“There is Beauty in the Tragedy”- An Interview With Caroline Romano
Kenzie Gay - @kenzwrites
Years ago back before most of you, our readers, were even alive, the term “pop” was in reference to whatever music was popular at the time (glam metal in the 1980s, folk in the 1970s, etc.). Once the 2000s hit, however, pop evolved into its own style of music that was heavy on elements of synth, stripped down instrumentals, and writing. It became commercial and is large in part as to why much of the radio possesses all the same styles of songs no matter the artist. For years and years it all sounded the same and one could argue that it still does (which, fairly, that sentiment is true from a mainstream perspective) but over the duration of the last six months pop has proven to not be the same, repetitive songs about heartbreak that’s all in the same key with practically copy and paste backing thanks to the contributions of rising stars such as Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, and Olivia Rodrigo.
It’s helped the masses and business professionals see that to be successful, your music doesn’t have to be the same as everything else; artists can make what they want with integrity without being shunned for their out of the box sound. Especially in pop. In the midst of this movement, there are several artists emerging from various scenes with their own additions to pop music and amongst this wave lies Caroline Romano.
Romano, A 23-year-old rising star whose catchy melodies and heartfelt lyrics are capturing hearts across the globe, got to chat with me via email recently. In this candid conversation, Caroline opens up about her journey from a small-town dreamer to a dynamic force in the music industry. Read below to explore the world through the eyes of this talented singer-songwriter who’s redefining the pop landscape with every note she sings.
Caroline Romano shot by Kelsey Runge
A Conversation with Caroline Romano
Go ahead and introduce yourself, let our readers get a tiny glimpse as to who you are.
My name is Caroline Romano, I’m 23 years old, and I live in Nashville, TN. I was born and raised in Mississippi, but I started coming to Nashville in middle school to pursue opportunities in music, and I moved here full time at 17. I would describe my sound as an artist as alternative pop.
In your Spotify artist bio, you describe yourself as “the loudest sort of introvert”. With this in mind, can you describe how you balance your need for solitude with the demands of performing and interacting with fans?
I’d say the loud or extroverted part of myself is actually my favorite part, as that side of me really only comes out when I am doing something in the setting of music. Whether it’s performing, or interacting with people at shows, that is when I feel my most authentic and most at peace. It’s honestly the day to day aspects of life that are hardest for me. I’m a naturally pretty nervous, introverted person, so daily interactions like ordering food at a restaurant or hanging out with a small circle of friends can actually feel more nerve-racking for me. I’m learning how to improve that every day though, and I think I’ve been able to feel a lot more like myself and how I feel on stage in daily interactions as of late.
How did growing up in rural Mississippi impact your artistry? Furthermore, how did things change after you relocated to Nashville?
Growing up in a small town in Mississippi definitely provided a great environment for me to learn a lot about my own voice as a writer. It’s where I first began to discover music, and alternative music at that, as well as where my first songs were written. The music scene isn’t very big in the town where I’m from, so the desire to go somewhere where it was was also a big driving factor and inspiration in my writing. Moving to Nashville changed everything for me, as a person and as a musician. It was so crazy moving from somewhere where music was such a rarity as a career, to a city that literally lived and breathed music. There’s just no escaping it in Nashville, and the talent and immersive nature of it all really put a hunger in me to better myself and learn as much as I could from all of the talent around me. It’s something I am still doing every day, and I’m just so grateful for the culture here.
Can you go into detail about the backstory behind your newest single: Body Bag?
I wrote "Body Bag" while I was in LA earlier this year. I went out there to just experiment with different sounds and methods of writing, and I was so incredibly excited to be working with Danen Rector (who co-wrote and produced "Body Bag") on this trip. I was in this weird season of life where I didn’t quite know what I was feeling or what I wanted to say. In just talking about life, I started discussing the habit that Friday nights had become for me and my friends back home, and how growing up and doing things like going out on the weekends had become some terribly unromantic form of searching and escapism. The song is volatile and poetic and simple, and it’s a lot of how my early twenties have felt so far.
What role do collaborators (producers, songwriters, etc.) play in your creative process?
Collaborators play an enormous role in the creative process for me. I love seeing what happens when two or more minds come together to create something cool. For example, Danen Rector is 100% what makes "Body Bag" the song that it is. I’d say for any producer or writer, having someone to share a story and a vision with makes all the difference. I’ve always considered myself a better songwriter than a technical musician, so getting to work with such skilled producers and instrumentalists has played such a huge role in my music, and I’m so grateful for collaborators like Danen.
What do you think sets your music apart from other pop artists in the industry?
I think my voice as a writer, and what I have to say as Caroline sets me apart. I think that’s really all any artist can do is write what you know in the exact way you know how to say it. No one can really replicate that, but at the same time, it allows you to make music that is universally relatable. I’m just singing my diary in 3 minute intervals, and I think that sets me apart for that reason alone. It’s the unique and universal human experience.
What do you want your legacy to be as an artist in the pop music industry?
This is hard because there’s so much I want to say and so many facets of a legacy I want to leave behind. I think the most important thing would be that I just want to leave behind a legacy of being vulnerable and poetic and terribly human in the pop songs I’m making. I want the music I release to serve as a comfort for others, in any emotion they may be experiencing, in that it’s a reminder that none of us are truly in this alone. I write to remind myself that there is beauty in the tragedy, in the mundane, in the anger, and in the simple things. If anyone takes away any of that from the pop songs I write in my bedroom or with my friends, then that’s more than I could ever ask for.
Can you share any early musical influences or role models who have impacted your style?
Artists like Taylor Swift, Lorde, and Twenty One Pilots really inspired me when I first began figuring out my style. I’m still so influenced and inspired by them, as well as artists like Holly Humberstone and Noah Kahan in the music I’m making now.
What are your thoughts on the current state of the music industry, and how do you see yourself fitting into it?
I think the music industry is in a really interesting spot right now. I feel like we’re in sort of a limbo coming off of the hyper focus on artists' online presence and numbers, and still working back towards the prominence that live shows and older methods of discovering music once had. I see myself really embracing (as I do) the lack of importance genre currently has on the industry. I’ll always be an artist who is semi afraid of the internet, loves to perform live, and wants to write a different style of song every single day. I think it’s all about just finding your people in this giant ocean of music and artists. The best thing you can do in my opinion, is be exactly who you are and make music that you’re proud of. That’s my goal every single day.
What changes would you like to see in the industry to better support and promote women in music?
I think the industry is doing a great job of improving the overall support and promotion of female musicians and industry professionals in the past few years. I believe it’s a matter of just continuing to encourage those voices as equally as anyone else’s.
