An Interview With The Promising Singer-Songwriter ROMY!

Photo Credit- Marisa Pena

Meet Amsterdam’s by-way-of NYC singer-songwriter, Romy Balvers. Her newest single is entitled “Frail.” The video for the song tells the story of what it feels like to love someone who struggles with an addiction. The video is directed by Marisa Pena.

Learn more about Romy in the following All Access interview:

What are some words you would use to describe 2016?

It was a very productive music year in which I started to work on my new EP and I was able to make 2 music videos.

What were some of the highlights for you and your music?

Meeting the right people and collaborating on great musical projects with them.  Hearing my latest song “Make It Work” being mixed through an analog board for the first time.

What are you most excited about for 2017?

Releasing my latest music video for my song “Make It Work” on March 8th and recording new tracks for my EP.

Growing up, did you always want to be a musician? Can you recall your first musical memory?

Yes, I knew I had a different relationship with music than the people around me. My father’s record collection was a huge inspiration for me at a very young age.  I tried to copy the music on these albums all of the time.

Can you talk about the inspiration behind your current single, “Frail”?

“Frail” is a song about loving someone (not necessarily in a romantic way)  who has an addiction. You can never never get close to them. It’s never real and it’s always frail.

What was it like shooting the video for “Frail”? How creatively involved were you with the making of it? 

It was a great experience. Yes, I’ve been a part of all my projects creatively. I talked to the director Melissa Pena intensively about the vision before shooting and I was a part of the editing process as well.

Do you have plans to release more music soon and even an EP or full-length album?

My latest song “Make It Work” is a collaboration among great people in the music industry. Michael DiLalla is my producer du jour.  It’s mixed by John Agnello (Kurt Vile, Lemonheads, Mick Jagger, Bob Dylan, Patti Smith, Sonic Youth, The Kills) and it was mastered by NYC-based Sterling Sound.  The drummer on the track is Paul Garisto (Psychedelic Furs, Iggy Pop, Ryan Adams).  “Make It Work” releases with an accompanying music video  on March 8th 2017.   My EP will hopefully be done by the end of 2017.

How do you think your music has grown since your 2014 debut album, “Unbound”? How do you think you have changed as a musician since you first started making music?

I’ve met more suitable people in the industry to work with. People who understand my vision as a musician better. My songs are even more closer to who I am and closer to how I’d like to express myself.  I’ve performed many shows which is a great inspiration and growth process in itself, too.

What artists have continued to inspire you and your music? Who would you absolutely love to work with in the future?

So many artists are always an inspiration to me. Women who just never stop and keep on recording and performing without letting all the judgments of the music industry stop them – such as Beth Hart, Juliette Lewis and Stevie Nicks. Women who just make great music such as Florence and the Machine and Sia. They all express themselves in a very non-traditional and original way –  which I greatly admire.  I’d love to work with a dance/EDM producer and work on a vocal collaboration for a commercial dance track. I’d love to work in the future with many different and new producers.

At the end of the day, what do you hope your fans take away from your music? What do you hope is the message of your songs? 

I hope they feel what I feel.  I hope they can relate to my struggles and visions of life and the stuff I’m going through, or simply see around me. I hope to deeply move and touch people by playing as many live shows as I possibly can.

Is there anything else that you would like to share with our readers about yourself and your music?

I’m very grateful to anyone who listens to my music and is interested in getting to know me better as a musician. I have still so many dreams and things I’d like to accomplish with my music.

Thank you very much…