Get your hit fix with emerging Nashville pop artist, Caroline Romano. Current release “I Still Remember” (R3HAB remix) - remixed by all-star DJ and producer, R3HAB avail now.
Q+A
You have shared the stage with artists like Daya, Shawn Mendes, Why Don’t We and Kelsea Ballerini. Who are your musical influences? Do you have any stories from meeting an artist who inspired you?
It would be impossible to list all of my musical influences. There are and have been so many life-changing artists for me, it’s insane. I guess some of my biggest influences would have to be Queen, Taylor Swift, The Beatles, My Chemical Romance, Ed Sheeran, Charli XCX and YUNGBLUD. I know that’s a bit all over the board, but that’s what’s great about music. It’s all art in the end, no matter the genre.
I got on an elevator with Echosmith two years ago on the way to a red carpet. I was internally freaking out because I used to cover their songs when I’d perform at different fairs and festivals when I was younger. It was definitely a full circle moment. We all ended up on the wrong floor, and the doors opened to Carrie Underwood and her team getting on with us. It was an odd but fantastic elevator experience.
Your current single "I Still Remember" (R3HAB remix) has over 1.7 million streams. What was it like working with R3HAB to bring the song to life?
R3HAB has always been one of my favorite DJs/artists in the EDM and dance world. It was definitely one of those full circle, “I can’t believe this is happening,” moments when I heard he was going to remix “I Still Remember.” I think every piece of music he touches turns to gold, so I had absolutely no requests when giving him the track to remix. I knew I wanted to see where he heard the song going before I shared any ideas of my own. I fell in love with the very first pass he sent me, and the final product is extremely close to that first version. It’s truly been a dream working with him, and I’m so proud of how the remixed song turned out!
Talk a bit about the writing process behind "I Still Remember."
I wrote “I Still Remember” in late 2018 with some friends of mine in Nashville. I think the reason the song came together so quickly and organically is due to the fact that we were just hanging out and talking about life. It’s a lot easier to be open, both creatively and emotionally, when you’re with people you’re already comfortable with. It didn’t feel like a “songwriting” session per se. It was more of us just thinking back on past relationships or things we had experienced. There was a lot of laughing and goofing off in between. We went out to eat twice in the midst of writing the song. I think the fact that “I Still Remember” was written from a place of simply wanting to be creative with the people I enjoy spending time with made all of the difference. You can feel that energy and emotion come across in the song.
You’re a huge advocate for anti-bullying. Tell us more about that.
It’s always been important to me that I use any platform I have to speak out on matters that are impacting the formative years of those around me. I know the things I experienced in elementary and middle school drastically impacted my life in ways that still affect me today. I dealt with a lot of, I guess the only way to classify it as is bullying, growing up. I’m so thankful that I found music to pour all of my pain and emotions into. Songwriting became my best friend at a time when I didn’t have any friends at all. I feel like the least I can do is use music, songwriting, and the platform I’ve been given to bring about some positive change for kids going through the same thing I did. I don’t even think it’s specific to kids. I’m eighteen years old, and I still feel like I’m back on the playground sometimes. I want my music to be a solace for those who need it and a friend to those who may not have any at the moment. If a song I write can help someone going through something as terrible and isolating as bullying, I know I will have done something right.
You're originally from Mississippi, what was it like growing up there?
I’m so thankful to have grown up in a state as rich in music history as Mississippi. If you drive through the state, it’s impossible to miss the years of musical art and history that have been formed there. It’s truly a place every musician should try to visit at some point. That being said, I don’t have any super fun stories about growing up there! That may make me a bad Mississippian, but there wasn’t really much to do there growing up. It’s really hot and humid all year round, and unless you were really into sports, (I was not), you kind of had to make your own fun. I think the most fun as a kid growing up there was just getting into loads of trouble. Mississippi has fantastic PoBoys. The food in general is incredible. I’d say my fondest memories of growing up in Mississippi mostly consisted of time with my family. Both sides of my family still live in the state, and a lot of my favorite childhood memories were made with them.
Outside of music, what are you into?
I love poetry. I know it goes hand in hand with songwriting, but I could sit and write words and poems and stories all day long. I also love to work out. It’s such a release for me, and I love the challenge of pushing my body to do new and different forms of exercise. I love drawing. I mostly do pencil sketches, but I’ve been experimenting with painting as of late. I’m completely obsessed with photography and videography. Any time I can capture something, a feeling, a moment, a memory in an artistic way, I’m all for it. Outside of that, I mostly just hang out with my loved ones and my animals. Those are my favorite things.
CHECK OUT “I STILL REMEMBER” (R3HAB REMIX) BELOW
