Despite what his name might suggest, Royce Fisherman is actually an up and coming artist on the musical scene.
The unique name is inspired by his homeland of Hawaii, which also influences his beachy, upbeat music. Royce Fisherman (or Royce Katsu as he’s known as on Instagram) first started making music during his sophomore year of high school – he formed a rap group with some friends and would record tracks on a laptop in the janitor’s closet. After about a year of creating music, Katsu wanted to continue but his parents wanted him to go to college; they compromised and he decided to pursue a major in music business.
Katsu’s work is largely centered around both inspiration from other Hawaiian artists and the identity of being Hawaiian. He’s mentioned being “influenced by Hawai’i artists like Myron and Brock from BB”, and appreciating the fact that they mention local brands and restaurants to show pride in where they’re from, which is a practice that he has incorporated into his own work. Those listening to his music not only get a sample of his unique musical style, but they also get a glimpse into the extensive Hawaiian culture that exists on the islands.
Royce Fisherman’s songs blend typical island music with newer sounds, a representation of his time spent in Hawaii and New York. Songs include those iconic island beats featured in many tropical scenes, sounds like birdsong, acoustic guitar and ukulele, while also showcasing synth beats and modified vocals for a more “modern” feel. This particular style is pretty unique to anything currently on the music scene, and is bringing attention to the growth that is currently happening in Hawaiian music. More artists from the islands are making their way onto the charts, and showing how their identity can blend with catchy beats.
His official single was released in 2023, followed by his first EP (Guava Jelly) in 2024 and his debut album (fish out of water) in 2025. His work is fairly limited compared to other more well-established artists, he has done an excellent job of establishing a memorable style and image for himself. Royce Fisherman may be a fairly new artist, his music is making waves through his incorporation of his experience as a Hawaiian (no pun intended). His work has come a long way from being recorded in a janitor’s closet on a laptop, and is projected to go even further.
My Top Ten:
- “Billabong Babe” (Guava Jelly)
- “To Your Face”
- “but that’s just how i feel” (fish out of water)
- “she call my phone again” (fish out of water)
- “Who’s to Tell”
- “HUH! (feel good)” (fish out of water)
- “Guava Jelly” (Guava Jelly)
- “Teeth Marks”
- “Coolest Townie”
- “Natural Selection”
For fans of Aminé, Peach Tree Rascals, and Almost Monday.
