D.C. based indie quintet Broke Royals are set to release ‘Big Dream’, an EP that marks their first effort without lead vocalist Phillip Basnight on every song. Sharing the vocals, keyboardist Rebecca Basnight on track ‘One Look’, and bassist Taimir Gore on ‘Toasted Almond’, prove how well-rounded the musicianship of the band is. Kicking things off, the title-track ‘Big Dream’ is energetic and bound to be loads of fun to shout along to at a concert. ‘One Look’ is slinky, intriguing, and is home to guitar licks that positively spark. ‘No Time For Love’ is another catchy indie anthem, earning an earworm title. Gore’s ‘Toasted Almond’ brings the energy of the EP down to a somber sway, radiating a Tom Waits aura in a delightful way. Last but not least, their cover of The Strokes ‘Is This It’ sounds absolutely nothing like the original, but it’s a dreamy, gorgeous song, almost reminiscent of The 1975’s more instrumental tracks on ‘I Like It When You Sleep’.
If you’re hoping to catch Broke Royals live, your last chance for a good long while will be on January 27th at the Songbyrd Music House in Washington, D.C. as part of a release party for ‘Big Dream’. As they’ve stated on their website, their keyboardist and lead-vocalist are expecting a child in 2024 so there will be a mini baby hiatus. Congrats to them and be sure to check out their dreamsicle of an EP!
Sarah Medeiros