While away on a writer’s retreat with friends, Caroline Romano created “Chopstix” – a single made in a non-traditional, yet innovative way.
“There’s so much heartbreak and emotion out there. ‘Chopstix’ is somewhere in between.”
Romano recalls having the Harry Styles album on repeat during her trip. She was recently broken up with and close to not even going.
Her friends gathered around and drew words out of a hat that they would then have to use as a lyric. Romano drew the word “draino”, soon using it as the first line of her new song.
“There was a cool little hand clap beat. I listened to it over and over. There was no rhyme or reason, I don’t know how I came up with the idea – teach me how to use chopsticks on a night like this.”
The friends stayed in a cabin and set up a makeshift studio in one of the bedrooms. The hand claps were recorded that day. Romano said there was a lot of “goofing around” and the process was very spontaneous.
She recalls growing up as more of a loner. She was shy and spent her days journaling, most of the time in her mom’s mini van.
“Taylor Swift was my escape. I savored listening to that record before I went on with my day. I’ve always been more anxious, but writing was my way to cope. I feel blessed for that.”
Romano feels her sound is considered alt pop with folk lyrics. She’s working on closing in on a specific lane and finding her true style.
“I want to paint a really specific story in a nontraditional way. Sonically, I fall somewhere in the middle, like Lorde meets the 1975 meets Harry Styles at times.”
Romano’s album, Oddities and Prodigies, was “more angsty and youthful and unsure”. She explains that this new era of music will represent a “different season” for her.
“It’s a little bit love, little heartbreak, little who am I kind of thing. It’s a bit brighter. And a bit more hopeful, as dangerous as that can be.”
Romano hopes to get on tour soon. Currently, she’s playing shows around Nashville. A new project is in the works, and she has a lot more music on the way.
“The reason my first album is called Oddities and Prodigies – you can’t have one without other. That’s my life motto. I want people to embrace all of themselves. It’s crazy how life can turn those things into something cool. The least favorite things about myself are turned into some of the greatest things.”
We can’t wait to hear more from the rising artist and watch this “different season” bloom!
Stream “Chopstix” now!
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