Following the release of Erik Kase Romero’s 2022 and standalone single from earlier this year, Romero is preparing to unveil his debut full-length effort, how to be still and still be here. The LP drops in early 2024. Romero draws inspiration from a rich mosaic of influences, including the high-octane energy of pop-punk to the soulful warmth of country, folk and Americana and heart-on-your-sleeve vulnerability of emo. He describes his sound as a reflection of his New Jersey heritage, his admiration for artists like Jackson Browne and Neil Young, and his formal training in orchestral percussion.

Built on a foundation of shimmering acoustic guitar, warm piano notes and quiet, steady percussion, “still” is a powerful slow burner and a perfect introduction to EKR. It’s shaped by dynamic lead electric guitar that snakes in and out and enchanting, heartfelt vocal melodies that showcase Romero’s lyricism about self-exploration and his battle striving for authenticity in the midst of life’s ups and downs. The song builds to a soaring outro, one of the best payoffs you’ll hear all year.

“I wrote this song longer ago than most songs on the record. In a practical way, I was frustrated with my own songwriting and wanted to challenge myself to make a song that never deviated from the same chord progression. Still ended up being the result of that.” says Romero. He continues, “I think in the cracks of the simplicity, harmonically, it forced me to try and use melody and lyrics to communicate in ways that I often rely on other elements of songwriting to do. Lyrically it’s a song about unpacking who I am both ancestrally and personally. It’s a song about the struggle of being present.”

Talking about what the forthcoming record represents to him, Romero shares: “This record really feels like a documentation of a particular moment in my career and life. It’s a product of examination, healing, and self-awareness. The last year has been transformative, and this music reflects the echoes of a profoundly traumatic moment in American history.”

Erik Kase Romero, cut his teeth in high school playing in bands and tinkering around with recording equipment. He has collaborated with The Front Bottoms, Gaslight Anthem, The Bouncing Souls and Nicole Atkins, and last but not least Lorde.

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