"It really is a reckoning album": Royal She’s ‘Befores and Afters’ Marks the Band’s Fiercest Era Yet

Los Angeles rock duo Royal She unleash their most defiant work to date, blending emotional rawness with explosive sound on their debut album, ‘Befores and Afters.’

Stream: “Feel Again” – Royal She

**From the ashes of heartbreak, upheaval, and transformation, Royal She emerge with debut album Befores and Afters, their most fearless chapter yet.**

Out July 11^th, the record marks a new peak for the Los Angeles-based rock duo, known for marrying raw vulnerability with razor-sharp edge.

Befores and Afters - Royal She — Befores and Afters – Royal She

Made up of vocalist Alison Freed and guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Alexandria Reyes, Royal She have been quietly setting their own path since 2019. Their breakout came in the form of an innovative twist: A gender-flipped cover of Billie Eilish’s “My Boy,” reimagined as “My Girl,” produced by South African hitmaker EsJay Jones.

It was the kind of bold debut that immediately signaled the band’s intent to challenge expectations sonically and socially. With “For a Ride,” also produced by Jones, they leaned harder into their rock instincts. But it was “Rollercoaster,” their first original single, co-written with Canadian alt-pop artist Adaline, that truly showcased their songwriting power. The piece was even selected for a major film sync.

Befores and Afters invites listeners into a world where nothing is off-limits: The pain, the growth, the reckoning, and the rebirth.

This isn’t just an album; it’s a declaration. Each penetrating, emotionally charged song hits like a thrilling wake-up call. Royal She’s unapologetic debut is a magnetic musical statement that refuses to back down.

Atwood Magazine had the pleasure of interviewing the daring duo, discussing song inspirations, musical influences and a lot more! Read our interview below and listen to Befores and Afters wherever you stream music!

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:: stream/purchase Befores and Afters here ::

:: connect with Royal She here ::

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Stream: ‘Befores and Afters’ – Royal She

A CONVERSATION WITH ROYAL SHE

Atwood Magazine: You both make an amazing musical pair. How did the two of you meet?

Alexandria Reyes: We met in San Diego – back when I was signed to a metal band and Alison was still in college. We hit it off instantly, bonded by our shared love of music. A few years later, we formed a band together and have been best friends and creative partners ever since.

Alison Freed: Thank you! Like Alex mentioned, we met in San Diego through a mutual friend. The connection was intense and it felt like we’d known each other forever. We were both extremely passionate about music, and Alex introduced me to bands like the Deftones, Muse, and Placebo. She would hear me sing my little heart out to bands like Evanescence and Paramore, and we started writing songs together. She signed us up for our first show without my knowing, because I suffered from massive stage fright back then.

What themes and styles define Royal She’s album Befores and Afters as a full throttle reckoning?

Reyes: Our love for ‘90s alternative and hip-hop – with a modern twist – set the tone. We wanted to return to our roots while still pushing boundaries, refusing to be boxed in. Writing this album felt like capturing a snapshot of our year – it’s been cathartic, to say the least.

Freed: I agree, I think all of the music that made us is a part of this album. We have some ‘90s vibes, some rock, metal, hip-hop, pop, rap– a little bit of everything, truly. The theme is authenticity, grit, finding yourself, and coming out so much stronger. It really is a “reckoning” album.

The theme is authenticity, grit, finding yourself, and coming out so much stronger. It really is a “reckoning” album.

How did “Worth It” come together sonically and lyrically to become the passionate, genre-blending anthem of empowerment that opens the project?

Reyes: We actually started writing “Worth It” back in 2017. We teamed up with our friend, Jeff Kubiak, who helped produce it, and it’s been our unofficial motto ever since.

Freed: Yeah, as Alex mentioned, the core of this song was written back in 2017, but we knew it was special and we reworked it until it was ready for the album. We had the chorus, but the new verses and the rap only happened while in the studio with Logan, our producer, in January 2024. This is the first song we recorded for the album, and the first song I rapped on. Both Alex & Logan were very skeptical (understandably), but all I asked was to give it a try because I kept hearing this rap in my head. Once they heard it, they were sold. Logan said he had chills and asked me if I had more raps coming. And I did. And “Worth It” really is the main theme of our album. It could be at the beginning or the end, because it is our overall message.

