On February 25th, alternative-pop artist Caroline Romano will be releasing her debut album titled Oddities and Prodigies. The heavily anticipated record showcases her witty, introspective and hopeful take on modernity, romanticism and the highs and lows of being young in today’s world. Caroline’s music has a voice that demands attention, and Oddities and Prodigies is sure to cement Caroline as one of the next great Gen Z pop acts.
Oddities and Prodigies is a love letter to the anxious generation of teenagers which she represents. She has a knack for creating punk rock anthems that fuse together honest lyrics and catchy choruses to form a beautiful mix of truth and angst. The Nashville-based singer fits in perfectly with the pop icons of today, with a powerful voice and intriguing sound that offers a modern interpretation of punk-rock music.
The 16 track album features previously released songs “The Hypothetical,” “Ireland In 2009,” “Lonely Interlude,” and “Oddities and Prodigies” along with her newest single “Panic Attack.” From misty-eyed ballads to fiery pop-punk anthems, Oddities and Prodigies leaves no thought unsaid, touching on each and every emotion felt by a young adult navigating love, mental health, and relationships in the modern age.
Stand out track, “Grocery Store,” is an emotional ballad full of introspection and truth, where she describes the difficult task of learning how to move on after heartbreak. Every listener can relate to the feelings of loneliness depicted by her heart wrenching lyrics, and the track offers a creative representation of the grief that follows a breakup.
At just 20-years-old, Caroline Romano has already accrued millions of streams across her repertoire and has captured the attention of key tastemakers like Hollywood Life, Just Jared, EUPHORIA and American Songwriter. She has began to turn heads in the music industry for her songwriting and striking sound, and the release of this full-length LP is sure to prove Caroline as one of the most promising up and coming pop artists.
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. There is a spot for every song on this album on your playlists, and fans can be excited for relatable tracks each intertwined by an honest storyline to create a cohesive body of work.
We were able to speak to Caroline about her intentions behind Oddities and Prodigies, and hear about her feelings as the release date approaches.
Scroll down to read our full interview with Caroline and pre-save the album Oddities and Prodigies out on all platforms February 25th!
How are you feeling about the upcoming release? Talk me through what's going through your head at the moment as you prepare for the drop of your debut album?
“I’m excited, eager, nervous, and scared all at the same time. I’ve been dreaming of my first album since I was a kid, and it’s hard to believe that the day is almost here. I’m not nervous to share the personal things this album holds about me. I’m just scared that they won’t like it. I think that’s every artist’s worst fear, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t care what people thought about my music. That’s something I really care about because my music is me. I am so so proud of this album. I just want people to listen, and I am hoping and praying that it cuts deep in the good way a good album does for a lot of people. I hope the world listens, and I hope it likes Oddities and Prodigies.”
"I just want people to listen, and I am hoping and praying that it cuts deep in the good way a good album does for a lot of people. I hope the world listens, and I hope it likes Oddities and Prodigies.”
What is your favorite memory from creating this album? Is there a day in the studio or moment during the songwriting process that sticks out in your mind?
“There were so many amazing memories made from creating this album. I worked on it with some of my favorite people, and there were a lot of pretty moments in the process. I remember one day I was recording vocals, and my producer Will McBeath and I both just kind of sat back after hearing what we’d done. There was just this kind of understanding that “this is really cool.” We both felt it. That happened a few times while creating this album, in both the songwriting and recording process. It’s the only time we were speechless, haha. It’s those feelings that get you excited.”
Can you tease anything about this album that might make fans excited about what they are going to be hearing?
“If you love sad girl autumn (but year-round), I promise you will love this album. It’s sad in the way I think all young people can relate to it in some way. This is an album for the anti-cool girl, the least of the popular kids, the weirdest of the weirdos. If you ate lunch in the school bathroom like I did in high school, envied people who wore Hollister jeans, and spend way too much time in your own head, you’re really going to like some of these songs.”
"This is an album for the anti-cool girl, the least of the popular kids, the weirdest of the weirdos."
What are you most excited for fans to listen to on the album? Do you have a favorite song that you can't wait for the public to hear?
“I’m eager to see the reaction to each song in a different way. There are 16 tracks, which means 16 different feelings. I have to say I’m most excited to hear people’s responses to 'Leaving Wednesday' 'Perhaps It Is Mine' and 'Arrivederci'. Those are the songs I hope really strike a chord with people. They’re the ones I’m most proud of, the ones I want to listen to the most, and I wonder if others will feel the same way.”
This album truly covers a variety of different moods and emotions. Would you say that you approach the songwriting process differently depending on your intention behind the song that you are writing?
“Absolutely. Each song is driven by its own very specific moment or feeling. There are some intertwining themes, but I go into writing each song because something has happened that has made me want to write it. Sometimes it’s a line I keep hearing in a dream, or a guy I saw walking down the street one day. It’s a breakup, a car ride, a lingering feeling that inspires each song. They come together differently every time, and that’s why I love writing music.”
How long has this album been in the works for?
“Somewhere between 6 months to a year. I wrote some of these songs at the end of 2020/beginning of 2021, but I didn’t decide to set out on making this album until the summer of 2021.”
What was the biggest challenge that you faced when creating this album?
“I think the biggest challenge was telling myself I wasn’t crazy for creating an album. It’s a great big endeavor, the entire process of writing and releasing a project like this, and I know it’s one a lot of independent artists can’t justify. I had a lot of people ask me 'Who’s going to listen?', and I had to tell them that I honestly didn’t know. I just hoped someone would, and that’s all it took for me to start this. It was my dream, and I wasn’t going to let logic get in the way of it.”
If you could describe this album in three words, what would they be?
“Melancholy, introspective, and juvenescence”
In such a competitive industry, it can be hard for artists to keep up with their own mental health. What kind of things do you do or practice to keep yourself grounded and relieve stress?
“I have to say that writing is one of the biggest stress relievers when it comes to my mental health. It’s very much a release for me to get it all out in words on paper. I try not to be on my phone, but I don’t do a great job at it. Social media is one of the biggest accelerants of my own mental health struggles, so being away from it is always the right idea for me. I talk to my parents, I listen to music, I go on runs. I just try to get outside of myself in some healthy way.”
"Writing is one of the biggest stress relievers when it comes to my mental health. It’s very much a release for me to get it all out in words on paper."
Do you have any tour or performance plans coming up in the near future?
“I definitely hope so. Touring is my next step, the next part of this dream. I’m actively working on trying to make that happen this year. I do have performances in the Nashville area planned, including playing The Analog on the album release night. I’m really excited about that.”
Oddities and Prodigies will be available for streaming on all platforms on February 25th. Click on the link below to pre-save the album!