Hailing from Washington DC, Broke Royals are an alt-rock band whose varied influences include gospel, folk, pop, and even EDM.
Meeting while attending The College Of William and Mary, in Williamsburg Virginia, Colin Cross and Philip Basnight started working on what they at the time thought were going to be just a few demos, in Colin’s home studio. Instead, they found an instant musical chemistry, and their project quickly became a band, with their chosen name perfectly reflecting their lives at the time: broke college students attending a school named after British Royals from the 17th Century.
Broke Royals started releasing music in 2014, with a series of EPs, singles, and remixes with Penguin Prison, and YITES. The duo released their eponymous debut album last year, and the video for their latest single, ‘Higher’, gives a strong straightforward message of longing.
Directed by Scott Hansen, the video takes place at the highest mountain in Georgia, and opens with beautiful scenic shots of the base, before moving through the video up to the summit. The mountain has also been featured in many scenes in Marvel’s ‘Black Panther’ and ‘Avengers: Infinity War’. The band members are seen in the beginning walking with a leading line shot, taking off their casual clothes, to reveal classic vests and ties. The song is transformed into a ballad as they cross a bridge, looking directly to camera. There’s no doubting the emotional content of the song; they’ve gained inspiration from the songs of Bruce Springsteen, particularly those from the 1980s, and references can be clearly heard, as well as contemporary indie and alt rock artists such as The Killers.
Check out Broke Royals online on Instagram, Facebook, and their official website.
