When we think of relentlessly creative artists who make listening to their music into a full-on, immersive experience, DeathbyRomy is one of the first acts to come to mind! She’s been soundtracking our lives with her unique alt-pop for years now, and we cannot wait to hear her debut album, HOLLYWOOD FOREVER, when it comes out on April 25th. We already know from the singles so far that this record will be a total smash we’ll have on repeat for years to come!
As if a new album wasn’t exciting enough, we’re buzzing even more over the fact that the THP team got to ask DeathbyRomy all about the project, her creative growth, touring, self-care, and so much more! Make sure you pre-save HOLLYWOOD FOREVER, then keep reading to check out our exclusive Q&A.
Your new record, HOLLYWOOD FOREVER, comes out April 25th. What’s your favorite song from it and why?
‘Little Dreamer!!!’ The story and energy of this song set the tone for the whole album for me. It’s also the one that feels most pop to me in a way that I love so much.
‘LA LA LAND’ explores the darker side of LA culture. How do you think the LA experience differs for someone who was born and raised there compared to someone who moved seeking fame? If this is the negative reality of LA, what are some positives people may not see from the outside?
Being born here definitely has its advantages. I know the city like the back of my hand and I wasn’t forced to work my ass off just to get here. I couldn’t tell you or pretend to understand what the other side looks like. But I love LA. It’s a beautifully diverse city full of hungry dreamers, all who want more for themselves and who are willing to fight for that.
Your visual artistry has always been incredibly striking. Did this style evolve over time? What are the key elements that shape the visual identity of DeathbyRomy?
My visual world has matured and grown with me as I’ve grown into a woman. I started DeathbyRomy at 15 and for the many formative years of early adulthood, the project took the forefront and my personal development was neglected. But that gave me all the time in the world to build the world that is now DeathbyRomy. First and foremost, I make sure to embrace the beauty in all things dark and ugly. I play with that duality and that’s key.
Some of your music videos (e.g. ‘I Kill Everything’) have horror elements. What are your favorite horror franchises? And what about horror stimulates you as an artist?
I am not as into horror as I think most would expect. I don’t really prefer to desensitize my brain or feed my nightmares. I do love Japanese horror manga though. And Pan’s Labyrinth is one of my favorites.
We’re absolutely obsessed with your style and signature makeup look! Who are some fashion icons that inspire you? What are some of your go-to makeup products right now?
Thank you! Alexander McQueen will always be my favorite. I think Dilara Findikoglu is the best to do it since him and the most exciting thing in fashion currently. Isamaya French is my favorite makeup artist and all of the products I own from her line are absolute favorites. I’m loving her industrial palette and her hyaluronic acid glow serum.
Given that much of your music explores darker themes, what are some ways you unwind and make sure you’re taking care of yourself throughout the process?
Oof…good question…
I do yoga almost every day without fail and have an intense relationship with working out, which really allows me to clear my mind in times of need. I’m sober as an act of love for myself and I nurture my body with good food. I’m an incredible chef, I make sure to cook as many beautiful meals for myself as I can, and as a treat I love to go out to nice dinners as well. Health is wealth! And I’d kill for a tropical vacation…
‘I Feel Like A God’ has been a go-to when we need to boost or fuel our bad b*tch selves since it dropped. Are there any songs from HOLLYWOOD FOREVER that have a similar “yes, I am that b*tch” vibe?
‘B*TCHFAMOUS!!!’ That was one of the recent singles about infamously being a b*tch – but ‘Pray to Me’ is a god complex-fueled love song that’s bound to make you feel powerful. Another that’s not out with a cut-throat, fierce feminine energy is ‘KILL OR BE KILLED’ – I can’t wait for the world to have that one.
You’ve spoken about how ‘Problems’ is one of the few songs you’ve released that you didn’t write on your own, and it wasn’t even a song you necessarily wanted to release at all. How does it feel going from songs like ‘Problems,’ which didn’t feel like an accurate representation of you sonically at the time, to being independent and putting out music that you align with?
I couldn’t be more grateful for every step of my journey and every lesson that came with it, even the ones I didn’t deserve to endure. My freedom now as an artist is priceless. I wouldn’t trade it for anything ever again. I’m so grateful for what ‘Problems’ did for me, but I’m finally myself and I’m so grateful to all my fans who see and support me as I always intended to be. The video for ‘PRAY TO ME’ really explores my feelings surrounding being made to put out the song ‘Problems.’
