Watching art that imitates your own life can be pretty powerful. If you’re as talented as Naarm/Melbourne artist Romanie, it can also be inspirational. After she watched Anthony Hopkins playing a man coming to terms with dementia in “The Father” within a year of losing her grandfather to the disease, she felt compelled to write her latest single “Anthony”.
“I remember coming home from the cinema late at night and getting this wave of inspiration,” she recalled. “I sat down with my guitar and wrote the song almost completely in one go. We were still in and out of lockdowns and I was chatting on Zoom with my friends from overseas Michiel and Kate who encouraged me to finish the song. The first band rehearsal back, we played Anthony through and it felt like magic to make this song into something bigger with my band, so much fun.”
If you’ve ever lost someone to dementia, I know “Anthony” will strike a chord with you too. Romanie will celebrate its release with the following shows in the coming weeks.
16 January 2023 – The Merri Creek Tavern, Wurundjeri Country/Northcote (supporting Enjoy Your Stay)
19 January 2023 – Nighthawks, Yálla-birr-ang/Collingwood (supporting Dayzed)
22 January 2023 – Tomcat, Turrbal Country/Fortitude Valley (free)
Image used with permission from beehive; credit: Claire Louise