Check out our interview with talented pop artist Caroline Romano.
Caroline who at the young age of 18 has crafted her unique style, sound and attitude against the backdrop of relatable growing pains and insecurities. Her current single “Stream of Consciousness” is streaming on Radio Disney and she has exciting new music coming, so definitely you will be listening more of Caroline’s music this year.
Follow Caroline at @carolineromanomusic
Please tell us a little about you.
Hey, I’m Caroline Romano! I’m eighteen years old, I live in Nashville, and I was born and raised in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Music has always been my greatest passion and the place where I feel like I’m able to truly be myself. I started my music career around the age of fourteen, and it has truly changed my life in so many unimaginable ways. I feel so blessed to get to wake up and do what I love every single day at such a young age.
Who has made the biggest impact on your life so far – and why?
I’d have to say my parents have equally had the biggest impacts on my life. They are the two most passionate, driven, loyal, hardworking and good-hearted people I know. My parents have always instilled the message of giving far more than you take in this world and leaving a truly positive impact on everyone you come in contact with. They have instilled in me the drive it takes to chase dreams as big as the ones I’m chasing, and everything I’ve been able to do in my career has been made possible by them. Not only are they amazing, supportive parents, but my mom and dad have been my best friends in the best and worst times. I owe everything to them, and I’m so blessed to have been impacted by them in the ways that I have.
How did you get started in the business?
I came to Nashville for the first time when I was thirteen years old. I begged my parents to let me play open mic nights around the city with the handful of songs I had written. I truly fell in love with performing and songwriting on that trip, and as a result, I began making the drive from Mississippi to Nashville with my mom nearly once a month. I continued writing music, trying to grow my online presence and playing everywhere they would let a thirteen-year-old girl play in different cities and states. I eventually started meeting different people around Nashville in the industry, and my progression as an artist has grown with that!
Who influenced you, and why did you choose to make music?
Some of my biggest influences in the beginning of my career included Taylor Swift, Queen, Brian Adams, Shania Twain, Shawn Mendes and countless other artists I would listen to in the car when I was younger. I don’t really think I chose to make music. It’s more like it was always inside me, like these words and songs were always going to come out one way or another. I’ve always said that nothing in my life ever felt quite right. I never felt truly “me” until I started writing music. I am a very shy, reserved person in day-to-day life, and I really struggled with not having many friends as a kid. Music had always been my favorite thing, and I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember. Songwriting is what really changed the game for me. The combination of writing down my thoughts and emotions, putting them to guitar and singing them was like something I didn’t even have to think about. It all just felt right, and I finally found something I felt completely confident and fearless in.
Describe your sound in 3 words.
Moody. Pop. Energy!
What is your next goal as a musician?
My next goal as a musician is to begin touring and playing more live shows. I spent most of last year writing a lot of new music and really honing in on what I wanted my next wave of releases to sound like. In 2020, I’m ready to play these songs on stage, in front of the people who support my music all across the country. Performing live is one of my favorite things in the world, so I’m looking forward to it!
Now, tell us about your single “Stream of Consciousness.”
“Stream of Consciousness” is definitely the most personal song I’ve ever released. I wrote it right before I moved to Nashville by myself this past September. It was a really scary, isolating and lonely time in my life. I wrote it by myself one night in my bedroom, and I think you can definitely feel the place I was coming from in the song. It’s about the day-to-day thoughts and insecurities that constantly run through my head, like a never-ending stream of noise. I think it’s a song everyone, especially young people in transitional periods of life, can relate to. We all feel insecure and uncertain of the things we do, and my goal in writing “Stream of Consciousness” was to show everyone that we’re not so alone in the things we feel after all.
What can we expect from Caroline Romano in 2020?
Expect lots of new music, music videos, live shows and other projects I’m so excited to share!
What is your favorite song to belt out in the car/for karaoke?
This is hard! I think literally anything Kesha. Nothing makes you feel more fierce than a Kesha song.
Any loves other than music?
