Los Angeles singer-songwriter Stephen Royal dropped “Pray” back in November 2024. Stephen Royal grew up performing in church choirs, school marching bands, and orchestras before exploring R&B, pop, and hip-hop. He started writing music in 2013 after losing his aunt Nikki in 2012, who was like a mother to him. In 2024, just before his birthday, his father passed away. Between those losses and a spiritual awakening in LA, Stephen Royal recommitted to music with a focus on faith. He describes his sound as “crafty, catchy, and meaningful,” pulling from R&B, jazz, and hip-hop with tempos that shift between fast-paced and nostalgic. He’s worked with producers Bob Katz, Fyu Chur, and Malo.
“Pray” opens with gentle piano before building into a full arrangement with choir, electric guitar, and percussion. The message is about speaking life into broken situations and trusting God’s promises. It’s aimed at believers on a journey, people returning to faith, or anyone looking for guidance. The production does what it needs to. The drums are snappy and keep things moving without taking over the vocals. The choir brings that classic, bigger than life church music sound, pulling you into a worship headspace. The arrangement builds gradually, releasing tension right when it needs to.
Stephen Royal‘s turned personal loss into something with purpose. “Pray” captures that without overdoing it. He’s not trying to reinvent Christian music, just bringing his own mix of influences in a way that feels real instead of forced.
