Royal Griff, former Velvet Iguanas frontman and ex-Royal Marine, steps into his own spotlight as a songwriter unafraid of scars, silence, or hard truths. His music strikes a balance between grit and vulnerability, weaving stories of loss, recovery, and resilience. With Royal Griff, melody meets memory, and indie rock carries the weight of real life.

With his debut single, “It’s All in His Head,” out now, we took some time to hear from Royal Griff. Read below to learn more about Royal Griff, the story behind “It’s All in His Head,” and what’s to come.

Hi Royal Griff! Let’s start with how did you get your artist name?

It’s fairly simple, I’m a former Royal Marine Commando. Royal Marines often call each other “Royal,” and my surname is Griffin, but everyone I know has called me “Griff” for years.

What city are you from, and where are you based now?

I was born and bred in Preston, Lancashire and although I’ve lived all over the globe – Preston is and always will be home.

At what point in your life did you decide to pursue a career in music? How did you get started?

I always dreamed of being a rock star, but never quite had the nerve to pursue it. Being in the forces, it wasn’t really the done thing. I used to secretly to write a lot of poems, especially when I was away from home in foreign places, and those poems eventually became the foundation of my songwriting.

How would you describe your sound to readers who may not be familiar with you?

I’d say it’s a raw, energetic vibe with a proper ’90s feel. Most of it is acoustic-driven, but I always like to add some gritty indie guitars in there too. It’s all built around real stories, a lot from my own life so there’s always honesty and depth behind the lyrics.

Do you have any hobbies outside of music? What do you do to stay creative?

I used to be an endurance athlete, but a serious injury led to spinal surgery and forced me to slow down. The silver lining, though, was that it gave me the time and space to really dive into my music. What started as recovery turned into rediscovery and music became my way to stay creative and keep moving forward.

Who are some of your main musical influences?

The ’80s and ’90s were such an amazing time for music, and there are so many bands I love, The Smiths, The Cure, The Jam, The Specials, The Stone Roses, The Charlatans… I could go on all day. But if I had to pick one main influence, it’d be Ocean Colour Scene. Their music just hits different, every song brings back memories and means something special to me.

Who would be a dream to collaborate with?

Ocean Colour Scene obviously, but I’d actually love to work with someone like Damon Albarn, his creativity and ability to blend different sounds is just next level.

What’s one of the proudest moments of your music career so far?

One of my proudest moments was playing a hometown gig with my old band, Velvet Iguanas, last January. The venue was packed, the place was absolutely bouncing, and seeing people singing our songs back to us was something really special. It’s a feeling I’ll never forget.

What would you say are the greatest lessons that you’ve learned so far?

Don’t wait! Tomorrow’s not promised. There’ll come a time when you no longer have the choice to do something you’ve always dreamed of, so do it now while you still have that choice!

Now onto your release, “It’s All in His Head.” What inspired this song? What is “It’s All in His Head” about?

I met a guy recently who claimed he was a former soldier, but he was full of complete nonsense. It made me really angry, pretending to have lived experiences that I had actually been through felt insulting to everyone who’s served. He had no idea who I was or what I’d done, and his stories were so false. We call people like that “Walter Mittys,” but this guy was something else entirely. That frustration and disbelief became the inspiration for “It’s All in His Head.”

What was the creative process like when making “It’s All in His Head?”

Making “It’s All in His Head” was pretty cathartic. I just channeled all the anger and disbelief I felt into the lyrics and guitar riffs.

How long did it take to complete “It’s All in His Head?”

Honestly, it came together pretty quickly – the emotions were so raw, it almost wrote itself. When it came to recording, I just wanted to make sure that energy and frustration really came through.

What is your favorite lyric in “It’s All in His Head” and why?

My favourite lyric has to be: “He watched a battle on his TV screen, like he was there back in 1973.” It’s just so over-the-top and ridiculous, it still makes me laugh every time. You can’t help, but picture him pretending to be a hero from the sofa!

What message or messages do you hope fans take away from “It’s All in His Head” and your music in general?

With “It’s All in His Head,” I want to call out the Walter Mitty’s of the world. The song is all about keeping it real, being true to yourself, and not pretending to be something you’re not. There are real heroes out there, and stolen valour is something that really gets under my skin. More broadly, with my music, I want fans to feel something real and connect not just with my experiences, but with life in general. Having been in the forces, I’ve seen and lived struggles that a lot of people keep buried. There’s a lot of silent trauma, things you carry alone, and I know how heavy that can be. The message in my music is simple: don’t bottle it up. Talk about it, face it head-on, and let it out. Writing and playing these songs has been my way of working through it, and if it helps even one person feel less alone, then it’s worth it.

What’s next for you? Are you working on any upcoming projects, or do you have any upcoming shows that we should be on the lookout for?

Right now, I’m working on a new album, and I’m really excited about it. The plan is to take it live next year, so there’ll be shows to look out for. I’ll be sharing dates soon, and I can’t wait to get back on stage and play these songs for people.

Where can we follow you on social media?

Instagram: @royalgriff.music

Bandcamp: https://royalgriff.bandcamp.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/royalgriffmusic

Before you go, let’s ask you an off-topic question. What is your favorite food?

Can’t go wrong with a curry – simple, honest, and hits the spot every time.

Thank you for the great interview; wish you much continued success!