Palaye Royale – Paranoid

In 2021, “Paranoid” premiered on the BBC Radio 1 Rock Show with Daniel P. Carter, detailing the mental damage that follows oversuspicion. Palaye Royale co-wrote the track alongside Grammy-nominee Chris Greatti, who also produced the track. The struggle of paranoia is shown through frank lyrics such as, “All these fucking voices in my head / Tell me I’m not good enough for them,” and “I don’t feel alone / Are they watching me?”

The trio explains, “‘Paranoid’ is about all the little insecurities in your head holding you back from living your life. It’s about the doubt and that voice in your head telling you that you cannot do something. It’s about the journey to silence that voice and your fears and to rise above it.”

The music video followed shortly after its BBC Radio premiere. Directed by Harrison Sanborn and Michael Bolton, it depicts the trio in an abandoned subway car, a school, and even Leith in a hospital gown. As the group plays, Leith is shown surviving a day-to-day life with insufferable paranoia.

“Paranoid” also brought the news that the trio was working on finalizing their fourth full-length studio album, Fever Dream. The album’s title was officially announced during an interview, with a confirmation on social media soon after. Anticipation rose to an all-time high through more singles, music videos, and theories. Fever Dream was released in 2022 following their groundbreaking 2020 album The Bastards.

“Paranoid” stands as a testament to turning mental torment into a healthy creative medium. With the addition of catchy guitars and driving drums, music can transform pain into relatable sonic pieces of art that resonate deeply with listeners.