Bruno Rogelj, a singer-songwriter known as Kestrel Palace and a native of Manchester, is a heavy hitter of the current alternative-indie movement. Punk, rock, and pop influences can all be heard in his work. He is influenced by music of many eras, from Oasis and The Stone Roses from his hometown to The Eagles and Nirvana from further fields. With a vivid sound and narrative lyrics, he is a successful, independent musician who is desperate for his music to seep through the cracks.
With nearly 500,000 likes on the platform and 1.1 million views on a single video, he is making a name for himself on TikTok by creating material about not only his music but also a parody of music fandoms. The release of his debut single โGet upโ in 2021 made him a household name throughout the North-West of England. He has performed at some of Manchesterโs most renowned locations, including Night & Day Cafe and Off the Square.
Born in the early 2000s, he is a young, successful musician who writes his own songs and music and has much more to do in the future. Check out his new single, โSwan Songโ and the exclusive interview below:

1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how it all got started?
KESTREL PALACE: Iโm from Manchester. South Manchester. Round the corner from the Gallagherโs and them lot. Everyone around loves the rock punk scene because of this. Iโm no different. I come from a musical family. Thereโs always been music on in the house and instruments here and there lying about, some of them getting quite dusty. Out of pure boredom (and maybe a puff of smoke) I found myself with a 1970โs acoustic on my lap that hadnโt seen even sniffed at for God knows long probably playing out of tune if Iโm being honest.
2. Did you have any formal training or are you self-taught?
KESTREL PALACE: Iโm self-taught. I love it that way. You have a freedom that nothing else Iโve ever found gives you. You can play when you want, what you want and as bad as you want, and no one bats an eyelid. Itโs brilliant. As soon as you realise this it takes over your world.
3. Who were your first and strongest musical influences and why the name โKESTREL PALACEโ?
KESTREL PALACE: My first influence was probably the Eagles if Iโm being honest. I remember my mum used to play them on long road trips. Massively underrated band. But also, the Manchester 70s-90s scene as well. Anyone from the Happy Mondays to Oasis and everyone in-between. My hometown has definitely been a massive influence in my music and you can hear it. As for Kestrel Palace, itโs a name that makes me laugh still to this day. I was in the studio and needed a name change. I think the original name was โRedshiftโ but there were too many Redshifts on Spotify. I sat at the back of the studio brainstorming names and as soon as I thought of โKestrel Palaceโ I hated it but it stuck. I still do.
4. What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
KESTREL PALACE: I like writing blunt lyrics. My new single โSwan Songโ is as punky and blunt as can be. Itโs got something so colloquial and raw about it. Sex Pistols esc. Ironic that I began writing poems when I was 13/14 which got me into song writing so I still donโt mind throwing a metaphor or hidden messages in my songs every now and then. Depends how experimental Iโm feeling. My sound is Punky, very heavy guitars but melodic too. When you imagine a gig as a kid and people are jumping about pissed up swinging their hair about but not metal. Thatโs me haha.

5. For most artists, originality is first preceded by a phase of learning and, often, emulating others. What was this like for you? How would you describe your own development as an artist and music maker, and the transition towards your own style, which is known as ROCK?
KESTREL PALACE:
Funnily enough I started writing indie songs and was an indie boy. Some of my earlier songs on Spotify are like this. Then I started to sound a little like The 1975 and no one wants to sound like them do they? Then I discovered overdrive and things exploded. Literally!
6. Whatโs your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles โ and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative, and entertainment?
KESTREL PALACE:
I love getting political with my songs. Just a few weeks ago I was on BBC radio for an interview, and I played a live acoustic song called โPuppetsโ I wrote the week before. Thatโs a prime example of a political song. I think with people having very adamant opinions nowadays and being too naรฏve to listen to the other side of an argument, I put most of my opinions in my songs. People donโt debate opinions anymore, they just shout. Anger towards the woke, politics, the country, and anything that I feel necessary.
7. Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfilment as the amount of work you are putting into it or are you expecting something more, or different in the future?
KESTREL PALACE:
Itโs always hard for new artists to reap the rewards they desire to see. At the end of the day, Iโve worked harder than Iโve ever before and Iโm starting to gain traction. Most new artists work hard donโt see a result then pack it in. I just love music so itโs not that deep but I do see fulfilment nonetheless when I perform at gigs and increase my exposure for streams etc. As for the future, itโs looking exciting and canโt wait.
8. Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Do you usually start with a tune, a beat, or a narrative in your head? And do you collaborate with others in this process?
KESTREL PALACE:
Most people write songs about feeling. You know like love, sadness, thereโs a lot of heartbreak in there too. I write about things I see and experience. Swan song my new single is literally about some bloke who I bumped into at a party that I instantly despised and the song just slates him. Its brilliant. I have bank of phrases on my phone so whenever I see something or a stimuli I always write it down but the lyrics usually come first
9. What would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
KESTREL PALACE: Getting on BBC Radio and playing my first festival. That was NorthFest in Manchester. It was mint. BBC was cool as well so hopefully more to come. I know there will be
10. With social media having a heavy impact on our lives and the music business in general, how do you handle criticism, haters, and/or naysayers in general? Is it something you pay attention to, or simply ignore?
KESTREL PALACE: I really donโt have many but when I do I love it. I thrive off them. I know a lot of people donโt but when someone doesnโt like my music, I always make it my mission to aggravate them to say more. The more annoyed they get by me the more they talk about me and the more attention, streams and followers you gain. I would tell anyone who suffers with being hated to do the same. The only reason they hate is because theyโre below you and they care. If they really didnโt care they wouldnโt even give you the time of day in the first place.
11. Home environment, or interaction with a live audience? Which of these two options excites you most, and why?
KESTREL PALACE: I canโt pin a feeling thatโs better than playing live. If people have the effort to leave their homes, spend money on me and come see songs Iโve written nonsensically at 3am then thatโs good enough for me and Iโm always grateful
12. Do you think is it important for fans of your music to understand the real story and message driving each of your songs, or do you think everyone should be free to interpret your songs in their own personal way?
KESTREL PALACE: Music is such a subjective thing. Iโm someone who reads into music a lot but I know a lot of people who donโt. Thatโs why I write blunt lyrics so the masses can understand. However, a lot of the time if you listen hard enough thereโs always a deeper meaning to what I write.
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