What emotions or experiences inspired the quick wit and swagger behind “Karma”?

Reyes: After writing a few heavier tracks, we were in the studio just messing around when Karma came together spontaneously. It started as a playful spinoff of Taylor Swift’s Karma – but with a queer, hip-hop twist.

Freed: I was SO angry. I had just gone through the worst experiences of my life- the worst betrayals of my life. I had spent years in a relationship with someone I thought I was going to spend my life with, and that person lied and hooked up with someone in my immediate community that my friends all knew about. She lied to my face and put me in the worst situations I could ever imagine. That truly broke me. My heart, my spirit, everything. Initially, I wanted to write a more pop / fun track that was a mix of NSync “girlfriend” and Taylor Swift “Karma,” and that’s how it started. But then because of where I was at, it got very funny very fast, and we had the most wonderful giggle-fit. I needed that. It was a joke, it was light-hearted, but it still had a bite because of the amount of pain I was in.

“Feel Again” emits an intense bite and infectious, fierce air. How did you land on the high-energy, sharp sound that marks the bold track?

Reyes: “Feel Again” came together in the latter half of the album. We were craving something fun and upbeat, and it poured out fast – written in just a few minutes, almost effortlessly.

Freed: This was such a fun track. It captures what it feels like when you’re finally on the other side of the worst of something. Be in heartache, health, any really hard time when you were in so much pain, then you were numb, then you finally FEEL AGAIN! You are happy, you are carefree, you are feeling sexy and fun. As Alex mentioned, this song was super easy and fun and just came out seamlessly.

Antoine Dodson’s interview about an intruder went viral with the famous line being, “hide your kids, hide your wife.” I love how you incorporated that in your own unique way with the lyrics, “hide your kids, hide your wife, hide your girl, she’s looking twice.” What inspired the message behind the song?

Freed: I love that you clocked that! This was my way of being funny, not taking myself seriously, and bringing in this inside joke for those old enough to remember Antoine Dodson. It gave me that feeling of old school Foo Fighters with the Mentos music video. I’m not here trying to look sexy, but I do want to make you laugh and let you know I’m feeling myself again.

How does “I Will Be There for You” capture the spirit of friendship and gratitude as the closing song of the album?

Reyes: It captures the heart of our friendship – how we’ve shown up for each other over the years. Like anyone, we’ve had our ups and downs, but the bond has never broken. At the end of the day, we’ve always had each other’s back. It’s also a tribute to the real ones – the people who’ve stayed loyal and loving, even through the hard times.

Freed: “I will be there for you” is important as we close out the album because I wouldn’t be here if not for Alex. She’s the one that told me I needed to sing and be a singer- that I was good enough and better than a lot of people out there doing it. I didn’t believe in myself back then. I wanted to be a singer, but I was terrified of singing in front of people. I lacked self-confidence, self-love even. Because of her I was able to start living this great dream of mine, and to start believing in myself. When things got really hard in 2023, she was there for me, through all of it. As she’s gone through tough times more recently, I wanted to remind her that I would always have her back and be there for her as well. Life is hard, it can be really hard sometimes. The only way to get through it and to thrive is together.

Who are some artists you grew up listening to that truly influence you?

Reyes: Oh man, so many! I’ll just say Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill changed my life forever. In the best way.

Freed: TLC was my first musical obsession when I moved to the US (from Belgium). They got me through so much and influenced me tremendously. Then Alanis and Evanescence. I wouldn’t be me as a person or as an artist without these artists that came before me.

If you could go on tour with any singer or band, who would it be?

Reyes: Alanis.

Freed: TLC, Alanis, Evanescence, Paramore!

Royal She Hate Their Way into Our Hearts With “My Ex”

:: INTERVIEW ::

What’s next for Royal She?

Reyes: Our album drops on July 11, with a special release show to follow at The Troubadour in Los Angeles on July 24, 2025! The night will feature a live set from us, along with performances by rising queer female artists you don’t want to miss.

Freed: Our full album is about to drop and we have three new songs that we are already finishing up to either add as an extended release to this album, or to already have an EP almost ready to go once the album drops. We’re hoping to add at least one or two to the live album release show at The Troubadour on July 24th. Lots to do! Lots of very exciting things are coming up. We hope to see all those that can make it at our album release show!

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