Turning the page on another chapter, Royal & the Serpent announced her anxiously awaited debut album, Emptiness is Godly, arriving on May 8 via Atlantic Records. Led by the brand-new double single “Favorite Person” and “Fiona,” the project is underscored by a multi-sensory experience with cinematic visuals of “Favorite Person” streaming on the singer-songwriter’s official YouTube channel. Listeners got the first taste of her vision with the irresistible, innovative, and impactful alternative conjurations of “Favorite Person” and “Fiona.” Through these songs, Royal & the Serpent welcomes everyone into the embrace of a living, breathing, seething, and shimmering world of her very own design through the eyes of a mysterious protagonist referred to as “R.”

“‘Favorite Person’ is a big reveal as we enter into the world of Emptiness is Godly. This song is the underlying theme to our story. Main character ‘R’ finds herself entangled between two romances. Subject ‘R’ exhibits as follows (but not limited to): confusion, guilt, self-awareness, remorse.” Elaborating on “Fiona,” she continued, “‘Fiona’ is ‘R’s experience of nostalgia. Subject ‘R’ exhibits as follows (but not limited to): yearning, benevolence, grief, hope.” – Royal & the Serpent

Last time fans heard from Royal & the Serpent was in 2025, when she appeared at select dates of the sold-out Vans Warped Tour and dropped fan favorites “Young As This” and “Euphoria.” Royal & the Serpent remains one of alternative’s most inimitable and irresistible outliers. Impressively eclipsing 900 million global streams, nearing the 1 billion mark, sharing the stage with Fall Out Boy, Avril Lavigne, Demi Lovato, Bring Me The Horizon, and more.

Entirely unafraid to bare the deepest and darkest parts of her psyche, Royal & the Serpent made her first mark in the alternative scene with her debut 2020 EP via Atlantic Records, “get a grip,” highlighted by RIAA Gold-certified single “Overwhelmed,” which spent 22 weeks on Billboard’s Alternative Airplay chart. The Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter revealed even more of her frenetic inner world in 2022 with IF I DIED WOULD ANYONE CARE and Happiness Is An Inside Job. Along with teaming up with GRAMMY-nominated/multi-Platinum-certified GAYLE for vengeful collaboration “kinda smacks,” and The Beaches on “Blame Brett (featuring Royal & the Serpent).” Her single “Wasteland “from the “Arcane League of Legends” soundtrack further cemented her impact, garnering 115 million global streams, notably performing the track at The Game Awards in December 2024.

Royal has an unfiltered songwriting has proved wildly resonant to her growing fan base, building a tight community of fans undeniably drawn to her one-of-a-kind balance of intense sensitivity and unruly self-possession.

“The main reason I make music is that it’s the best therapy I could ever ask for: the process of taking everything in my brain and putting it on paper and then singing it out loud for people is so helpful and healing for me. The idea that my own expression can affect people in positive ways is such a blessing and a gift; I don’t ever take it lightly. I just want to keep telling my truth and reach as many people as I possibly can, and see where this little journey takes us.” – Royal & the Serpent