Caroline Romano is an exciting, up-and-coming artist who should be on everyone’s radar. From a young age, she knew music would play an integral role in her life, finding joy in expressing herself through her songwriting. At the age of thirteen, she fell in love with the live stage, performing at open mic nights all over Nashville. Caroline tells Pop Culturalist, “Watching people connect with my songs in real time was a magical feeling for me that I knew I wanted to experience for the rest of my life.”
Since then, she’s had a top 10 Radio Disney hit, shared the stage with the likes of Shawn Mendes, Kelsea Ballerini, Daya, and more, and she’s just getting started. Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to catch up with Caroline.
PC: You recently dropped a new single. Tell us about “Come With Me” and the inspiration behind the song.
Caroline: “Come With Me” is kind of my idea of what it would be like if I actually had the guts to tell a guy that I was interested in that he isn’t with the right girl. I write a lot of my songs from the perspective of what I think certain situations would be like if they happened. I’m sure we’ve all seen a guy with a girl who maybe doesn’t treat him very well or just isn’t right for him. Sometimes I just want to walk up to that guy and say, “Hey, just come with me instead!” We thought it was a really cool concept, so we decided to run with it!
PC: What’s been the biggest lesson you’ve learned being a part of this industry?
Caroline: By far, the biggest lesson I’ve learned in this industry is that you have to be patient. Sometimes it feels like things take forever to start happening. It’s so important to persevere through the slow periods in time. It’s easy to look around and think that everyone’s succeeding or becoming an “overnight sensation”. I’ve learned that overnight sensations have usually been working for years before they actually break through. Patience is definitely virtue in this business!
PC: If you could give your younger self a piece of advice, what would it be and why?
Caroline: I would tell my younger self to be more confident. Like a lot of people, I definitely struggled with some bullying when I was younger. Things didn’t start changing for the better until I refused to listen to those negative voices and started to believe in myself. Music became my way of expression and it helped me to find the beauty inside of me that I couldn’t see before. I wish younger Caroline would’ve felt more confident in herself, because life is so much more fun when you’re comfortable with who you are!
PC: When you look back at 2018, is there a moment that stands out to you?
Caroline: A huge moment that stood out to me in 2018 was when I heard my song “Ready” on Radio Disney for the first time. It was a moment I had dreamed about for a long, long time, and hearing my voice over the radio was a surreal experience. It was so crazy to hear my song being played on the same radio station as so many artists I grew up listening to and who have been huge inspirations for me.
PC: What can fans expect in 2019? Will you be hitting the road?
Caroline: A lot of new music will be coming out in 2019, which I am so excited to share with everyone! I’ve been working so hard on writing music that I’m proud of and I can’t wait for it to be out for people to hear. I’m definitely making plans to be hitting the road and performing my new music, so stay tuned!
PC: Is there a venue that’s on your bucket list to perform at?
Caroline: Isn’t Madison Square Garden on everyone’s bucket list? To stand on a stage where so many incredible artists have stood before me would be the experience of a lifetime. I’m working towards that day!
PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Caroline: Riverdale! I could watch an entire season in one night on Netflix. Who doesn’t love Cole Sprouse?
PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Caroline: Any movie with Melissa McCarthy!
PC: Favorite book?
Caroline: I really loved the Selection series by Kiera Cass. It fueled the hopeless romantic in me. [laughs]
PC: Favorite play or musical?
Caroline: It’s a tie between The Sound of Music and The Lion King.
PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Caroline: I don’t know if this is surprising, but I’m obsessed with 5 Seconds of Summer and All Time Low. I think we all need a little punk rock and alternative from time to time.
PC: First album you bought?
Caroline: The first album I bought was Fearless by Taylor Swift. I know every word from every song!
PC: First concert you attended?
Caroline: Taylor Swift’s Red Tour! Can you tell that I’m a Swiftie?
PC: An album that changed your life and why?
Caroline: I think Shawn Mendes’ album, Handwritten, changed my life because I related to it so much at the time. There are a lot of songs about his love and passion for music along with the good and bad things that come with pursuing a career in this industry.
Make sure to follow Caroline on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and pick up “Come With Me” on iTunes or Amazon Music.
Photo Credit: Caroline Romano
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