Royal & the Serpent announces debut album, 'Emptiness is Godly'

2025 Austin City Limits Music Festival - Weekend One Royal & the Serpent performs during the Austin City Limits Music Festival at Zilker Park on October 05, 2025 in Austin, Texas. (Amy E. Price/FilmMagic) (Amy E. Price/FilmMagic)

By Josh Johnson

February 23, 2026 at 6:00 am EST

After several EPs and one-off singles, Royal & the Serpent has finally announced her debut album.

The "Overwhelmed" artist's first official full-length record is called Emptiness is Godly and is due out May 8. The record will follow a character named "R," which you can hear in two newly released songs called "Favorite Person" and "Fiona."

"'Favorite Person' is a big reveal as we enter into the world of Emptiness is Godly,'" Royal says. "This song is the underlying theme to our story. Main character 'R' finds herself entangled between two romances. Subject 'R' exhibits as follows (but not limited to): confusion, guilt, self-awareness, remorse."

She continues, "'Fiona' is 'R''s experience of nostalgia. Subject 'R' exhibits as follows (but not limited to): yearning, benevolence, grief, hope."