T-Royal: The South Got Something to Sing!

R&B Star T-Royal drops a new single "Piece of My Lovin" ahead of his first upcoming project

Anyone familiar with the south’s rise into the music space often credits that rise to Outkast member Andre 3000’s 1995 Source Awards speech where the lyrical giant made a profound speech that concluding with the Atlanta legend concluding with, “The South got something to say.” Fast forward 30 years later and a rising R&B star, T-Royal is proving that the south can sing as well. Known for his silky-smooth vocals, T-Royal just released the first single from his debut project, “Piece of My Lovin.” Garnering a substantial following from performing covers posting to the internet, T-Royal is ready for the world to hear what he’s been cooking! The VIP Crew taps into T-Royal’s creative process, thoughts on the new single, and much more!

The VIP Crew: I don’t know what the rollout of this album is going to sound like, but “Piece of My Lovin” sounds like you picked the perfect single. Why did you choose this song as your single?

T-Royal: “Piece of My Lovin” was just one of those feel-good records. It has a certain sound that gives you a nostalgic feeling. When people were putting out that good feeling music a few years ago. Especially with-it being summertime, it feels like a bright, vibrant, fun, welcoming record. It honestly felt like perfect timing.

The VIP Crew: With summer anthems, there always seems to be a party anthem, a dance anthem, and you provided the seductive summer anthem for sure.

T-Royal: Right! And when it comes to the record, it has so many different elements to it, after you give it a few listens, you’ll realize this is just a great song.

The VIP Crew: You just dropped the single to your debut project which is on the way. What is your creative mode like?

T-Royal: First and foremost, I want the world to know, T-Royal is a human, so just like everybody else, I have my days when I want to be secluded, and I have days where I’m very outgoing and I need other energies to lift me up. Not because I’m low, but because I’m a people person. I love people, I love making good music, and I love making vibes. When I say vibes, that could be music or a setting. It honestly depends on how I’m feeling. Most of the time, I like to go in with people who understand how I work when it comes to creating. Keeping people around you that understand how you create. Once you get that type of system, you can do whatever, dog.

The VIP Crew: You and Mr. Hanky came with it on, “Piece of My Lovin.” How important is the relationship between artist and producer?

T-Royal: It’s very important. They say, great minds think alike, it’s always good to have like-minds in the circle. When it comes to creativity and you’re working with a producer that has such a high anarchy of music and catalog, of course you need to get along with him. He is a legend, so what better than learning from somebody like that. As an up-and-coming artist, I’m always trying to learn the next biggest thing. Before music, coming up I was the guy to learn from the OG’s. People that can give me game, so I would never go into a situation at odds with another creator.

The VIP Crew: You are receiving an amazing reception for the single. Are you nervous about the release of your debut album, anxious? How are you feeling?

T-Royal: I’m definitely anxious, but it’s a good anxious. I’m excited for people to hear some of the things I’ve been working on. We’re definitely working and I’m excited to see what people think about my music.

The VIP Crew: What has it been like to go to streaming apps and look on the internet and see your work getting thousands and in some cases millions of views?

T-Royal: That’s a deep one for me because I’m never satisfied. I don’t know if that’s an artist’s thing or just somebody that wants more in general, but I’m never satisfied. But when I go on the internet and I see people enthusiastic about what I do, it turns me up. Sometimes at my low moments I have to go on the internet and think, this is what I’m doing it for. There are people out here who really needs my music and really want to hear me sing. It’s very motivational, it keeps me up every day, and the reason why I’ve been doing it for over 10 years.

The VIP Crew: In 2023 a video surfaced of you asking Tevin Campbell if you could sing his song, “Can We Talk” to him. That took a lot of guts, but what did that moment do for

you?

T-Royal: Believe it or not, we held that video for a long time. I didn’t post it for months before I posted it. It did what it was supposed to do as in platforms and views. It got crazy views. From an artist-to-artist standpoint, I understand why it didn’t do what everybody thought it would do. People thought because I was singing to Tevin Campbell I’d be on my way, outta here. To me, it was more so a personal lesson and gratitude towards Tevin because I was singing his song at all my shows, just because of the range and how I fit into the record. I honestly didn’t think Tevin was going to allow me to sing to him. I did it, man. It was a do or die moment. I was there, I had been singing it, and practicing it, go ahead and kill it. I had to do it, or I wouldn’t be able to live with letting that moment pass. That did something great for me.

The VIP Crew: The visuals for “Piece of My Lovin” matched perfectly with the vocals.

Talk me through the process, brother.

T-Royal: For “Piece of My Lovin” it was simple, you’re talking about a man giving a piece of his lovin’ to another woman. If you can think about a man catering to a woman and having that interaction with a woman, that’s what it is. It’s just one of those songs where you can switch it around, even from a woman’s perspective.

The VIP Crew: I gotta be a little nosey, is this song personal?

T-Royal: The music is always personal.

The VIP Crew: This is your first project, can we expect some features, or will this be all T-Royal?

T-Royal: There are so many surprises that can happen, but we want to give you 100% T-Royal. But you never know who will be calling down the line trying to get on that.

The VIP Crew: Congratulations on the successful single, I can’t wait to hear the new project, is there anything else you’d like to add?

T-Royal: I appreciate everybody who has been rocking with me over the years. Of course, everybody can follow me @1troyal on all social media platforms. I’m very appreciative with how my career is going and everybody accepting the record. I can’t wait to see how far this, “Piece of My Lovin” take us. I appreciate you for having me on and supporting me as well.