I really love photography! I find I really enjoy an artistic outlet, but photography has been a growing passion of mine for a while now. I’m also super into working out and running. I find I need many forms of release in my life. I also love how music and exercise blend so well together to create an overall experience when working out.
How’s a typical day in your life?
It really depends on if I’m traveling, at my home in Mississippi or staying at my place in Nashville. Right now, I’ve spent the last few weeks in Nashville, so that’s pretty down the middle in terms of being busy. I normally wake up anywhere from 6-8 a.m., depending on where I need to be. I try to answer any emails or do any interviews early in the morning, before I leave for the day. I have rehearsal for upcoming shows a few times a week, as well as different writes that are normally scheduled early in the day. This usually leaves me getting home mid to late afternoon. I work out, hang out with my cat, practice my guitar and write on my own a little bit, then do any work I may have on my computer. I usually try to leave my nights open for hanging out with friends, late-night writes or going on runs. Again, it really varies from week to week, but this is what most days have looked like this week so far!
Idea of a perfect Sunday?
Again, another hard one! I think an ideal Sunday would involve sleeping in, going to church, getting a long run in then spending the rest of the day with friends or family doing some sort of outdoor activity. I’ve always loved having movie nights on Sundays, so there would definitely be movies and homemade dessert of some sort involved. Overall, my ideal Sundays are very chill!
Who is your biggest beauty inspiration?
I think my biggest beauty inspiration is probably Zendaya. I love how her look always seems effortless, classic and edgy at the same time! She’s not afraid to be over the top, but there are plenty of times where she goes almost completely natural as well. I love everything about her!
If you could meet someone living or dead, who would it be and why?
I’d have to say the answer would be Freddie Mercury. He has made such a huge impact on my life as an artist and just overall as a human being as well. I’d love to know what it was like, what he was thinking to have been such an innovator and risk-taker during his time. He changed the game for music, and I feel really lucky to live in a time where his work is out in the world. He was a fascinating mind, and I would love to know more about all that he was.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I see myself having put out several full-length albums, hopefully touring the world and making great music. I always say I want to go as far and wide as I can go with this thing, wherever it takes me. I hope to be doing music for the rest of my life. I truly can’t see myself doing anything else! In five years, I hope all the dreams I’ve carried with me since I started this journey have started to come true!
How would you describe your fashion style?
I’d describe my fashion style as athleisure meets classic, with an edgy spin. I love to be comfortable, but I love to stand out. I liken a lot of my looks to the street style vibes of Zendaya and Gigi Hadid.
What do you think of social media?
Social media is definitely a double-edged sword in my opinion. It’s been an angel and a devil in my life all at once, so there are a lot of mixed feelings. Lately, I’ve felt that the bad outweighs the good. I’ve seen so much bullying, so much heartache and insecurity stem from social media, with both myself and those around me. On the other hand, social media can be very useful as an artist trying to make it in the industry. It’s a fast, free way to get your voice out there. Still, now more than ever, it’s easy to get lost in the sea of millions of people trying to “break” online. It gets so easy to compare yourself to someone with millions of followers, and I feel like a lot of talent gets overlooked just because they aren’t as popular on certain apps. I honestly don’t think I’d be on social media at all if it wasn’t to promote my music.
Where we can follow you?
You can follow me on Instagram ( @carolineromanomusic ), Twitter and Facebook (@CarolineRomano ), TikTok ( @carolinermusic) and YouTube (Caroline Romano)!
FAVORITES –
Quote: “And one day she discovered that she was fierce, and strong, and full of fire, and that not even she could hold herself back because her passion burned brighter than her fears.” ~Mark Anthony, The Beautiful Truth
Song: At the moment, I’d have to say it’s “Modern Loneliness” by Lauv, but it changes from day-to-day.
Movie: Bohemian Rhapsody
Travel Destination: My favorite travel destination that I’ve been to is New York, but my dream destination is Greece.
Food: Green beans! Weird, I know, but I eat them literally every day.
Sports Team: Tennessee Titans!!
Photo Credit: Remedy Creative
