A Chat With LA's Dark Pop Superstar DEATHBYROMY

Emerging from deep in LA is DeathbyRomy, the dark pop superstar. On April 25th, she released her debut album HOLLYWOOD FOREVER, blending together the sounds of grungy metal, electronic club, and pop all together to create this unique and unforgettable sound. Through HOLLYWOOD FOREVER, DeathbyRomy weaves together the tale of a girl who’s working her way into the industry, highlighting the darker elements of LA. With features from WARGASM, bodyimage, Palaye Royale, and Romy’s own beloved Team Death, DeathbyRomy has curated the perfect cast to help transport listeners into the world of HOLLYWOOD FOREVER. A world where you either get famous or die trying.

To accompany the album, DeathbyRomy is taking the album on tour across North America and Europe, alongside performing it at a series of festivals. She’ll be joined by Jayden Hammer and Earth To Cheska for all shows, as well as bodyimage, heffy, prettyugly, and von for select dates. The HOLLYWOOD FOREVER TOUR has already kicked off and is selling out fast! You can check HERE for tickets for the remaining North American dates and the recently added European dates. As someone who’s seen DeathbyRomy twice before, I can say with confidence that this is a show you will not want to miss.

I had the absolute honour to chat with DeathbyRomy about her debut album and headlining tour, digging deep into her creative processes and getting insight into the HOLLYWOOD FOREVER era. Here’s what she had to say:

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MORGHAN: Can you introduce yourself and what you do for those reading this interview who may not know who you are?

ROMY: Hi ! I’m Romy :) Better known by my stage name DeathbyRomy. I’m a heavy pop star in a girl band with my best friends.

MORGHAN: Depending on the release of this interview, you’re about to, or have just released your debut album Hollywood Forever, congratulations by the way, how does it feel to have this project out into the world? Is it more surreal? Does it feel meant to be?

ROMY: Feels so cathartic and relieving to finally have gotten to tell the story I did with this album. It’s truly a release ! And yes, it is meant to be !!!

MORGHAN: Based on what we’ve heard from the singles, the visuals you’ve released via photoshoots and music videos, Hollywood Forever appears to be this massive creative body of work with an overarching concept. Can you speak on how you landed on these ideas, what your mindset was, or if this was even an intentional choice at first?

ROMY: It was all a very meticulous and intentional choice. All 5 music videos for the singles, barring the visualizer we decided to make for YUNG & RICH, tell an interconnected story of a girl who moves to LA with a dream to be a pop star. Though I was born and raised in LA, this story is inspired by my life and some of the trials and tribulations I faced while getting into the industry so young and on my own. A dark side of a truth I wasn’t ready to face or bear until writing this album.

MORGHAN: As mentioned, you’ve created these short-film-esque music videos alongside the album. What do they add to this world you’ve created? Do you think the album would be the same without them?

ROMY: The context provided by the music videos and the character of “the manager” I created based on real people I dealt with is everything…..the darker less obvious side of the story I’m telling lies in the visuals.

MORGHAN: Did you have a vision board to refer to while working on the project, or maybe a certain aesthetic you were trying to encapsulate throughout the album?

ROMY: No not really. Me and my manager work closely on all the world-building together. We like to pull from our brains and experience vs references or things that have been done. I did reference myself for the PRAY TO ME video tho ;) The only aesthetic I pulled from for some of the things, like merch and show looks, is kitschy Hollywood.

MORGHAN: Sonically, this album feels theatrical and very atmospheric compared to some of your previous works, but you still embody the kinda grungy and metal elements people have come to associate you with. How did this sound come to be for the album? Was it something you’ve always had in mind?

ROMY: This album is the truest culmination of all the sonic spaces I’ve touched on and dabbled with throughout the course of developing DeathbyRomy. Feels true to how all my favourite artists have influenced me. Admittedly, I’m not often searching for new music. I listen to my favourites again and again and again. The focused group of artists who have influenced my project has always been pretty minimal,and I honestly find that helps a lot.

MORGHAN: Hollywood Forever has a handful of features on the project, you have some familiar faces- bodyimage and Team Death- and some new faces as well- Palaye Royale and WARGASM (UK). How did some of these collaborations come to be? Did any of them leave you with the “I can’t believe this is happening” feeling?”

