A Dirty Dozen with ROYALTY KULT – June 2020

According to a recent press release: “Hard rock/alternative California duo, Josuha Micheal and David Fulford-Brown, form Royalty Kult. The band is proud to bring you their debut single “Stay This Way” and have released that along with the song “Bleeding Possibilities.” Both tracks will be on their upcoming album, Enjoying The End. Royalty Kult began their musical journey together over 10 years ago. They have shared stages with the likes of Jonathan Davis of KoRn, Fear Factory, Taproot, Spineshank, Flaw, Powerman 5000 and Adema, among others.” We get the JM and David to discuss new music, influences, and much more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

JM: No not really. I feel our music is pretty straight forward and from the heart. I just try to convey great melodies throughout any song.

David: We pour our heart and soul into every song we write. Our songs are open to interpretation but definitely have an origin.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

JM: For me literally it’s all I have ever known. My father is a Heavy Metal singer, so I grew up surrounded by music my entire life.

David: As far back as I can remember I was obsessed with music. Music found me and has never let go. Becoming a musician was just part of that equation.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

JM: I would say anything Elvis Presley, Korn, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Alice In Chains, and Jim Croce ever touched.

David: There are too many to list here, but I’ll name a few. Siamese Dream by The Smashing Pumpkins, White Pony by The Deftones, and Use Your Illusion I & II by Guns N Roses.

4. Who would be your main five musical influences?

JM: My father Tim Bouchee, Elvis Presley, Jonathan Davis, Ronnie Van Zant, and Jerry Cantrell.

David: The Smashing Pumpkins, A Perfect Circle, Muse, Guns N Roses, and The Deftones.

5. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

JM: Jonathan Davis, for me he had such an impact on me and helped me through so much. It would be an honor.

David: That’s a hard one. Probably Matthew Bellamy of Muse. The guy’s incredible.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

JM: We are an emotionally charged melodic hard rock band. No one has made me cringe, at least not yet, haha.

David: I think Royalty Kult has its own distinct sound. We pull from a lot of different genres musically. No comparison has given me that reaction.

7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

JM: David for sure, at least when it comes to cooking and picking up the acoustic guitar.

David: I’m always on my acoustic writing or playing music in some capacity. Josh is usually always right there with me.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

JM: I’m starting to get used to being around icons of mine. Maybe Jonathan Davis or Jerry Cantrell.

David: James Iha in Vegas years back. It was A Perfect Circle gig at the Hard Rock. I met him and got choked up and tripped all over my words haha. He probably thought I was on drugs.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

JM: Being a musician is my dream job, but performing martial arts in films and teaching martial arts are also passions of mine. I hope to do it all.

David: Being able to create and share with the world. It’s an experience and a connection that’s irreplaceable. I couldn’t think of anything better.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

JM: I’ve always wanted to spread the names of artist that I love that don’t always get their just due, like, Nothingface, Sinch, Finger Eleven, Silverchair, Phillip and Simon Rhee as well as Scott Adkins.

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

JM: Yes the choices we made in our old band together Interim Divine. I realize everything happened to lead us to here now, but a lot of mistakes were made back then.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

JM: It would have to be Korn’s Debut Self-Titled Album. That record changed my life and helped me through those hard teen years that we all go through.

David: The Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream. They did that record with Butch Vig and really captured something that affected me personally. That record changed my life. To be a part of that and get to experience what they did would be incredible.

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Category: Interviews