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Celebration is in the air as Indie rock band Broke Royals from Washington DC, have released their brand new EP Big Dream which was released officially on 26th January 2024. Having already released a number of great bodies of work, including 3 full length albums, Broke Royals have this natural ability to create fresh and exciting music, which signifies the band’s thriving growth.
From a personal perspective although I myself am a relatively new Broke Royals fan, they are nevertheless one of those names that brings a smile to my face. So with that in mind let’s dive straight into the new EP as I share my thoughts on what is on offer.
The EP begins with the headline track Big Dream, full of energy and life, and really gets you feel like getting up and dancing along. A song with a healthy amount of rhythm and very catchy guitar hooks to ignite the senses within your body, coupled with the warm and inviting vocals of frontman Philip Basnight.
Equally the lyrics are just catchy and engaging, which is always a big bonus when you are picking up an EP for the first time, because it allows you as a listen to soak up the flow of the music in such a natural way. For instance all good songs should have a strong chorus which forms the focal point, and this track in particular delivers on all fronts. The words ‘Big dream is in the water you're drinking, Big thought that you're thinking, Big dream is buying up all the land, Big dream is the invisible hand’ feel like one addictive chant that you can’t you cannot help join in with.
From a very strong start, we then move onto the second track One Look. Now a thing to note is Broke Royals are no stranger to mixing things up a little, which is good because it helps keep us on our toes as music fans, so with One Look, it is in fact Rebecca Basnight, the band’s keyboardist who takes the lead on vocals for this song for a change. Rebecca has such a powerful voice which just draws you.
What I really love and respect about One Look is that it is written with such deep honesty but in a way which feels candid, like you are on the outside looking in, where you can really empathise or even resonate with lines such as ‘I’ve been down, but I have never been down like this, laid out at home thinking about that kiss, thinking about that kiss, all those lies I told myself…’. Rebecca in my opinion I feel has done a brilliant job elevating and bringing this song to life with her own voice, and when pair with the natural groove and tempo provided by her fellow band mates, what you have as a result is one pretty strong track which stands out so well.
Two songs in and already Big Dream is shaping up to be one of my favourite EPs, so let’s continue as we mean to go on and move onto the third track, No Time For Love. I actually felt a little emotional (in a good way) when I heard this song because of the transparent approach it takes when touching upon the matters of the heart, as this is one of those songs which subconsciously has got your mind thinking.
For example one of my favourite lyrics from this song is ‘kiss my neck, I am falling apart again, light me up and we start again, oh, oh, oh, kiss my neck, you have my heart again, light me up and we start again, oh, oh, oh’. I really respect the way that Philip and the rest of Broke Royals are able to take a song like No Time For Love which on the surface you might feel assume is a little bit raw and vulnerable and transform it instead to something quite light, gentle and wholesome to listen to.
If your heavily into your lyrics as a music fan, then Toasted Almond is a great opportunity to become even more reflective. This time it is the turn of bassist Taimir Gore who takes the lead on vocals, who I think does a perfect job at helping to guide us through the narrative of this song. Perhaps a little slower than any of the other tracks on this EP, but is nevertheless still a very powerful and in some ways a purifying song which allows you room to breath and unpack some of those thoughts which you have been carrying on your brain. Toasted Almond is a prime example of a track which leads to the doorway of something very cleansing and cathartic especially if approached with an open mind.
After 4 great tracks, the EP ends on a high with the sweet track Is This It, which has a euphoric ambience to it. It is also an opportunity to see Broke Royals exploring their creativity, possibly a sign of what is to come, but either way making us intrigued in the process. I won’t say too much about this track, given that it is the final track from the EP, so rather than being that guy who ruins the ending with too many spoilers, I will leave it to you to go discover it for yourself.
So there we have it, just some of my thoughts on this fantastic EP by Broke Royals. Each and every song on Big Dream is unique and special in its own way, and it has been a good way for becoming even more acquainted with the band’s diversity. Available on all major platforms, Big Dream is an EP not to be missed, so if you are looking for a fresh new sound for 2024, then Broke Royals are the perfect choice for you. Happy Listening!
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