Exclusive: Caroline Romano “Come With Me” Behind the Scenes Video Premiere + Interview
Caroline Romano is premiering the behind the scenes video of her current single “Come With Me” exclusively on Talk Nerdy With Us. The 17-year-old pop star’s career is on the rise, with her last single, “Ready”, even hitting the Top 3 on Radio Disney’s Top 30 Chart. As she explains in the above video, “Come With Me” is an “internal narrative” that a lot of people experience when they see a guy with a girl who may not be right for him.
In addition to giving us a peek behind the song, Caroline took time to answer our questions! We talked about how music was an outlet for her when she was being bullied, taking the stage in Nashville at 13, who inspires her songwriting and nerding out over Shawn Mendes – which, dare we say, sounds more like crushing than nerding. (Who could blame her?)
Tell me a little bit about how you first got into making and performing music.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been singing. I used to perform “concerts” for my parents singing songs from Disney Channel and Nickelodeon! I started playing guitar at the age of nine, and that’s when I really got into writing my own music. I was extremely shy and dealt with some bullying issues when I was young, so songwriting and music became my outlet of expression. I feel the most like myself when I’m performing. For my 13th birthday, I asked my parents to take me to Nashville to perform around the city at open mic nights, and I absolutely fell in love. I knew I wanted to sing my songs on a stage for a room full of people for the rest of my life. I was absolutely hooked.
Was there a specific moment or person who made you realize music is what you wanted to pursue professionally?
My first trip to Nashville at 13 was definitely my “ah-hah” moment! I remember performing at the Bluebird Cafe with my guitar and a handful of songs for a packed crowd. I felt so comfortable and free to express myself. The high that comes from writing a song and hearing it come to life is indescribable. I haven’t stopped since!
I’m always genuinely curious about what artists want to convey with their music. So how would you describe your sound without using genre names? What kind of music do you produce?
I want each of my songs to have its own unique sound, so I don’t like to describe my music beneath one title. I just want every song to be relatable. I always strive to make each song a sincere and honest glimpse of myself. I like to say that my music is just an insight into my thoughts and imagination at the time I wrote the song. Music is so wonderful because it helps those listening to feel connected to something outside of themselves. I know loneliness and feelings of isolation are problems for a lot of people, so I hope that the people listening to my music know that they are not alone in whatever they are going through.
Let’s dive in and talk about “Come With Me.” You talk a bit in the video about what the song is about, but is there a particular person or life event that inspired the song?
I’ve definitely known a few guys who were with girls that didn’t treat them very well. I think most people have seen someone with a partner who just wasn’t quite right for them. Like I always say, “I would never confront them about it, but it’s nice to imagine what it would be like if I did!” I’m much bolder in my songs than I am in real life!
What was the songwriting process like for this song specifically? Did you write it by yourself or did you collaborate with other artists/songwriters?
I wrote this song in Nashville with a friend of mine who is also a writer. It’s so much fun to write with other people because it’s like we’re just hanging out, talking about life.
Something I’ve always wondered is how topics come to mind. Did you know what you wanted to write about going into the song session that birthed “Come With Me” or did it just come about organically once you were in the session?
The idea behind “Come With Me” was definitely an organic process. We were talking about relationships and instances where we wish we could’ve walked up to someone and said, “Hey, just come with me!” We both loved the idea, so it stuck.
Speaking of songwriting, who are some of your musical influences when it comes to songwriting?
My favorite songwriters include artists such as Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Shawn Mendes, and Avril Lavigne. They are all artists I’ve listened to forever, and I love how their music tells a story. You never get tired of their music, so I definitely love to study their techniques and songwriting methods.
What was the recording process like? Was this song recorded in one single session?
We were so into the song that I think we recorded all of the vocals in under 45 minutes. I was having so much fun singing and creating new melodies, so we got it down super fast. That’s what happens when you’re having fun!
Were there any major changes made to the song once you got into the recording studio, whether it be in the lyrics or something sonically?
Because the lyrics to the song are relatively simple, we didn’t make any major changes once I got into the booth. One of my favorite parts of the recording process is ad libs, so I added a lot of new little melodies and background vocals once I got to singing.
Last question — we’re called Talk Nerdy With Us because we all have an inner-nerd. What is something you are currently nerding out about?
When am I not nerding out about Shawn Mendes? I am completely obsessed with his music, and I can’t stop listening to his most recent album. “In My Blood” is one of my favorite songs of all time, and I can’t wait for his upcoming tour!
For more information, you can visit Caroline’s website and follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.