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Caroline Romano serenaded Los Angeles' El Rey Theatre (review)

Photo credit: Kelsey Runge

Writing their first single at 15, Caroline Romero has had a slow but steady climb with millions of listeners, a remix from one of EDM's biggest names, and a plethora of singles to her name. Last month, the artist embarked on their very first-ever tour, and on Thursday night, they returned to Los Angeles for a performance at El Rey Theatre.

While Romano previously performed in the City of Angels in support of their debut album Oddities and Prodigies, this performance was on a much bigger scale as the artist opened for Los Angeles' own Smallpools and Philadelphia pop-punk band Grayscale. Romano kicked off the set with their single "Tell Her I Said Hi," which showcases betrayal in a relationship with Romano crooning, "She thinks she's pretty/You said I was, too/She's got your sweatpants/And I've got a bruise."

For their first tour, Romano decided to play some unreleased tunes for an engaged audience. Underneath red and purple lights, "Hurt People" is a track about people projecting their pain with Romano stating, "Hurt people hurt people/Hurt you, hurt me" while "Body Bag" finds the artist feeling sorrow after failing to find a special someone at a party ("Party's over, can't find a lover, I'll wear my best dress like a body bag").

Romano's performance came a few hours before the release of their new single "Doesn't Matter." For this one, the singer got the crowd involved with gasping when the artist sang, "You locked the door and I hold my breath." In a press statement, Romano said this about the new song, which is out on digital services right now:

“‘Doesn’t Matter’ is sort of a ‘choose your own storyline’ song. I wrote it about a relationship that felt like a double-edged sword; a relationship that had me thinking that maybe the inevitable heartbreak would be worth it. It’s a song about falling, all too carelessly, for someone on a rainy evening with the car radio playing. It’s simple and convoluted and all too accurate, at least from my personal experience.”

Romano followed up "Doesn't Matter" with "Girl In A China Shop," which had her pace back and forth across the stage as if they were surveying what objects they would break next. Romano closed out their 30-minute set with "This House," which is a heartbreaking tune about exiting a failed relationship. Towards the end, Romano rushed off the stage to let her backing band deliver a mammoth instrumental send-off.

Romano will continue touring with Smallpools and Greyscale this week. Tour dates can be found here.

Caroline Romano setlist

Tell Her I Said "Hi"

Hurt People

Bodybag

Used By You

Doesn't Matter

Girl In A China Shop

This House