Palaye Royale

‘Songs For Sadness’

fri. 19th jan. ‘24


I said in my last post that I had a feeling I wouldn’t be disappointed about this release and oh my lord, honestly, understatement of the century. & I already know ‘Songs For Sadness’ is going to place high in my Spotify Wrapped this year, I’ve accepted my fate. 

So I know it’s called ‘Songs For Sadness’ but respectfully it sucker punched me in the face. But ‘sad’ doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Sadness can be a good thing in the process of healing. & I think that’s what this EP is, it’s healing.
In a way, ‘Songs For Sadness’ is like a scar.

“Songs For Sadness is every sad thought or feeling I’ve ever had put on to recording. It’s my therapy put into words. It’s my depression masterpiece. It’s a body of work where I let my guard down and showed you my heart, every broken piece of it.” - Remington Leith

Photos: Ivy Tellin
see more @ivytellin

I’m all for getting vulnerable with lyrics, especially coming from a male perspective. ‘Don’t Cry’ gives us the lyrics “holding the tears back in my eyes ‘cause he told me that men don't cry”. I hope this song will resonate with anyone who feels shame about expressing those kinds of emotions because really, it’s okay to cry and feel sadness.

If you’ve never experienced Palaye Royale, this is a stark contrast to the usual music we’re used to. Lyrically, there’s always been the undertone of darkness but this time it’s different. There’s a change in pace with the music, gone is the anger from songs like ‘Dead To Me’ from Sextape. Instead it’s a slower, dreamy, drunken haze. It’s stripped back from the heavier style and despite the lyrics, the songs themselves are somewhat like a comforting hug to yourself.

’Hello Sunshine’ & 'Don’t Cry’ have a beautiful use of stringed instruments throughout each song. It’s atmospheric and wearing over-ear headphones adds to the experience encasing you in the melancholic beauty.

’Be Here' for me perfectly encapsulates depression. Vocally it sounds like exhaustion but acceptance. Similarly with ‘Worlds End’ but with a heavy sound of desperation while ‘umakemenotwannadie’ is probably the most hopeful of the entire EP.

Upon summary, listening to ‘Songs For Sadness’ feels like you’re watching someone go through all stages of grief. It may be sad one, but it’s a good one.

Listen to ‘Songs For Sadness’ now on Spotify.
View more from Palaye Royale on YouTube.
Keep up to date with Palaye Royale on Instagram and X (Twitter).

1. umakemenotwannadie
2. Be Here
3. Hello Sunshine
4. Don’t Cry
5. Worlds End

‘Songs For Sadness’ tracklist: