King Vagabond tells a tale of poetic triumph as a queer misfit and a catholic Egyptian-American turned rockstar compound their peculiar perspectives of the world and build a space for fellow queerdos, misfits, and wandering Vagabonds with music.
On the song Joey says: “I spent too many years of my life misaligned. Witnessing so much division over the last few years, I decided to address an ever-growing division within myself. Instead of rejecting the bits that made me special, I chose to lean into them. Mythology, Italian renaissance art, sci-fi fantasy literature, my queerness; I allowed myself to manifest an artistic identity to embody, and thus honor, my life. That’s what ‘Rule the World’ is all about. It asks listeners to unsheathe their swords—the ‘weapons’ they keep hidden—and lean into them hard. Only after you face, love, and own every part of yourself can you become the ruler of your world.”
King Vagabond is a concept birthed from our deepest, most fantastical subconscious. It’s a way for us to make real the dreams and visions most sacred in our minds. If you read Joseph Campbell’s “The Hero with a Thousand Faces,” the first step in any hero’s journey is a call to adventure. “Rule The World” is us heeding the call and accepting the journey required to become our own biggest heroes. The song tells a tale of King Vagabond driving into his darkness and facing his demons in order to conquer and thus rule his world. We believe conquering personal darkness is everyone’s way to freedom. With that freedom, we can become the kings, queens, and creators of our domains.”
