Shaun Royal, the up-and-coming R&B voice from South Central LA, is doing something special and personal on his latest release, “Coast in Romance.” It’s more than just a track. It’s a wistful throwback to the golden age of R&B, infused with that warm feeling that only true love can bring and the unmistakably amber glow of 90s soul.
“Coast in Romance” feels like a lost gem you might have come across on a late-night slow jam radio show, sandwiched between some Tevin Campbell deep cut and a Michael Jackson ballad. Shaun Royal comes from good stock and resurrects them with precision. The track glides by with mellow keys, light percussion, and a breezily swaying groove. But what grounds the song is Royal’s silky, emotive, effortlessly confident voice.
Everything about “Coast in Romance” is refreshing because it does not attempt irony or something super sophisticated. It expresses happiness in love, sung free of reservation or cynicism. At a time when R&B can revel in heartbreak or hyper-polished production, Royal gives vulnerability with a smile. His pitch-soaring falsetto slips out like silk, channeling unmistakable MJ vibes, while the song’s construction and flow tip their hat respectfully to the period that raised him musically.
Shaun Royal updates the sound just enough to prevent it from being a retread or retro cosplay. You can sense that he has one foot planted in tradition and the other in the present, and that mix makes “Coast in Romance” a bracing addition to the contemporary R&B landscape.
The accompanying video fills in the blanks with 90s aesthetics, drawing you in like a cozy memory. All he needs is the classic singing in the rain moment, but the spirit is right even without it. With appearances at the Soul Train Awards and LA’s Taste of Soul Festival, Shaun Royal is tip-toeing onto the scene. “Coast in Romance” is like a love letter to a woman, to a sound, to an era, and it’s delivered lovingly.
Stream on Spotify:
Follow Shuan Royal on Spotify
