Ahead of her forthcoming album, It’s Not That Funny out Feb 20, multi-award-winning artist Romanie today shares her latest single, ‘Anything or Anyone’. LISTEN HERE + PRE-SAVE THE LP HERE.

Unfolding over gently plucked guitars, ‘Anything or Anyone’ is a reflection on loneliness, fighting the tendencies to isolate yourself further. “This song is a really big reminder to myself that I’m not alone,” Romanie says. “I wrote it in the midst of a really dark and lonely time – thinking I was completely alone by shutting myself out. Living on the other side of the world, choosing a career that is not straight forward – it can sometimes feel like you’re screaming into the void. I think the song, even though it stemmed from a sad time, is a reminder and dedication to anyone who’s ever felt lonely (all of us) and a reminder that we never are alone. Community is everything.”

‘Anything or Anyone’ joins previous album singles ‘Uh Oh’, ‘When Will We Lose Hope?’ and most recently ‘I Won’t Yell’ – a defiant anthem co-produced with Adam Hyde (Peking Duk, Keli Holiday) and Tom Stell (Golden Features) during the same sessions in which Romanie lent her vocals to KeliHoliday’s ‘Ecstasy’. Each single has revealed another layer to Romanie’s bold new chapter, culminating in the release of It’s Not That Funny on February 20.

As the follow-up to her moving debut album Are We There Yet? – a record garnering accolades including an Australian Music Prize nomination and the 2023 Upstart Award – Romanie remains rooted in her commitment to unflinching truth on this deeply personal project. With a skilful command of genre, blending indie rock stylings with elements of foundational folk songwriting, Romanie embraces life’s contradictions: finding light in the moments of darkness, hope in the face of adversity. “I’ve always had a fascination for ‘broken things’ – and looking for the beauty in them,” Romanie explains.

The duality of playful charm and hard-hitting vulnerability is immediate from the album’s title alone: “‘It’s Not That Funny’ is a reference to trying to convince your therapist you’re funny and that anything that’s ever happened to you ‘wasn’t all that bad’,” she says. “I think that growing up in Belgium, we’re always told to keep a brave face and to keep going no matter what – which is great for endurance and resilience; but sometimes as humans, we just want to be soft. As women in society I feel like we always have to strive for perfection; but I think that with this album I wanted to seek out the imperfections; uncover what’s behind the jokes.”

Born in Belgium and now based in Naarm/Melbourne, the indie-pop artist left her home country to pursue music, and has built a creative community bonded through candid emotional honesty, and writing songs with impact. Her songwriting recalls the wry humour of Wet Leg, the narrative prowess of Big Thief, and the defiance of The Cranberries, fusing together the disparate facets of her lived experience as she navigates life on the other side of the world. Having shared the stage with the likes of Keli Holiday, grentperez, Mia Wray, Angus and Julia Stone, Blanco White and more, Romanie is renowned for her powerhouse performances in Australia and across the globe.

Having just wrapped a regional tour supporting Cousin Tony’s Brand New Firebird, Romanie will be opening for Canada’s Surf Hat on Feb 6 at Northcote Social Club, and will be performing as part of Brunswick Music Festival on Mar 5. Fans in Naarm/Melbourne can also celebrate the release of It’s Not That Funny at Romanie’s album listening party on Feb 19 at Low Key.