Music like Royal & the Serpent

Ryan Santiago (born May 25, 1994), known professionally as Royal & the Serpent, is an American singer and songwriter.

A New Jersey native, Ryan Santiago was born on May 25, 1994. Santiago took up competitive dance as a child, until she "shattered both [her] heel plates" after jumping off a stage while performing when she was 14 years old. She subsequently delved into musical theater. In her teenage years, Santiago learned how to play the guitar and began writing songs.

At the age of 18, Santiago moved to Los Angeles, where she worked as a bartender in a restaurant. She has credited encouragement from a co-worker, who later became her first manager, for motivating her to pursue a professional career as a musician.