New Music: Royal Blush: New Jersey Alt-Rockers Lead with Explosive "Go"
- dailyentertainment95
- Jul 17
- 2 min read
Royal Blush is an alt-rock band from Jersey City, New Jersey, formed in 2021. The band was founded by guitarist Andrew Merclean, who initially started it as a solo project, and later joined by Midwest-born vocalist Allison Heckart. More recently, producer Patryk Sikorski officially joined the lineup, completing the trio.
Royal Blush has established itself in the tri-state DIY scene, known for their powerful live sets in basements and intimate venues. Their sound blends nostalgic alt-rock roots with the grit of grunge and the haze of shoegaze. They are praised for balancing cathartic vulnerability with unflinching sonic power, creating music that is described as "equal parts scream and sigh." Allison Heckart's vocal range has been compared to Hayley Williams (Paramore) and Ashrita Kumar (Pinkshift), yet she maintains a unique style. Their New Jersey roots and the local DIY scene heavily influence their raw, honest approach to music, which often explores the "emotional chaos of coming of age."
"Go" is the explosive opening track and a lead single from Royal Blush's debut EP, "A Ways Away," which was released on May 16, 2025. A music video for "Go" also premiered on July 15, 2025.
Lyrically, "Go" is a song that goes "from 0 to 100 on the emotional spectrum," reflecting themes of rejection, desperation, and the intense emotional swings within relationships. The band wanted the instrumentation to match this heavy emotional message, infusing "a little bit of rage into a new song." The title "Go" also carries symbolic weight for the band, representing their debut project "taking off."
Musically, "Go" is described as a "blistering tumult" and an "explosive, grungy, energetic hard rock tune." It features a stadium-sized chorus with swelling guitars and "neck-breaking drums," contrasted by verses that showcase the vocalist's ability to transition seamlessly from "swaying croons to screaming yelps." The song blurs the lines between moods, creating "uniquely enticing textures" and highlighting Royal Blush's intricate hard rock prowess. The accompanying music video, directed by Liz Sadkowski, uses dark tones with small hints of color to visually represent the "yin and yang of memories," emphasizing that "even the worst moments and relationships have nuance."
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