ROMÆO
‘Becoming a more well-rounded musician means I can pick and choose what processes and practices I want to employ with each work.’
ROMÆO creates experimental art-pop, reminiscent of several artists and sounds but bound to none. Drawing influence from FKA twigs, Charli XCX, and Jockstrap, ROMÆO creates a dystopian digital landscape that is both enthralling and somewhat uncomfortable. With only two singles under her belt, ROMÆO has already impressed fans and industry, receiving rotation on FBi and SYN Radio, as well as plays on the js.
The Generations Fellowship connects artists with established industry experts and mentors, to pass on intergenerational knowledge and create pathways in the music industry. Between Janurary 2021 and June 2021, ROMÆO explored a number of musical instruments in the Powerhouse collection.
Had my first meeting with Astral People which was great so that we could begin planning what to achieve this year. I’m working on tidying up my demos and getting them all together so we can explore potential collaborations.
I’ve begun getting into a routine of coming into the studio and smashing out some work. I had a tour of the Powerhouse collection with curator Damian McDonald. From a personal and musical standpoint, this was a really interesting and inspiring. I find a lot of inspiration from art and culture around me so this was a great opportunity.
This month I also ‘hosted my first collaboration in the studio with artist AnSo. It was super exciting to be able to invite someone to a space where we could focus on creating something great.
Over this six month fellowship period, I am also completing my Honours in music, and I’m not sure that is a blessing or a curse. I’m working on a concept album about beauty and so I’ve been able to use the space to help develop my tracks and really hone in on the production.
After a lineup shift, this month I rehearsed a lot with my full band. We’ve got quite a few gigs coming up so its important we are well prepared!
I think my creative practice is always changing and shifting focus. Having a dedicated studio meant I was able to focus heavily on my production and mixing skills, more so than my songwriting. In doing so, I am now at a place where I am thinking in sonic concepts and landscapes, which I don’t think I was doing as much 6 months ago.
Romæo
Futuristic Art Pop singer, songwriter and producer ROMÆO releases her highly anticipated EP SONGS ABOUT ME on 10 November 2023. Across the body of work, the Naarm/Melbourne based artist reckons with themes of identity, womanhood, heartache and recovery. The unapologetically pop 5 track EP features previous singles, ‘Less I Do’ and ‘How To Be Honest’ and arrives with new single ‘Enemy’. Recalling trip-hop production, before evolving into a reggaeton beat, ‘Enemy’ explores frustration at the dissolution of a relationship, “everything you do is so annoying and frustrating". Across 15-minutes of unapologetic pop, SONGS ABOUT ME sees Naarm/Melbourne based ROMÆO reckon with identity, womanhood, heartache and recovery.
Generations Fellowship
The Generations Fellowship connects artists with established industry experts and mentors, to pass on intergenerational knowledge and create pathways in the music industry. Established in 2020, this is a partnership between Create NSW, Powerhouse and Australian music management and touring company, Astral People.
Valued at $100,000, the Fellowship supports three early career solo artists or groups to carry out six months of professional development. Each Fellow is provided with $25,000 in financial support, and in-kind support in the form of studio space at Powerhouse Ultimo or Powerhouse Castle Hill, with industry mentoring and networking facilitated by Astral People throughout each residency.