We love it when artists weave a narrative throughout an album, and The Manager seems to be a central figure in this one. What does he represent, and can we expect to meet more characters as the story unfolds?
The two main characters we follow in this story we’ve woven through the music videos for the album are myself and the manager. The manager represents all the men who preyed on me as a young girl in this industry. Especially one man; who really had a grip on me and my whole life back then. I was manipulated, tricked, used, and led astray by the one person posing as my best friend and caretaker. This character was based on him.
Something that really stands out to us about ‘LA LA LAND’ is how the chorus flips from “it’s a dog-eat-dog world” to “it’s a god-eat-god” world, showing how the pressure of Hollywood follows you even if you grow to god status. We also love the possible tie-in to ‘I Feel Like A God!’ What advice would you give to someone who feels closer to that “dog” status and wants to make their dreams come true despite the hectic nature of the entertainment industry?
The sentiment is that no one’s safe, not the dog or the god. No one’s above this machine that is the industry, fueled on dreams and nightmares. As we see every day, people continue to be preyed on by the industry, but my advice to anyone brave enough to follow their dream is to do it relentlessly and with love. If you lead with love, you’re destined for greatness. Any other motive is bound to rot you from the inside out.
Your tour is right around the corner. Which cities do you always have a great time performing in, and are there any cities you’re looking forward to playing for the first time? What is it like embarking on a headline tour versus being an opening act?
Well, it’s quite literally terrifying – there is less pressure opening in my opinion. The audience is guaranteed and you just have to kill it and win them over. And we always do! We put in a great fucking show and anyone who’s given us the gift of their attention knows this. I’m truly excited to finally be able to play for my own fan base though and cannot wait to meet them all. Atlanta always goes crazy…..so does Toronto. But more than anything I really hope my city shows up for me.
Which HOLLYWOOD FOREVER songs are you most excited to play live?
Probably ‘KILL OR BE KILLED.’ It’s the first song I’ve included both the girls in my band on, and I created it with the live show in mind. It’s also one of the most important songs on the project to me. It’s a big, collective fuck-you to men in power in this industry who use their power to prey on and crush young girls’ spirits.
You have been a part of some great festivals! If you had the chance to start your own festival based around your upcoming album, HOLLYWOOD FOREVER, what other artists would you love to be a part of it? What kind of events and attractions would it include?
I’d love to do something as immersive and tailored to my fan base as Tyler has done with Flog Gnaw! He’s an incredible world-builder and artist. There would definitely be a carnival element to mine as well but much more Tim Burton meets Banksy’s Dismal Land. As far as other artists go….I’d definitely put on for my friends that are musicians first – also how Tyler did.
We are all about the relationship between artist and fan here at The Honey POP. The name ‘Team Death’ for your fanbase is absolutely sick in the best meaning of the word! How would you describe your relationship with ‘Team Death?’
The relationship between an artist and their fans is both crucial and incredibly sensitive. I have always tried to engage with my fans in an open and honest way while also protecting my safety. We as artists owe a level of transparency. I think some pop stars are different; but artists owe an honest side of themselves that I try to give to my fans as much as makes sense. And I’m rewarded for this by having a beautiful strong fan base who really see and know me as my multifaceted self. I’ve made it imperative that my fans know it’s OK to be themselves on their best and worst days.
We know it takes a village to craft an album from beginning to end, but something we don’t see enough of is people patting themselves on the back. What is something you can point to in this album creation process that you are proud of yourself for?
I appreciate this question, thank you for forcing me to pause and think about this. I’m proud of myself for finally giving myself the time and space to write this project. The things I went back and re-lived to write this one were so incredibly painful, but what it taught me is just how resilient I am. And to touch on the village – if I wasn’t so surrounded with the most love and support I ever have been in my life – I may not have been so able to explore and relive all the things necessary to write this one. So I have my amazing team and great family and friends to thank equally.
As for us, we have DeathbyRomy to thank for answering all our questions! Now it’s your turn to answer some questions, honeybees. How excited are you for HOLLYWOOD FOREVER to drop on April 25th? Which track are you claiming? Let us know in the comments below or hit us up on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter! You can also buzz on over to our Reddit community to chat with us.
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