With her debut album “BLACK MAGIC”, Royale Lynn shatters expectations by thinking outside the box—literally. Inspired by the myth of Pandora’s Box, the record dives into a raw exploration of the artist’s personal struggles with mental health, unearthing demons and catharsis in equal measure. Released via Epitaph Records, BLACK MAGIC marks a bold statement from the self-proclaimed “metalhead from a small town,” fusing vulnerability with intensity to craft a sound—and story—that refuses to be contained.
Welcome to Royale Lynn
Welcome to Femme Metal Webzine. First of all, I want to thank you for accepting the interview. How are you today, and how is this period treating you?
I’m doing great, and I’m just so excited to be here and hanging out with you.
Now, without further ado, I was listening to “Black Magic” today, and I like it. My congratulations.
Thank you, thank you so much. What’s your favorite on the record?
“Witch.”
Oh, yes, “Witch” is a good one. It’s fun, isn’t it?
The production for “Black Magic”
Yes, absolutely. “Black Magic” is also your debut album, so I wanted to ask you: when did you start, you know, collecting the first ideas for the album, and how did you then go into production for it?
So, when we started the record, I knew the direction we wanted to go, and working with Jonathan Roach, who is my producer, we were able to bring this whole story to life. That was really special—being able to work with one of my best friends who also saw the vision of the record. It is truly, truly amazing to work with people who totally see what we’re trying to do, and it was cool to work with him because we were able to think outside the box. When I brought him the concept of the record and how I wanted it to sound, we were able to experiment with that sound and hone in on who I am as an artist and what my music sounds like, you know?
Facing the demons
Yeah, what I like a lot about the album is that it’s straight to your face—you know, thank you, really raw in a way. And, you know, while listening to the album, I was also trying to understand the lyrics, which I found personal in a way. And yeah, I know that you’re open about mental health issues. My question is: how challenging and confronting was it to speak about it?
Yes, I wanted to be extremely vulnerable with the lyrics—honest and open—because if I’m honest and open about my mental health struggles, maybe it’ll give someone else the strength to also be open and vulnerable with their mental health and their feelings. So, for me, I’m a very dark person, and I wanted that to shine through on this record—that you can be a dark person, but there’s also light in the darkness.
That’s cool to me: being able to show such a vulnerable side while also giving people hope out there. I wrote this whole concept about Pandora’s Box, and every song is an evil that escaped, but they all pertain to mental health. Being able to chase this concept for the entire project was something that was so creatively freeing in my writing as well, because we were able to dream up this almost other world. It’s cool to be able to open up and talk about mental health in what I think is a cool way: it’s heavy, it’s vulnerable, and it checked all the boxes for me of who I wanted to be as an artist and what I wanted to say.
Every experience is not the same
Yeah, I completely agree with you, also from a personal standpoint, because I went through depression and burnouts in different periods of my life. In a way, every experience is not the same for each person, but I can relate to what you are saying. You know, between this game of shades, between the light and the dark, I can relate personally, and in a way, you speak about me, you know?
Well, that’s what the music is for. Like I said, that’s why we wrote it. I had to be so honest and open so that we could hit those parts of life where maybe everybody is struggling in their way, and we’re able to use this music as a beacon of hope. I’m really glad that you like the music!
“It is truly a reflection of what goes on in my mind daily”
You know, maybe it’s the wrong question—I don’t know—but weren’t you scared to be so vulnerable? Because, you know, being so, so vulnerable—yeah, it has pros and cons, like everything. So I also understand that it can be difficult, you know, sitting, for example, in the chair of a psychologist.
I think, for me, I couldn’t not be open—I had to do it. It’s healing for me to write the music, and that’s why I wanted to be so open and honest and genuine: so that someone else can also be like that. For me, it’s healing to write this music and to do it in a way that is, in my mind, so different from any other record I’ve heard. That’s special to me—being able to explore musically but also explore the depths of my mind, every nook and cranny up there. This record, this project, is truly a reflection of what goes on in my mind daily.
Royale Lynn and the myth of Pandora’s Box
You know, I find it somewhat genius that you chose the legend of Pandora’s Box as a baseline for your record. How did you come up with it? Because I find that, in the situation you are explaining, it is—allow me to say—fucking brilliant.
Thank you so much. I think that about a year and a half, two years ago, I was exploring what my first record—my debut record—looks like, what it represents, and what it says. That was important to me: to find something unique. Not a lot of people do a concept record as their first record, so I knew I wanted that challenge. I was really into Greek mythology at the time, reading all these stories, and I thought, “That’s kind of cool.”
Actually, I wanted to talk about mental health—that was always the biggest thing. I wondered, “How do I tie mental health to a Greek myth of some sort?” As soon as I read Pandora’s Box, everything made sense. This is what it’s supposed to be—it hit me like a freight train. The only way to tie myself into it was to go dark and talk about the hard things. Pandora’s Box fit my story so well: something was put out into the universe, then you have all these different things, but they all coincide with the same theme. The only thing left in Pandora’s Box was hope, and that’s what this record signifies.
Thinking outside the box
Now, I’m going to ask a question. You have already released a few singles—“Greed,” “Sacrifice,” “Death Wish,” and “Battleground.” I want to ask: Which evil from Pandora’s Box do they represent? Because, semantically, all the titles have strong words, also difficult meanings to attach to, you know. So I was curious. You mention Greek mythology; I’m going to bring in Ariadne’s thread with this…
Yes. We went outside the box, too. We thought of all the usual evils—sacrifice, greed, death, revenge—evils that are in the story. Indeed, we took it a step further and added some that we thought would have escaped the box and we added to what was originally in Pandora’s story and kind of made our box, which is cool. That’s why the record ultimately got called “Black Magic”: the evils exceeded what was in the original story. We do have a song called “Pandora’s Box” on the record, but the evils far exceeded that, so “Black Magic” felt like the better umbrella title because I truly think every single song on the record has magic in it.
