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Photo: Justin Key.
Nashville-based alt-pop trailblazer Caroline Romano has revealed her highly-anticipated debut album, 'Oddities and Prodigies'. From misty-eyed ballads to fiery pop-punk anthems, Oddities and Prodigies is a vivid snapshot of Caroline’s personal and musical journey. From tackling what it’s like to struggle with depression and anxiety to examining first loves and first heartbreaks, 'Oddities and Prodigies' is an all-encompassing look at Caroline’s personal growth and resilience.
We had the chance to ask Caroline some questions on the album to take a deeper look into the album and more...
Introduce yourself and tell us a bit about you!
"Hi! I’m Caroline Romano, and I’m a twenty year old alt-pop artist and songwriter currently living in Nashville, TN." So your debut album ‘Oddities & Prodigies’ has just been released! How does it feel to have it out there in the world?
"I honestly still can’t believe it’s out. It’s a surreal feeling for sure. ‘Oddities & Prodigies’ is all of me in 16 songs, and I just hope and pray that people find some of themselves in them too. I’m so proud of this album, and I just hope there are people listening to it."
How has the reaction been so far?
"The reaction to Oddities and Prodigies has been amazing so far. I’m still shocked that total strangers have taken the time to listen to my album from start to finish. I’ve loved hearing the ways people have related to certain songs, and what/why they connect with it in that way. It’s the most incredible feeling, and I’m so grateful to everyone who has reached out and listened to the album." Is there a meaning behind the name of the album?
"‘Oddities and Prodigies’ has sort of been my life motto for quite some time now. I don’t really think you can have one without the other. They go hand in hand, from my experience. Growing up, I’ve come to realize that the strangest things about ourselves are often the most wonderful. It’s an album for the misfits, for the anxiety-ridden and depressed generation. It’s for those who can’t help but hate themselves, yet love everyone else so very deeply. I couldn’t think of a greater way to summarize the album and the story I’ve set out to tell than ‘Oddities & Prodigies’." Are there any key themes or influences that are prominent throughout the album tracks?
"I wanted the album to kind of read as one consecutive, overly-dramatic, coming of age story. There are lots of ups and downs inspired by the dynamics of Queen and My Chemical Romance. It’s conversational, teenage dialogue spun through the eyes of someone who wants to be a poet. I guess the biggest theme is being young, sad, and terribly hopeful." Any fun or behind the scenes stories of the recording process that you can share?
"The recording process was super fun because I basically just got to hang out with my friends and create an album. We recorded the entire record at my producer, Will McBeath’s house, and Michael and Chuckie Aiello were also in the room with me a lot while I was recording. We’re all great friends, so there was a lot of laughing and YouTube videos being played during sessions. We all got to watch the album come alive together, which was really cool. There were some moments where we all kind of felt the “okay, this is really cool” moment for a song, which was amazing."
Do you have a favourite lyric or whole track? If so, which one and why?
"My favourite lyric is from my favourite song off the album, 'Leaving Wednesday'. It’s the line “I hope there’s more to what I am than just my plans.” I love it because I think it sums up the entire album in those twelve words.
You’ve also put out the video for the title track! Can you tell us a little about it?
"Filming the 'Oddities and Prodigies' video was super fun, but it was also a challenge. We shot it in December, and I had to run on this tiny, handleless treadmill outside in the middle of the night. It was just several hours of running and trying to look somewhat cool while doing so. I definitely fell off of it a couple times. I wanted to go with the concept of visualizing the entire song as taking place while running down the street. It’s literal, but I think it’s important It's like the opening scene of the movie."
What’s coming next for you?
"I’m already working on the next round of music to come out, which I’m super excited about. I’m also hoping to tour and play the songs off the album live a bunch this year. I plan on doing a lot in 2022, so stay tuned x"
'Oddities and Prodigies' is out now. Listen HERE @carolineromanomusic
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