ROMAN AROUND
BIO
roman around is the vehicle for the music composed and arranged by Roman Rivera (they/them). The multi-racial artist grew up in Fresno, CA, where they currently serve as a music educator. Rivera challenges traditional gender norms while fostering a safe place for themselves and others in the LGBTQ+, POC, music, and general community.
In their late teenage years, after touring the country as a drummer for various bands, Rivera began experimenting with writing their own music. Years of communal exposure to beat making, singing, guitar, and drumming allowed them to quickly craft their vision.
roman around's sound blends hypnotic rhythms, hazy atmospheres, and shadowy textures that will please fans of Mk.gee, From Indian Lakes, Cocteau Twins, DIIV, and Toro Y Moi. Performing with various musicians in Fresno, their band can range from a multitude of different members.
Their songs have premiered on the award-winning radio station KCRW “Morning Becomes Eclectic” with editorial playlisting by Spotify Fresh Finds and critical acclaim from tastemaker sites including METAL, Wonderland, Ones To Watch, LADYGUNN, Atwood, and Grimy Goods. In 2024, their song “Comes With Age” was synced in the final season of Good Trouble on Freeform.
PRESS & FEATURES
“A transportive wall of sound” - Atwood Magazine
“a cathartic listening experience that leaves us wanting more.” - The LUNA Collective
“Harmonically hooky and thematically expansive" - V13
"left-field pop gold." - Glide
"roman around combines dreamy synth notes with scattered snare patterns, reverberated background vocals, and high-fret electric guitar riffs." - METAL
“Teeming with a fresh perspective and encompassing tracks” - Grimy Goods
“Awash with pulsating electronic beats and silky, R&B influenced vocals” - DUMMY
“dreamy and orthogonal, an eclectic blend of ethereal and moody textures that echo faintly of shoegaze, bedroom pop, dream pop, post-punk, and more.” - LADYGUNN
“Meandering between toxic relationships, loss, and the environment – the artist’s diaristic offering is as personal as can be.” - Wonderland