The visuals concepts
You know, the videos also have tight new visual concepts. I wanted to ask how you came up with them, because I’ve listened to the album and watched the videos—they match. How it is possible?
Yeah. Every time I imagine the video while I’m writing the song—long before we decide which songs get videos—I see the video in my mind while we’re still in the writing room. For example, “Death Wish”—I imagined the video for that as soon as we wrote the song, and my uncle even got to make a cameo because he’s a firefighter. That was special. Then we did “Greed,” where I referenced Creed videos and Evanescence; I wanted it to feel like an early-2000s/late-’90s butt-rock video—the ones I watched on MTV. I wanted to capture that nostalgia.
The upcoming video for “Witch”
The video for “Witch” also captures that early-2000s/late-’90s look. You’ll see a teaser; it drops tomorrow (n.d.r. it will come out today) . In all my videos, I see a clear vision as soon as we write the song. A couple of months later, when we’re about to film, I write all the concepts and pick directors I think best suit each song. We’ve had amazing opportunities to work with directors who see the vision, and the videos are a very important—I’m a detail-oriented person, so they need to encompass a lot.
Finding the right collaborator
You know, it’s also a matter of luck—finding the right person who understands the vision. It has to come from both sides; it has to be a coincidence, so to speak.
It’s been really cool because the videos extend the creative process for me. I love seeing songs come to life visually. Every detail is important. It’s been really cool to dream up a world that’s so different. I love books—things that take me on a journey—and that’s what this record does, start to finish.
The journey of Royale Lynn
Yeah, I agree with you. Speaking of journeys, you have defined yourself as a metalhead from a small town. And again, in that way— I see myself because I come from a small town. So I understand what that sentence means for you. I recollect it with Journey—you know, the band Journey. In a way, I see myself in that sentence because you started from a small town and ended up on Epitaph Records. How was that journey?
I think, for me, the journey was always for me. The journey is the best part, and I’m so proud of how I was raised and where I grew up. Being able to represent that small town and be signed to a record deal—on the best record label ever—is really cool. The journey takes you through twists and turns to get you where you need to be. It feels like the universe—almost fate—wants you on this wild ride.
I heard a lot of no’s before any yeses. I moved to Nashville in 2015 in search of creative freedom. Coming from a small town, being able to reflect on how I was raised, what I was doing—growing up in bands, singing in my bedroom, learning to write songs—I wouldn’t trade my journey for anything because it truly shaped who I am today.
“I wouldn’t trade my journey for anything”
Yeah, I completely agree with what you’re saying. It’s the same for me—different experiences, but similar similarities. I’m not a singer; I do something else in real life.
But you’re killing it—you’re killing it! The best part is waking up every day and doing something you love. It’s truly a privilege to do this. I’m grateful for the opportunity to use my voice for something, which is why it was so important to write a record that represents something not talked about enough: mental health.
Open about mental health
On that I agree again. Sometimes we put our heads in the sand too often. I’m glad when artists speak out, because even though it’s painful, your words and statements can help someone else.
Absolutely. I want to create a safe space with this project and at live shows. I’m big on creating a place where people feel safe to come to a show and come as they are. It’s important that we can be from different walks of life, but when we come together at a concert, we can all express ourselves individually—so fun, altogether. I love the dynamic of everyone loving the music and relating. Come to a show—I promise you’ll leave feeling good. It’s us getting together to listen to heavier music, and I love the community it represents.
Royale Lynn collaborating with Jonathan Roach
Yeah, absolutely. I want to ask about your experience with Jonathan Roach—your producer on “Black Magic”. How was it to work with him, and what is the most important lesson you’ve learned from the experience?
Jonathan and I have worked together since basically the start. We’ve hit so many goals together that creating something so pivotal in my career and life was truly special. One lesson we both learned is that nothing is impossible—you’re able to create anything. We sat down for months, just him and me, making this project perfect, asking, “What can we do today that’s outside the box?”
It was his idea to put Ted, my cat, on the record. I thought, “That’s so cool—who puts their cat on a rock record?” I love that he was willing to explore. For example, on “Evil,” we put me whispering my favorite horror-movie lines backwards as the whispers. He said, “Why don’t you say a couple of lines and I’ll flip them then put them in?” I was like, “What?” Creating with someone who asks, “What’s the craziest thing we can do?”—I loved that. We definitely hid a lot of Easter eggs in this record.
Next plans for Royale Lynn
The album is coming out in two days, and I see favorable reviews and feedback—billboards, big numbers, all the circles. I wanted to ask: you’ve lined up a lot of U.S. tour dates. After this tour, what’s next?
We’re not slowing down. We’ve got a lot—I can’t talk about it all—but we hit the road in July. We’re playing Rock Fest and Upheaval—very excited for those festivals. We’re also adding headlining dates, so if you like the record, come out; we’re going to play it. I’m excited to hit the road with my band in July, and we have a lot more coming, so stay tuned.
Salutations
Okay, thank you. Well, Royale, I want to thank you for your time, for the interview, for your fantastic words during this chat. I’m really proud that you spoke out, and I want to thank you again. This is your space—feel free to conclude the interview as you wish.
Thank you so much. You’re so kind, and I’m so glad that you love the record; it truly means a lot to me. Thank you for listening—it means a lot.