Jersey City-based quartet Royal Blush consume across a broad spectrum of alt-rock throughout From Where We’re From, their second EP, moving between grungy rock, alt-country reflection, and slower-burning textures. The band comprises guitarist Andrew Merclean, vocalist Allison Heckart, producer/guitarist Patryk Sikorski, bassist Kay Keels, and drummer John Carbone.
“Gimme (One Thing)” commences the EP with rousing appeal, where Heckart’s delivery struts a spacious desire to “gimme this one thing.” Her lead performance is quickly complemented by twangy guitars and driving percussion, shifting to a jangly introspection as a visceral “I can see you right into your core” proclamation appears. Depictions of a one-sided relationship, where one person gives everything and the other gives nothing, resonate within the climactic rock sound, excelling in both the heartfelt title-bearing yearning and brisker verses.
Ensuing track “Ur Cure” was also featured earlier this year, and resonates among the year’s strongest tracks in its progression from serene retrospections to scathing intensity, in the “I can see at 24, you were sick and I was just your cure” intensified vigor. Next up, “Roll the Dice” embraces jangly guitar illumination and an elongated melodic feel, where Heckart’s range is evident in the span from the soaring “sweet daydream” intro to the rousing “goodbye home” bridge, continuing themes of independence and perseverance following hardship; the willingness to “roll the dice” stirs into a resonant guitar solo.
EP finale “Like Ur Mine” is another success, delectably moody in its pulsing guitar maneuvers and “I love you like you’re mine” smitten lyricism. “Why do I love you like you’re mine?” Heckart delivers with heart-aching allure, invigorating in the ensuing tonal ascent and culminating heavier distortion. “I can’t get you out of my mind,” the powerful delivery continues, making for another successful piece of songwriting exploring relationships. From Where We’re From is a fantastic success of an EP from Royal Blush.
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“Ur Cure” and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Best Tracks of 2026’ Spotify playlist.
We discovered this release via MusoSoup.
