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
Death of Me
Royal Tailor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The death of me, oh
The death of me, oh
The death of me, oh
Lost, I was wandering around
Hoping I could find a place
I'd be more than just a face in the crowd
Turned the lost into the saved
Now You're showing me the way
All along I've been believing I was living
But now that I'm free I finally see
Living's worth dying for
Buried with You
You're making me new
The old me's dead and gone
This is the death of me, oh
The death of me, oh
The death of me, oh
The death of me, oh
Your words were just ink on a page
Always so hard to believe
Until You revealed to me that
Your love stepped into the world
Now my past has been erased
'Cause You saved me with Your grace, Your grace
All along I've been believing I was living
No more holding on to all my secrets
No more living with these broken pieces
Now my life's been changed
Today is a new day
And I'll never be the same
No, no, no
The lyrics of Royal Tailor's "Death Of Me" describe a personal transformation that leads to a new way of living. The singer admits to feeling lost and searching for a purpose before encountering something that led to a change. This change has the power to transform everything about the singer's life, from the way they think about themselves to their relationships with others. The song includes the repeated phrase "This is the death of me," which suggests that the singer is metaphorically killing off their old self in order to embrace something new and better.
The first verse sets the scene, with the singer feeling lost and disconnected from the world around them. They long to find a place where they can be more than just another face in the crowd. The second verse reveals that the transformation the singer experiences is due to encountering the love of God. The singer acknowledges that they struggled to believe in this love until they experienced it for themselves. The chorus repeats the idea that this transformation is like a death, as the old self is buried and a new, transformed self emerges.
Overall, the message of "Death Of Me" is one of hope and transformation. The lyrics suggest that no matter how lost or broken we may feel, there is always the possibility of a new beginning if we are willing to embrace it.
Line by Line Meaning
This is the death of me, oh
I am being reborn in a new way.
Lost, I was wandering around
I was living a lost life with no purpose.
Hoping I could find a place
I was looking for a place I could call my own.
I'd be more than just a face in the crowd
I wanted to be recognized and valued, not just blend in.
I heard one day You came
I heard that there was someone who could change my life.
Turned the lost into the saved
You saved me from my lost life.
Now You're showing me the way
You are guiding me toward a better life.
All along I've been believing I was living
I thought I was living, but I was really just existing.
But now that I'm free I finally see
But now that I am free, I can finally see the truth.
Living's worth dying for
It is worth giving up my old way of life to truly live.
Buried with You
I am being reborn with You.
You're making me new
You are transforming me into a new person.
The old me's dead and gone
My old self is no longer part of me.
Your words were just ink on a page
At first, Your words felt meaningless to me.
Always so hard to believe
It was hard for me to believe in something I couldn't see.
Until You revealed to me that
Until You showed me the truth that
Your love stepped into the world
Your love came into my life.
Now my past has been erased
You have forgiven me for my past mistakes.
'Cause You saved me with Your grace, Your grace
Because You have given me a second chance with Your grace.
No more holding on to all my secrets
I am no longer hiding my secrets from the world.
No more living with these broken pieces
I don't have to live with my brokenness anymore.
Now my life's been changed
My life has been transformed.
Today is a new day
I am starting a new life today.
And I'll never be the same
I will never be the same person as I was before.
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: TAUREN WELLS, MICHAEL FORDINAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind