We are daydreaming into Caroline Romano’s new high-energy single “The Hypothetical.” She is pop punk meets fantasy. She creates worlds for us to get lost in. Grungy hardcore beats paired with Romano’s alluring voice come together to have us head banging in our cars. She screams “I want to live in a hypothetical place!” Same.
The Nashville-based punk queen is an open book wanting to be read. She shares with EUPHORIA., “I care about what you think of me. I’m not sure if that comes from being a musician, or being a performer, or just being Caroline, but it’s the truth. I want you to like what I make, because what I make is me.” Not only is Romano’s music one to listen to but she’s one to watch as she grows into herself. At only 19 years old, we look forward to seeing whats next. We got to talk to the singer-songwriter about looking for inspiration in grocery stores, living in Nashville and writing “The Hypothetical,” which we’re exclusively premiering today.
What inspired the idea for “The Hypothetical”? What was the process like?
I’m often interested in anything but reality. The inspiration for “The Hypothetical” stemmed from my love for the romances and scenarios and versions of ourselves that often exist solely inside our heads. I write a lot from a “what if” perspective. It’s a pretty place where anything is possible. It’s hyper-reality. The songwriting process for “The Hypothetical” was particularly special to me, as I wrote it with two of my friends, the Aiello brothers. Michael and Chuckie Aiello know my brain and my love for the anti-reality more than anyone. Michael came in with the idea of letting me create a hypothetical world for this song. I decided to make it one with bad boys and bright pink cars and street art that’s worth the price of a Monet painting.
What’s the best and hardest thing about being a musician?
The best thing about being a musician is that I get to say things to people. That’s crazy to me. What I say, what I write, what I articulate through syllables and guitar strings has always been incredibly important to me. I think it’s rare that we find the opportunity to actually have what we want to say heard by others. There’s lots of things to do in this world, so to captivate one pair of ears, even if it’s for 3 minutes and 30 seconds, is more than I could ever ask for. There’s always been the need for me to say things, to an excessive extent. For what I say to actually make a difference in the life of someone I don’t even know is truly a privilege. I’m honored to have people listening to my take on this world as I experience it.
On the flip side, the hardest part about being a musician, for me anyway, is caring about what people think. Whether or not I’m supposed to admit it, I will, because that’s my job. I care about what you think. I want to be heard. I want to make you smile, and cry, and sing along, and dance, and play my music for your children someday. I care about what you think of me. I’m not sure if that comes from being a musician, or being a performer, or just being Caroline, but it’s the truth. I want you to like what I make, because what I make is me.
What’s your favorite thing about living in Nashville? What’s a typical day look like for you?
My favorite thing about living in Nashville is that it’s like LA and New York in that it’s where the dreamers go. It’s where there’s more street art than you know what to do with, and you can go to a concert in a grocery store. It’s where I’ve met the people I’ve fallen in love with, and where I found myself and my future when I was only 13. I fail at putting it into words, but I’ve found Nashville to be my home time and time again.
A typical day for me in Nashville is waking up and going to the grocery store. Even if I don’t need anything, I like to go out early in the morning and see how the world’s doing. I like to watch people and kill time. It’s where I get a lot of my inspiration. The afternoon is when I go to any writing or recording sessions, which typically last until early or mid-evening. I love that I get to work with my friends every day. It’s hard not to make friends with the people you make music with. You’re basically telling them all of your secrets when you work on a song together. At night, I like to go on walks and go to the gym. Exercise is really important to me. Then I’ll FaceTime my parents and hang out with my friends. Or I’ll write again. I’m quite boring, but I kind of love it.
What do you do or where do you go when you’re looking for inspiration?
I go to one of two places for inspiration. I’ll go to the grocery store (bonus points if it’s one far away, as I can get a lot of thinking done in the car too). I feel like people are their true selves at grocery stores. It’s where all worlds collide. If I don’t go to the store, I’ll go to this park in Nashville that I love. So many pivotal moments have happened for me at that park. I’ve felt every emotion there, and I think some of my best songs have come from moments made at Percy Warner Park.
How would you describe your sound?
I would describe my current sound as pop-punk/alternative, as I think that genre is able to encapsulate so many different sounds. Lyrically, I’ve found I like to just word vomit my thoughts and feelings onto paper, and I don’t do much to clean them up. With the punk genre, you can kind of fit the music around the words, rather than the words around the music. I love that, as words are my favorite part. I want to be able to feel all or nothing, scream or whisper, cry or laugh in my music. There are no rules in the pop punk game. You can do all of that in one song if you want to. And I for one, do.
What are you looking forward to?
So much! I’m looking forward to that moment when I can look at my parents and say that I made it. I’m looking forward to the day I say I love you to a boy. I’m looking forward to the day I’m on a stage and can’t help but cry from the feeling of it all. I’m looking forward to what I know is out there, and what I’ve been working towards and praying for my whole life. I can’t wait for the future.