Rising Star Royal Blu On Blurring The Lines Between Genres, ‘Divine Timing’ EP

Few artists exude versatility like Jamaican singer/songwriter Royal Blu. By blurring the lines between genres such as reggae, rap and hip-hop, Blu (born Sean Michael Francis) crafted a unique musical style, one he’s ready to share with the world on his aptly titled Divine Timing EP due later this year.

Whether it’s his rhythmic flow on Style and Pattern, his silky smooth spitfire on Crazy Over You or blunt reasoning on 5G’s, Royal Blu circles several genres with a traditional reggae base, giving fans the full spectrum of his vast interests and talent through his music.

The rising star and ardent Kartel fan spoke with DancehallMag on the new EP, what’s currently on his playlist and why it’s impossible to have one favourite Jr. Gong song.

How did you come up with the name Royal Blu?

I came up with it because throughout my career, like from high school when I just used to do music as a hobby, my name always had something to with ‘blu’ in it because blue was my favourite, is still my favourite colour. Before this I was ‘Blu Kid’ at high school, but people used to tease me and seh, ‘So when yuh grow up, you go name Blu Man?’ (laughs). As I grew up I went with a more mature name. Royal blue is also my favourite shade of blue, so I just felt like it was more fitting.

You once described your music as “a modern sound which is a mixture of different genres”. How did you craft your unique musical style though?

It was really natural, it was organic because of my influences. I’ve always been a big fan of hip hop, R&B, I was listening to everything. Anything my family and friends were listening to, I’d listen to it. Also, being a natural-born Jamaican, yuh obviously listening to dancehall and reggae. Not necessarily the trends alone, but anything that was just different and sounded good to me, I’ve always been influenced by stuff like that. So I just took elements of everything and just applied it to the music that I do.

Can you give us an update on your upcoming EP: # of tracks, collabs, production, release date?

The name of the EP is Divine Timing, number of tracks is about nine. Collabs, for sure we have Quada on a remix and a Protoje feature as well. We have production from JLL and Winta James. Release date is tentative, it’s definitely before the year is finished but probably in September.

Were the songs on the EP composed during lockdown?

Yeah, for sure, all of these songs have been made since quarantine.

What have you learned since your last EP which featured more experimental sounds? What were your goals going into recording this time around?

For me personally, I think my goals were just to do something that is very much me same way, but is still familiar to Jamaicans, still familiar to my roots. My last EP with Foresta was more of an artistic approach, not to say that this won’t be artistic, but it’s just more of an approach to make Jamaicans relate to it and feel included and it’s something familiar for them.

Was there a reason you chose the chilled-out love song Divine Timing as the lead single to create a buzz for the full project?

I just think the tone of it and everything, the texture of the whole song, the imagery and everything, it just felt right. It felt right now. Also, I just think there can never be enough songs for women out in the world.

Your voice is very smooth on that first single. I liked the concept, the vibe, and setting. Can you tell us more about the video?

You know it was so great because I worked with a lot of friends, like everybody on set are real life people that I talk to almost every other day, so it really just happened very organically. My friend, Saffia King, who’s the director, she really came through, you know. She found the place for us to shoot, it was actually done up by Mutabaruka’s house.

The aim was not to do something overly sexual or sexy, but still at the same time, it feels like a man comforting a woman, a man being there for a woman, that’s kinda more of the feel we wanted to go for; it was all intentional.

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Protoje has referred to you as a “genius level lyricist”. What’s your approach to songwriting?

Well, my approach to songwriting, it varies. Cause sometimes I’ll get riddims, and it’s kinda like a challenge for me every single time. It’s a personal challenge for me in terms of ‘yow, dis riddim bad and mi cyaan mek di riddim badder than me’ you know?(laughs). Mi cyaan mek di riddim be di one carrying me so I just made it my point of duty to attack it. And it has become part of my brand, people expect it now.

I purposely choose riddims because we have to complement each other, dats how I pree di riddim, we shouldn’t be fighting each other, we should be working with each other to complement each other perfectly.

Do you feel underrated in the Jamaican music industry?

That’s an interesting question. I don’t think I’m underrated and I don’t even really think anybody is underrated, I think it’s just a case where everybody has their time. Everybody gets their chance and get dem spotlight and whatever you do with that spotlight at that moment is what will determine if you keep your space in this place or not, you know?

You recently made a cameo in Protoje’s Switch It Up video, and the song just got major props being featured on Barack Obama’s annual playlist. How did it feel to be highlighted as a Jamaican creative poised for greatness in that setting?

It was a honor, you know, it’s like I literally had a seat at the table (laughs). It was a blessing man, cause Protoje is somebody that has always supported me and likewise I just have a lot of respect for him so once again, not to be like a shameless plug or anything but it does feel like ‘divine timing’ for sure.

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On your song Reap What You Sow, produced by Natural High Music, you sing, “Kartel, Donia, Jr. Gong, dem music was the blueprint”. Can you tell me your favourite song by each?

Kartel, ahhhhm… I’ve never had to.. Wow! Overall, I don’t have an overall favourite enuh..

Ok, any recent favourites, maybe within the last year?

Up to last year, he has this song name One Way, like dat song did just resonate with my soul.

For Aidonia, I would say My Heart Is Hers, that’s one of my all-time favourite Donia songs. Jr. Gong, yow the whole entire catalog, is like every single thing did have an impact for me enuh. But if I were to choose a favourite… I can’t even choose a favourite…

How about your favourite Damian Marley album then?

Welcome To Jamrock naturally is my favourite. For me, if I had to list my top three albums in the whole entire world, Welcome To Jamrock would be on it because it’s perfect.

On that note, who are you currently listening to?

Currently, I’ve been listening to a lot of Chronixx of course. Chronixx is one of my favourite artists of all time. In dancehall, I’ve been listening to Alkaline, his latest album is pretty dope as well, Jahvillani, Skillibeng, Masicka of course, also one of my favourites. Really enjoy Doja Cat album.

What’s your favourite reggae/dancehall album of this year so far?

So far this year I would seh that for Dancehall, Alkaline has the best dancehall album. I’m really enjoying Jahvillani album as well too, I would say they basically tie. One thing I can say about Jahvi’s album is it shows a lot of growth in him as an artist.

Do you have any shows or livestreams planned before the album drops?

I definitely want to keep my own show for sure. Even if I don’t get to keep my own show, I’ll definitely do a live stream series and give the people some music closer to the album release date, probably a little before. Separate and aside from that I have a lot of content coming soon so fans can look out for that.

Press play on the romantic, reggae-styled anthem Divine Timing below: