The band’s self-titled sophomore album, Royal Tailor, out October 22 on Essential Records, is an electrifying step forward on every front: funkier, more danceable grooves; bigger sing-alongs; broader stylistic leaps; and deeper, more intimate conversations about God and faith. Royal Tailor shows the eclectic, pop-infused rock band fully growing into that potential.
"I think the first album was based off of our instincts, because we were so new to everything," singer Tauren Wells says. "In the last two years of touring, we've all grown. This time, we knew what we wanted to do, knew what we wanted to write about. Being out there on the road, seeing the things that kids are dealing with, what we’re dealing with ourselves too -- there's just so much learning that has taken place that we were ready to pour it all into these songs."
Royal Tailor’s songs expand on Black & White’s soul- and funk-angled pop sensibilities, stylistically spanning as broadly as the four bandmates’ influences, from hip-hop to pop, R&B, EDM, rock and gospel, with Wells' powerful, acrobatic vocal leading the way. Hats are tipped from Michael Jackson to Coldplay, though the LP remains centered, lyrically, on inspiration for anyone to know they can change no matter where they are, and in turn, can make a difference in the world and positively impact culture.
The hope is that the songs on Royal Tailor will move feet, hearts and minds, encouraging listeners to get closer to both God and their community -- to focus on coming together when too many people are pulling apart.
"We want to connect people, because there's strength in unity,” Wells says. "We believe that we're called to build bridges, not walls."
Royal Tailor feels called to use its music and campaigns to help tear down the walls that already exist, too -- the ones we put up between each other, because of differences in politics, religion, race or preference; or self-imposed walls, allowing circumstances or guilt to make us feel separated from God and happiness.
“Nothing can completely knock you down unless you let it,” Wells says. “So this album is get-back-up music. This is don't-let-'em-hold-you-down music."
Royal Tailor’s get-back-up music is fittingly celebratory, from the dance floor energy and spiritual enthusiasm of "Ready Set Go" and "Got That Fire” to the encouraging, '80s-throwback pop of "Jesus Love." But the album has tender moments, too, including thanks-bearing ballad "You Are My Rescue" and “Remain,” an uplifting anthem of steadfast faithfulness.
The breadth is intentional, meant to reflect the well-rounded, well-honed musicianship that defines Royal Tailor as a unit.
"There's rap, there's more guitar solos, bigger drum tones, funkier basslines,” Wells says. “I think if people give Royal Tailor a chance, they'll find that there's something for everyone."
Produced by Chris Stevens (Mandisa, Colton Dixon), Aaron Lindsey (Israel Houghton, Marvin Sapp) and Chuck Butler (worked with Britt Nicole, Brandon Heath), Royal Tailor boasts additional collaborators tobyMac on 80’s pop throwback, “Jesus Love,” and other co-producer, Cole Walowac of Capital Kings, who co-wrote and teamed up on the song “Ready Set Go.”
To craft and capture the songs on Royal Tailor, the band connected with a mix of talented collaborators including producers Chris Stevens (Mandisa, Colton Dixon), Aaron Lindsey (Israel Houghton, Marvin Sapp) and Chuck Butler (worked with Britt Nicole, Brandon Heath), hit songwriter Jason Ingram and co-writer, producer and friend, Cole Walowac of Capital Kings on the song “Ready Set Go.” To ramp up its already explosive live show, Royal Tailor also teamed with musical director Adam Blackstone, known for guiding Justin Timberlake, Jay-Z, Lady Gaga, Rihanna and countless other mega-talents.
"The musicianship and the level that he brought it to was just crazy," Wells says of Blackstone. "I learned a lot about the energy that it takes to really move people emotionally -- he was completely tapped into all of that, and shared it with us."
The act of sharing one's gifts fittingly forms "an integral part of who we are" as a band, Wells says. Prior to signing with Essential, Royal Tailor spent a year working at a Granite City, Ill., church, mentoring and teaching kids to form their own worship bands, an experience that Ingram says instilled a valuable sense of patience and purpose. The band’s continued to follow that passion, helping students across the U.S. at colleges, camps, master classes and shows aimed at underlining the importance of music and teaching the fundamental truths of how impactful the arts, mixed with positive messaging, can truly be. Wells also recently developed Prisma Worship Arts School in his home of Houston, Tex., aimed at inspiring and teaching a new generation of faith-based artists.
"We're constantly trying to think of ways to be involved with the next generation," Wells says, "We want to invest in people, and (teaching) showed us that it could be done, that balancing both worlds is possible -- going out and being on the road and having a meaningful, personal impact."
Whether it’s through writing, recording, performing or talking about God and faith with fans and friends, that push toward a meaningful, personal impact stays front and center for the members of Royal Tailor. They’ve had far and wide opportunities to share that intent since Black & White’s 2011 release, from its Best Contemporary Christian Music Album GRAMMY nomination, to being honored as Google’s “50 bands under 30,” to a stocked international touring schedule, including Casting Crowns’ 43-city “Come To The Well” tour, Britt Nicole’s “You’re Worth More Than Gold” tour alongside Group 1 Crew, the Pollstar-topping, 44-city Winter Jam arena tour (seeing more than 550,000 in attendance) and Newsong’s “Swallow The Ocean” Tour.
