Treason Season — The Royal Me’s Witty Indie-Rock Summer Contradiction
- Editorial Board
- Jul 8
- 2 min read
A clever, sunlit anthem that sails past shallow waters and crashes straight into your late-night regrets
The Royal Me’s “Treason Season” is the kind of song that fools you at first listen. It floats in like a summer fling — bright chords, easy drums, a hook that feels made for backyard speakers and warm beer. But lean in for the lyrics and you’ll see there’s no lifejacket waiting when the party’s over.
Right from the opening line — “I’m no anchor expert but I can tell you like being adrift” — the track sets up its central tension: freedom that might drown you. The line “Same thing that floats your boat might sink your ship” is a perfect bit of everyday philosophy, half threat, half invitation. Treason Season lives in that contradiction — playful but aware, reckless but self-aware enough to admit it.
Then come the references that set The Royal Me apart from your average indie singalong. “Greetings galanthophile, it’s been a while” — a little wave to flower-lovers and anyone who looks up words they don’t know. “Learned about schadenfreude in a bildungsroman” lands like a smug secret joke: growing up, hurting, watching others hurt — all tangled in a single sung line. It’s indie-rock for listeners who want a lyric sheet worth reading twice.
Production-wise, the band keeps it tight but never overcooked. There’s a lean guitar line that echoes through the verses, giving the vocals room to toss out clever phrases and conversational asides. Drums stay crisp and steady, pushing the track just fast enough to feel alive without dragging you into full dance mode. You can picture it: one speaker blowing out near a pool, someone jumping in fully clothed, someone else thinking too much about an ex they swear they’re over.
Treason Season is that moment on repeat. What really lands is the emotional arc hidden under the backyard vibe. Call it summer anxiety — the thrill of drifting unanchored, the dread that tomorrow you’ll pay for tonight’s freedom. Lines like “Calling up my pharmacist friend to ask him about the interactions” hint at the chemical side of that freedom too. Pills, reactions, side effects — literal or metaphorical, it works either way. The voice behind these lines sounds half-concerned, half-amused. That’s the real hook: it knows it’s a bad idea, sings it anyway, dares you to jump in with it.
And like any smart indie anthem, it ends before you want it to. Short enough to loop, catch new lines, and let you wonder if “Jase” is a real name or just an inside joke. You might never know, but that’s part of the charm, Treason Season is casual poetry that never tries too hard to explain itself.
So while you blast it by the pool, remember: it’s not just a summer jam. It’s the soundtrack for every impulsive plan you swear won’t sink you this time. And maybe it won’t — or maybe that’s the point.
Don’t forget to follow The Royal Me and listen to Treason Season on all streaming platforms.
