Caroline Romano Encapsulates The Highs and Lows of Being Young on How the Good Girls Die
Nashville-based alternative pop artist Caroline Romano is making extraordinary waves in the music industry.
Her second EP release, How the Good Girls Die, explores how despite these experiences, young adulthood brings a lot of not-so-extraordinary feelings. Featuring standout tracks like Body Bag, Born to Want More, and title track How the Good Girls Die, Romano masterfully captures the extremities of young adulthood, chasing perfection, and the path to self-discovery and acceptance. Intertwined with moody ballads with electrifying alternative pop anthems, this EP tells a cohesive and deeply resonant coming-of-age story.
The opening track, Body Bag, provides a flawlessly captivating opening to the EP. The chorus features a hypnotic, club-style beat pulsating beneath her captivating vocals, encapsulating the exhilarating chaos of early adulthood. Romano herself has described the EP to embody “shapeshifting, swimming pools, disco balls, and bar bathrooms,” and Body Bag sets the scene flawlessly, offering an audacious and thrilling start.
Following this high-energy opener is Pretty Boys. This dance around your room worthy track features lyrics nearly everyone in their early 20s can relate to all too well. Romano’s relatable lyricism shines through, particularly in the line, “Smiling at me through your scandal,” a heavily understood sentiment for those who’ve been blindsided by betrayal. This track is a testament to her ability to craft lyrics that feel both deeply personal and universally resonant.
Bringing down the mood to a more vulnerable and soft tone is the third track, Born to Want More. The song explores the feeling of grappling with the line between desiring something great in love and life, but also being afraid to lose it all before it even begins. The soft, stripped-back production allows Romano’s story to take center stage, creating a beautiful contrast with the EP’s more energetic tracks. The organic instrumentation and slow, melancholic melody evoke a sense of nostalgia, perfectly capturing the emotional rollercoaster of early adulthood. This track seamlessly transitions into IDK These Days, which features a bright plucking pattern, with a juxtaposing “he loves me, he loves me not” story. Romano’s vocals really shine through in this stripped-down track.
They Say shifts the EP into a more reflective space, offering a raw and honest perspective on the sometimes hollow reassurances given to young people navigating the unknown. Romano sings “They say just give it time, kid, and they say it’s just getting good, don’t call it quits,” Romano taps into the frustrating paradox of being told that everything will work out while feeling like even your best effort is never enough to navigate the world. If you’re a fan of Olivia Rodrigo’s Teenage Dream, you’ll find comfort in this one too.
Closing out the EP is the title track, How the Good Girls Die, a cinematic and emotionally charged finale that feels like the soundtrack to a coming-of-age movie’s climactic moment. The vibrant instrumentals swell as Romano delivers the pivotal line, “Chasing something new, this is how the good girls die.” It’s a reflection of the realisation that the pursuit of perfection and external validation often leads to self-destruction. True freedom comes from embracing one’s imperfections.
How the Good Girls die places Caroline Romano as a standout in the rising alt-pop scene. Through its striking lyrics and versatile musicality, this EP demonstrates both relatability and variety that point to promising artistry.