ROMY: Everyone on this album is a friend of mine. I’m here for my friends and the people who fuck with and support me and my project, they’re the only people I want to put on for and come up with. I’m not here for the fake shit ! So honored and grateful to all of my friends involved. Very pleased that I was able to make all these collaborations happen.

MORGHAN: What is your personal favourite of Hollywood Forever?

ROMY: LITTLE DREAMER

MORGHAN: Is there a specific song you’re excited to play live?

ROMY: KOBK, we created this song with the live show in mind- it was the final song made for the album, the cherry on top and arguably the most important.

MORGHAN: If you had to describe Hollywood Forever by assigning it a taste, smell, and an object, what would they be

ROMY: Sour blue raspberry. Tom Ford Black Orchid. Fake tits.

[ HOLLYWOOD FOREVER ALBUM ART ]

MORGHAN: You’re embarking on your first North American headliner tour this Spring before following it up with European dates, alongside festival dates and Warped Tour! How are you feeling about being back on the road again?

ROMY: Ecstatic, dead tired, and exactly where I’m meant to be! I’ll sleep when I’m dead.

MORGHAN: Are there any cities you’re excited to play again or visit for the first time?

ROMY: Atlanta, Toronto and Denver ! They always go hard :) Phoenix was just incredible!

MORGHAN: The last couple of years, you’ve been opening for Pierce the Veil, Baby Metal, Set it Off, alongside playing some festivals. Do you think it will feel different for you to be finally taking this headliner position and performing for a DeathbyRomy-specific crowd, or have you always carried a headliner mindset regardless of where you’re placed in the bill?

ROMY: My mindset is the same always. I go out there and perform like my life depends on it, give them everything and be kind and gracious. I have an endless hunger and ferocity. When I’m opening I’m there to prove myself and convert every fan I can, now that I’m headlining I’m giving my people what they deserve !

MORGHAN: Can you give us some insight on how your tour will be formatted? Do you have a stage show? Maybe one similar to your Not For The Faint Of Heart NYC Show last May? Or are you planning to just hit the stage and rock out every night?

ROMY: I’m not at the point yet that I have the means and money to pull something like that off every night lol, I wish! We hit the stage and kick as every night tho. We don’t need gimmicks, our passion and energy is unmatched.

MORGHAN: What should we expect setlist-wise? Do any of your older tracks fit into the world of Hollywood Forever, or is this tour strictly going to highlight your upcoming project?

ROMY: Playing both old and new stuff ! With a special moment for those who have been with me since Monsters.

MORGHAN: You’re touring with some amazing people, Jayden and Cheska of course, but also bodyimage, heffy, PRETTYUGLY, and recently announced von for NYC. Were you the one to curate the openers? If so, how do their musical ‘vibes’ align with your ideas for the tour?

ROMY: Yes, I was. All friends again, all artists I truly support and believe in. Bodyimage and I worked on three of the songs on my album together. We’ve been close collaborators and dear friends since I was 19. I’ve always loved their project, and we have always said that once I’m touring, so are they. Heffy and I started CORPSE KISS together, again, he’s just a friend and an incredible artist I want to put on for. Same goes for Pretty Ugly! Quinn, their lead guitarist, played on 'CALIFORNIA BABY' and is my other half. Their front woman is a powerful and incredible vocalist, they put on an incredibly fun live show, and I can’t wait to have them. All artists' sonic worlds have little crossovers to mine, but all are unique!

MORGHAN: What do you want the fans to bring to the table this tour?

ROMY: Their unapologetic and beautiful selves!

MORGHAN: Would you say there's a dress code, or could you share with us a general outfit vibe for the shows? Not just for you and Team Death, but for fans as well?

ROMY: YES! Paris Hilton meets metal! Classic kitschy Hollywood meets punk.

MORGHAN: Obviously, you’re booked and busy for 2025, but is there anything you’d like to squeeze into your schedule, anything fans should be expecting, or maybe something you’ve been manifesting?

ROMY: A well-deserved vacation ! Team death might hit Mexico for my birthday :)

MORGHAN: To close off, if there's one thing you’d like fans to take away from this album, or maybe one key piece of wisdom you’d like to pass on, what would that be?

ROMY: I hope this album is just as much of a cathartic and ecstatic release for my fans just as it was to me. I am so touched and amazed to learn how many individuals of all different backgrounds relate to my music. I just hope this album brings us all a little closer 🤍

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