans! They’re so supportive. They come to shows, make announcements on social media, and listen to my music, which is all I could ask for. I especially love it when people send me videos of them singing to my songs; it warms my heart.

8. What can your audience expect from a Gina Royale show?

At a typical Gina Royale show, you can expect a lot of interaction with the audience. On several occasions, I had the honor of singing for newlyweds, right after the wedding ceremony! I wasn’t the wedding singer, just for clarification. I’m just playing a gig and these newlyweds always find me and ask me to sing a slow song. One time, I was in the Hoboken Train Station, and a man and a woman in a tux and gown request a song! It was awesome. I don’t really know how these people find me, but it happens a lot. The point is, each show is different. You can expect a lot of fun, I can assure you that. I like to play covers and originals. A Gina Royale show is just me, my piano, and whatever the audience has in store for that night.

If you’d like to see Gina perform, she has a show November 27th at Pianos in NYC.

Click HERE to buy tickets

Check out Gina’s latest video below!