Royal & the Serpent has always sounded like an artist in motion. From the beginning of her career, her music carried a sense of unease, not uncertainty, but momentum, as if standing still was never an option. Over the last few years, the restlessness has transformed her from an emotionally charged alt-pop newcomer into one of the most compelling genre-blurring voices in modern alternative music. With the release of her recent EP “Young as This”, Royal & the Serpent doesn’t just showcase how far she’s come, she makes it clear she’s still evolving.
Born Ryan Santiago, Royal & the Serpent emerged with a sound rooted in introspective pop. Early tracks leaned heavily on clean melodies, electronic textures, and confessional lyrics that laid bare anxiety, insecurity, and emotional overload. Songs like “Overwhelmed” became defining moments not because they offered escape, but because they articulated what so many listeners felt but couldn’t quite say. Her vulnerability felt unfiltered, almost intrusive, as if listeners were reading pages ripped straight from her journal.
Yet even during those early moments of success, Royal & the Serpent never felt content within the confines of polished pop. There was an undercurrent of frustration in her songwriting, a tension between wanting connection and resisting expectations. That friction would become the encouragement for her artistic transformation.
As her career progressed, her music began to shift in tone and texture. Synth-heavy production gave way to louder guitars, distorted basslines, and a more aggressive rhythmic backbone. Influences from alternative rock, pop-punk, and grunge started to seep into her sound, adding grit to her previously sleek aesthetic. This wasn’t a sudden pivot; it unfolded gradually, track by track, project by project, mirroring her personal growth and growing self-awareness.
PHOTO: JUAN FLORES
Lyrically, her writing grew sharper and more confrontational. She still explored mental health, self-doubt, and emotional exhaustion, but now with a bite. Instead of simply documenting feelings, she challenged them. There’s anger in her music, but it’s controlled, directed outward and inward at the same time. She no longer sounds like someone overwhelmed by her emotions, but someone learning how to live loudly alongside them.
That evolution comes into sharp focus on “Young as This”, her most recent EP and arguably her most confident body of work to date. The project feels like a snapshot of transition, not just musically, but emotionally. Sonically, it leans harder into alternative rock, alt-pop and electropop territory, blending punchy guitars with infectious hooks that still nod to her pop roots. The production is bolder, rougher around the edges, and intentionally less restrained.
“Young as This” explores theme of youth, regret, self-reflection, and emotional contradiction. There’s a sense of looking back while still charging forward, of recognizing mistakes without being defined by them. The EP doesn’t romanticize youth; instead, it questions it. What does it mean to feel reckless and exhausted at the same time? To crave freedom while carrying the weight of experience? Royal & the Serpent wrestles with these questions openly, letting the music feel imperfect and alive.
What makes the EP especially compelling is how seamlessly it balances chaos and control. Tracks move between anthemic choruses and intimate moments, capturing the push and pull that has always defined her artistry. Her voice sharp, expressive, and emotionally exposed, remains the anchor, tying together the shifting genres and moods.
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This genre evolution feels less like experimentation for novelty’s sake and more like an artist finally allowing herself to be as loud as her emotions. Royal & the Serpent no longer softens her edges to fit expectations. Instead, she sharpens them, embracing distortion, confrontation, and unpredictability as core elements of her sound. The result is music that feels cathartic rather than calculated.
Her live performances further emphasize this shift. Onstage, she embodies the same controlled chaos present in her recent work, part confessional, part rebellion. She thrives in that space between vulnerability and defiance, inviting audiences to scream along while still feeling seen. It’s a balance that few artists manage successfully, but it suits her perfectly.
Looking toward the future, Royal & the Serpent seems poised for an even bigger transformation. With “Young as This” acting as a bridge between eras, it’s clear she’s moving toward a sound that prioritizes emotional honesty over genre loyalty. Whether she continues deeper into alternative rock, pushes further into experimental territory, or reshapes pop on her own terms, her direction feels intentional.
PHOTO: JUAN FLORES
What sets Royal & the Serpent apart is her refusal to present growth as something neat or linear. Her journey is messy, loud, introspective, and sometimes uncomfortable, just like real life. Each release feels like another layer peeled back, another risk taken. And in an industry that often rewards predictability, her willingness to evolve so openly is what makes her so compelling.
Royal & the Serpent isn’t just changing genres, she’s redefining herself in real time. “Young as This” proves she’s no longer an artist reacting to her emotions, but one commanding them. And if her trajectory continues the way it has, the future doesn’t just look promising, it looks unapologetically bold.