Interview with Caroline Romano

How did the phrase “it took me falling” as the title first come to you, was it a lyric, a realization, or something that emerged later?

The phrase “it took me falling” came into my head on a drive one day while I was listening to the songs we’d already selected to be on the EP. I had been grappling with what to call the project, but after listening to the storyline of the other tracks altogether, it was sort of a realization that it had taken me falling so many times in the past to end up where I am today. I had the idea to write a song in that theme called “it took me falling,” and I knew immediately that it would be the title track.

What was the inspiration behind the EP cover?

I had the opportunity to work with my amazing friend and photographer, Maggie London, on the creative direction for the EP visuals. We talked a lot about the story behind the project and the themes I wanted to convey. We had a twelve-hour shoot where we tried so many different options and explored the different visual “extremes” of the project. The photo that ended up being the cover was one of the last shots of the day, in the set we’d deemed the softest. I think that picture ended up being the cover for a few different reasons. It feels sort of cinematic and romantic, but the expression I’m making still has that bit of longing to it. I like that the photo sort of looks like someone who has just fallen to the ground and gotten up. It’s a little bit of all of the emotions of the EP.

Was there a certain order you placed the songs on the EP?

I really enjoy making a track list and organizing a project into an order that I feel best tells the story. That was certainly the goal and intention with it took me falling. It starts at the end of my last heartbreak before moving into the story of falling in love in a new way. It feels chronological and complete when you listen from top to bottom.

Your music moves between intimate ballads and high-energy alt-rock. How did you approach balancing those dynamics on this record?

I’ve always said that I feel and write about things in somewhat extreme ways. It’s rare that I feel like I have a good segway sonically between those extremes, so I think I’ve learned to just let them exist as is. That being said, there’s not a ton of balancing of the dynamics on this project. It’s a lot of really high highs and super soft moments. The contrast can feel stark at times, but it’s how I felt in the moment when writing these songs.

When you sat down to write the EP, did you start from a feeling, a lyric, or a sound?

I almost always started from a feeling or a lyric when it came to writing the songs on this EP. I was writing about this experience as it was actively happening, so a lot of it felt like journal entries of moments and feelings I wanted to capture. Sometimes it started with just a phrase, while other times I’d written the lyrics before I’d even gone to the songwriting session. There were definitely moments where I knew I wanted certain sonic elements to accompany those lyrics and feelings, but I do tend to start with words.

How do you usually know when a song is finished emotionally, not just musically?

I know a song is emotionally finished when I can't add anything else that better tells the story I’m trying to convey. Even on super simple songs like “Unsteady,” I know to put the pen down once it says everything I set out for it to. Sometimes it’s tough, because I do love words so much, and it’s easy for me to start adding more than the song needs. It’s a bit cliché, but it truly is just a “feeling” that happens when the song is done. You just know when it feels right.

Was there a track that felt especially difficult to write?

I’d say “Not Used to You” was one of the more difficult songs to write, as it was the very first song I wrote for this project. I knew what I wanted to say, but I also wanted it to come across as fun and sonically very upbeat and structured. It was a lot of finding my footing when it came to writing that song, but I love how it turned out.

What made you decide that “Cruel and Unusual Punishment”, “Up the Stairs,” and “Unsteady” were the right songs to introduce the EP?

Each one of those three songs is sort of a mirror to one of the currently unreleased tracks on the project. I chose those particular songs to introduce the EP because I think they give the best taste as to what the scope of emotions are throughout the record. You get a little bit of everything between them.

What do you hope listeners take from the EP?

I hope anyone who listens to the EP comes out of it feeling ready to fall. I think it’s very easy to go about life with our walls up. I’ve definitely been guilty of that myself. This project is about the good that can come from letting yourself love—and maybe even lose in the process—because I believe that’s the only way to end up where you’re supposed to be.

Which song are you excited for fans to hear from the EP?

This is tough because I truly can’t wait for fans to hear all of the songs on the project! I am pretty stoked for people to hear “Not Used to You” though, simply because it’s so different than anything I’ve released in the past. It’s so fun, and I am really excited to see how people feel about it.

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