SPOTLIGHT: ROMANIE

Photo By Marcus Coblyn

Meet Romanie and tune into her newest single “When Will We Lose Hope?”

You wrote When Will We Lose Hope? during Adrienne Lenker’s School of Song workshop. How did that environment shape the song’s direction?

I think the open-ness of everyone in the School of Song workshops always feels like the foundation of vulnerability and realness. It feels like the little gentle nudge from a friend to be completely yourself. I find myself writing really honest things, even though you share them onto a group platform as you’re writing; it somehow doesn’t feel as daunting. I think that’s why I felt the capacity to be as vulnerable as I could be.

You’ve said you cried during Adrienne’s lecture. What was it in her words that resonated so deeply with you in that moment?

Again, I think Adrienne’s vulnerability and honesty spoke to me straight away. I look up to her as a person, musician and songwriter so much – it just felt like such a privilege to be able to learn from her. Her gentle approach to songwriting and the prompts we were given really spoke to me and they unblocked the writing rut that I had found myself in. Some of the other songwriters in the workshop became really close friends and I think that’s the whole point of it all: making connection and sharing feelings. 

The song grapples with global turmoil, yet you’ve emphasized hope as a key theme. How do you personally balance sadness and optimism when writing?

I sometimes have to take breaks, both from feeling and from writing. I truthfully find it quite hard to find the balance and can sometimes linger on sadness, which is great for songwriting but not so great for the quality of my life. I’m learning to get better at balancing this now the older I get. 

Was there a particular news story or event that pushed you to start questioning your place as an artist in this time

Absolutely, where do I even start? I think over the last few years I’ve become quite involved in climate change activism and this is always on the forefront of my mind; it’s one of the biggest challenges our generation will/is facing. Around the time of writing the song, the genocide in Palestine had been in the news (or the lack of news more so) a lot - I felt very heavy trying to find information and constantly found myself wondering if making music was the right thing to do whilst hundreds of people are dying every day, being denied an existence. 

The video merges lo-fi chaos with stark modern aesthetics. How did you and Guy Perkins decide on that visual language for the track?

I’m a fully independent artist, so the lo-fi aspect kind of comes as a given with my lo-fi budget haha! But it worked really well with what I wanted to create: some sort of dystopian, controlling visual that plays on censorship and hectic feelings about the world.

You filmed the video yourself after a 15-hour double shift, looking “the most tired you had in weeks. ” How did that exhaustion influence the final look and feel?

I think my current state of mind is the ‘exhausted millennial’; working multiple jobs to try and live my life and make music. It’s fitting to the song because some days we can’t see the end result of what we want to achieve, but we keep hopeful that everything will turn out alright.

How do you hope listeners interpret the “surveillance-esque” visuals in relation to the song’s message?

I think it’s important that we keep talking about things that matter, and keep being a voice for people whose voices have been taken away. 

This is your second single this year, following Uh Oh. How do you see the sonic or thematic progression between the two tracks?

I am trying to just be more myself through my music, not putting pressure on making progress or becoming ‘better’ - I think I just want to always evolve and create new things that resonate to me.

You’ve mentioned influences like Big Thief, Middle Kids, and Elliot Smith. Which of those influences can listeners hear most clearly in this single?

Hopefully all of them! I love all these artists so much and even though I’m trying to create something that is completely authentic to me - it would be an honour if you could hear their influences come back into my music.

Your sound has become darker and more textured compared to your earlier releases. What’s driving that evolution in tone?

Existential crises, turning 30, and more. Haha, kidding - maybe I’m leaning more into the dark side of my brain at the moment.

You’ve said your music channels “that little voice in your head.” What does that voice sound like for When Will We Lose Hope? specifically?

I hope that this little voice can sound soft, gentle and hopeful and empowering.

Your debut album Are We There Yet? received major recognition. How has that experience affected the way you approach new projects?

It’s definitely given me the power and confidence to keep creating new things, and maybe believe in myself a bit more. Learning to follow my gut.

Since moving from Belgium to Australia in 2019, you’ve built a strong live performance reputation. How does performing this song live compare to your more upbeat tracks?

I think this song always brings a moment of reflection into the set - I usually perform it solo at this stage and my bass player and guitarist hum some harmonies. Real beautiful and tender compared to us screaming and jumping around. I think it brings a great duality into my live show.

You’ve toured with a wide range of artists, from indie to pop to rock legends. How have those experiences shaped your own stage presence?

I love playing live so much, and I think every time I get to play with someone I look up to or open for an artist’s music I love, it just gives me that extra push to keep practicing and grow and write more music. I’ve come so far from playing as a shy singer songwriter to playing with my band of friends just having fun on stage, and connecting with people through music.

What do you hope When Will We Lose Hope? leaves with listeners after the final note fades?

I really just want people to stay hopeful amongst sadness and grief. The world can feel so heavy sometimes but through community and openness I think we’ll be alright.

Listen to “When Will We Lose Hope?” here.