With Royal Tailor, the band aims to take the conversation further, to start deeper discussions of faith and community, to encourage more focused action – to help keep knocking down walls.
“We want people to come and enjoy the music, have fun and enjoy the presence of God,” Wells says. “But we also want to inspire them to go out and do something with that, like it has inspired us. We want to encourage them to get ready and go get plugged into their community, in their schools, in their churches and make a difference. We want people to know you can be who you want to be, you can achieve what you want to achieve and realize we’ve all been created for something greater than ourselves”
“So, let’s all be that hope, be the light, be the love right now! Ready, Set, Go!”
Members:
Tauren Wells
Blake Hubbard
DJ Cox
Jarrod Ingram
Website: http://www.royaltailoronline.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/royaltailor
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/royaltailor
Black & White
Royal Tailor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been drifting for quite some time,
This life is paralyzing,
This life is paralyzing me,
I can't see through the greys,
Truth has been lost in the haze and
I need someone to save me.
All I want is you,
You're all I want,
All I want, all I want,
Cuz there's black and there's white
And there's wrong and there's right,
I can't go one more night without telling you that I am sorry for all the pain I caused.
I've been gone for so long without telling you that I am sorry, can you hear me? Please forgive me!
I'm screaming through the noise, tell me you can hear my voice, I am so lost without you, I am so lost without you here,
I need some clarity need your spirit leading me, my vision's getting blurry
Truth is all I want,
All I want is you,
You're all I want,
All I want, all I want,
Cuz there's black and there's white
And there's wrong and there's right,
I can't go one more night without telling you that I am sorry for all the pain I caused.
I've been gone for so long without telling you that I am sorry, can you hear me? Please forgive me!
I've been trapped in this maze for so long, show me the way that I've come,
Open my eyes to see you
Tada dada dada da
Truth is all I want,
All I want is you,
You're all I want,
All I want, all I want,
Cuz there's black and there's white
And there's wrong and there's right,
I can't go one more night without telling you that I am sorry for all the pain I caused.
I've been gone for so long without telling you that I am sorry, can you hear me? Please forgive me!
Cuz you've been on my mind,
I've been drifting for quite some time,
This life is paralyzing,
This life is paralyzing me.
The lyrics to Royal Tailor's song "Black & White" describe a person in a state of confusion and searching for truth. The first verse acknowledges that this person has been lost and drifting for some time, feeling trapped and unable to see clearly. They are calling out for someone to save them from the foggy haze that has taken over their life.
The chorus speaks to the idea that truth is what this person desires more than anything else, and that the person they are addressing is the only one who can provide that truth. The black and white imagery represents the need for clarity and the recognition that there are distinct right and wrong paths to take. The singer acknowledges the pain they have caused and the need for forgiveness.
In the second verse, the singer reiterates their feeling of being lost without the person they are addressing. They need clarity and guidance in order to see their way out of the maze they feel trapped in. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the importance of truth and forgiveness, and the acknowledgement that this person is the only one who can provide those things.
Overall, the lyrics of "Black & White" express a deep longing for clarity, truth, and forgiveness. The imagery of black and white represents the need for clear guidance, and the repetition of the chorus emphasizes the importance of those things in the singer's life.
Line by Line Meaning
Cuz you've been on my mind,
I have been thinking about you constantly.
I've been drifting for quite some time,
My life has been directionless for a while.
This life is paralyzing,
My life is overwhelming and preventing me from moving forward.
This life is paralyzing me,
The struggles in my life are holding me back.
I can't see through the greys,
I am struggling to distinguish between right and wrong.
Truth has been lost in the haze and
I am having a hard time discerning the truth from lies due to confusion.
I need someone to save me.
I need someone to rescue me from my struggles.
All I want is you,
You are the only thing I desire.
Cuz there's black and there's white
There are clear distinctions between right and wrong.
And there's wrong and there's right,
There are actions that are ethically and morally wrong or right.
I can't go one more night without telling you that I am sorry for all the pain I caused.
I need to apologize for the hurt I have caused.
I've been gone for so long without telling you that I am sorry, can you hear me? Please forgive me!
I have been absent for a long time and I ask for your forgiveness.
I'm screaming through the noise, tell me you can hear my voice, I am so lost without you, I am so lost without you here,
In spite of the commotion, I am calling out to you because I feel lost without your presence.
I need some clarity need your spirit leading me, my vision's getting blurry
I need guidance and direction from you, as I am losing focus.
I've been trapped in this maze for so long, show me the way that I've come,
I have been stuck in a complicated situation for a while and need help in understanding how I arrived here.
Truth is all I want,
I seek only the truth.
You're all I want,
You are everything I desire.
Tada dada dada da
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Contributed by Oliver G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.