Q&A: In Conversation with Romi O on the Colorful Tapestry of ‘Edges’
EDGES IS A STUNNING MOSAIC OF ROMI O’S HEARTBREAK, VULNERABILITY AND SPIRITUAL JOURNEY — The 11-track album is an impressive display of the singer-songwriter’s ingenuity and diverse talent while sharing her struggles with mental health, self-reflection and her life experiences. The themes in her lyrics are further elevated by an array of alluring sounds that cannot be restricted to a particular shape or form.
Romi O describes her music as “ADHD music,” and because everything about Romi’s artistry is intricately layered, listeners are compelled to find out the reason behind this description. The artist’s music is a true reflection of herself. This is true about almost every musician, yes, but with Romi’s music she can almost pin point every element to an experience, influence or intention clearly. Singles such as “Golden Teacher” expresses her deep gratitude to the sun for being a source of energy, but also all the people in her life who have guided and taught her valuable lessons, all of which have helped her blossom.
This project finds the artist fusing the vulnerability in her skilful lyricism with melodic and infectious arrangements while traversing genres and defining her dynamic and nuanced soundscape. Romi O’s commitment to delving sonic textures was influenced by not only her bold approach to her musicality and creativity, but rediscovering her spirituality and pushing her to simply pursue her dreams without fear. Edges combines a subdued and relatable sound with a poignant and intense narrative and offers an intimate and mesmerising listening experience.
Romi O's solo album is a testament to her fearless approach to music, exploring diverse genres, languages and storytelling forms. Moreover, performing with the masterfully multifaceted Ghost Funk Orchestra has broadened her artistic horizon. With this album, Romi O ventures into new sonic territories, blending alt-rock intensity and folk elegance. The album's 11 tracks showcase her lyrical honesty and emotional depth, embracing her multifaceted creativity, Romi O has crafted a truly unique and captivating solo debut.
Luna had the chance to talk with Romi to discuss her storytelling and the experiences that formed this album. Read the interview below.
LUNA: You have described yourself as an artist who approaches difficult topics with a fearless attitude. What influenced this approach?
ROMI O: I am constantly going through a lot of self-exploration and thinking and evaluating what I am good at. I believe my vulnerability is a superpower and it is unfair of me to withhold that part of me. I don’t even consciously think of difficult topics to write about, somehow they just come out of me. It feels easier for me to do because I grew up in an environment where I felt safe to express myself and I still do.
LUNA: The topics and themes contained in your project delve into your mental health and spiritual journey — could you expand on these?
ROMI O: I have been battling depression since I was 8. About four years ago I went through something that felt like magic or a miracle, but I did not believe in the existence of God or a higher spiritual being. As things unfolded in my spiritual journey, I saw a side of my existence and the world that I had never noticed before. It took a great deal of acceptance to acknowledge that we are God and God is us. The universe balances the good and the bad to make everything okay. After 18 years of depression, I developed this strong sense of hope. Although nothing is okay currently, at least music offers hope.
LUNA: The track name “Golden Teacher” is fascinating, and it immediately piqued my interest. Similarly, there are other titles in this album with intriguing titles such as “M2M” and “Dismantle.” How do these titles tie back into the narrative on the album and what inspired you?
ROMI O: Songs always change meaning for me and I am constantly rediscovering myself and what these songs mean to me. With “Golden Teacher,” it was constantly changing. It was initially about a blonde I was falling in love with and it did not work out. I thought about my sister too. At another point it was about shrooms. Brooklyn during a sunset. Ultimately, I think it is about how everything in your life and everything you experience becomes a teacher and you learn from all these experiences.
LUNA: Can you walk us through your typical songwriting process?
ROMI O: I don’t really overthink the process… I mostly just write the lyrics in a matter of 30 minutes to an hour. I love listening to old classical music with my guitar on hand to make music. With the various genres I take inspiration from and try to experiment with along with the process of producing, recording, and releasing, I find that writing is the easy part for me. It is about letting go and listening to the music and letting it tell the story back to me. I usually don’t go back to revise what I have written — it is about capturing what I feel at that moment.
LUNA: You mentioned that songwriting is the easier part when it comes to creating a song or project. What was the process of producing this project like, and what was your favorite part?
ROMI O: I am so fortunate to have worked on this with a number of talented people. I worked on the first four songs with my friend Nimrod Goldfarb. We spent a lot of time figuring out what the songs needed and created demos and guidelines to find our feet before incorporating our own sounds. We brought in three talented musicians to help us experiment and perfect our guitar, keys, and percussions. It was a lovely experience just building that sound. Daniel Bloch then produced “M2M,” “Golden Teacher,” and “Bothered,” and we were amazing partners. My best friend played bass on the songs. I also produced “The Name,” and it took me two years to make it. Every moment was just special.
LUNA: You sing in three different languages on this project, which further speaks to your passion for experimenting. What influenced this approach?
ROMI O: I have always sought out variety in my sound, and that extended to the way I was writing and how I was singing. I have always been intrigued by the existence and plentitude of languages in the world. I have written and created in English my whole life, but Hebrew is my native language and I have been learning Japanese and French since I was 14 or 15. All over the world, songs come out in different languages and are felt and understood differently. Having that perspective only adds to and fulfils my musicality.
LUNA: Can you expand on the concept of ADHD music?
ROMI O: I am attracted to contradicting music and creating different genres. I was in a garage punk band for seven years and I would [be] upset about creating music that did not fit into the genre; it was so limiting for me. I decided to be free of a label and instead put all the labels I could on my music. A lot of people around me wanted me to grow but said I would eventually pick a genre. Everyone on the internet has some sort of Attention Deficit Disorder and every second we are exposed to completely new worlds with every scroll. To me, ADHD music is my own algorithm and language and more than variety in sound.
LUNA: How do you feel about the release of your project, and what is next for you?
ROMI O: I feel overjoyed. I created this with some incredibly talented friends for three years and now it is out. I want to perform more and keep creating special moments like the ones I had making this project. It has been quite a difficult time for me and my family but this feels like the one light in pretty great darkness.
