Rising Through the Atlanta Scene with Kelly Romo

10/21/2018

What got you into EDM in the first place?
It's actually kind of a funny story! I wasn't really into any electronic music to begin with, but I frequently went to music festivals. I was at Hangout Music Festival in Gulf Shores for probably like the fifth year in a row, and I had seen that one of the artists was named "Alison Wonderland," and just thought it was clever and so I wanted to check her out. The way my schedule had worked out that week, I knew probably was going to miss her set but there was a massive storm on the beach that caused a rain delay and pushed her set back. Whenever I made it to the festival, she had just gotten on stage. My best friend and I chilled in the back of the Boom Boom tent and just watched this tiny little blonde Aussie absolutely slay it. Up till that point, I was so used to seeing dudes up there pressing buttons and pumping their fists but I didn't know what they were actually doing. I didn't quite get the hype or appeal of actually being the DJ. But when I saw Alison Wonderland jump down to the edge of the stage and sing over her own vocals, getting such an extreme amount of crowd engagement, that's when I said to myself, "Holy shit, what is this all about?" Right in that moment, my best friend turned to me and just casually said "That's totally something you would do." I laughed it off and we spent the rest of the weekend telling every festival-goer that I was a DJ.

Immediately after the festival, I spent my entire summer listening to Alison Wonderland and feverishly Googling "How to DJ." Within a month I had Pioneer CDJ 900s and a DDJ SX2. Go big or go home right? That experience at the festival lit something inside of me that not even twelve hours of summer courses could extinguish. I stayed up night after night that summer alternating between schoolwork and learning Virtual DJ software trying to figure just what the hell these people were all about. It got to the point where I would jump out of bed at 3AM absolutely livid that I didn't know how to EQ or automate a bassline. I felt like I had so much ground to cover and so little time. I still feel that way to this day. Having been a science major with a half hearted intent of going to Physical Assistant school, I finally figured out what people meant when they say "When you know, you know." I definitely knew that I wanted to become a real DJ.

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A post shared by Kelly Romo (@kellyromo8) on Oct 3, 2018 at 4:29am PDT

What has been your experience with the Atlanta music scene thus far?
Honestly, I had kinda a slow start in the Atlanta music scene due to some personal reasons and maintaining some gigs back in Athens. I've been living here a little over a year, but I didn't really hit the ground until about three months ago when everything really starting coming together for me. I started searching for places that supported electronic music or hosted house and bass events. After that, I made an effort to go to as many events as I could at places like Alley Cat, Project B, and Wildpitch. I spent a lot of time at Alley Cat in particular and their frontrunner, Hernan, was super friendly and helpful by providing a lot of insight and advice into my own endeavors.

One of the eye opening moments was getting to play at Sunday Swerve. It was there that I really discovered the community around electronic music in Atlanta. I had previously thought the Atlanta EDM scene was hurting and scarce, but I met such incredibly talented DJs and producers at Sunday Swerve and was absolutely floored by the community and support. Everybody involved is here because we love the music and it shows with their willingness to support each other as well as any newcomers. I was welcomed with open arms and genuine inquiries about my own talents, endeavors, and ambition. I also was brought on at Wildpitch, where a lot of those I met at Sunday Swerve overlapped. It's really an incredible community. I'm only bummed it took me so long to find it!

Recently, I made my debut at Iris and had an amazing experience! William Leclair is the most talent, kind hearted, incredible person as well as a fantastic producer. He's amazing and I'm so floored he wanted to bring me on with him. Such great vibes. I'm definitely a go-getter with unquenchable energy and drive, but these people have definitely inspired me to continue forward to reach my full potential, and then some!

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A post shared by Kelly Romo (@kellyromo8) on Sep 6, 2018 at 8:49pm PDT

What are some of the challenges you've faced so far.
Oh hell, where to start... I guess part of the reason I bought such nice equipment from the get-go was because of all the things I heard from Alison Wonderland and other female artists about credibility being tested in a male-dominated industry. I can definitely attest to that; one specific example was when I held my first venue residency at a lesser pay than the other male DJs with the director claiming I needed training specifically from him so that he could "be confident I knew what I was doing." I've gone in to meet bar/venue owners as the DJ only to be assumed as a bartender or cocktailer, I've been looked over in favor of male artists and I've been questioned skillfully and technically.

Early on, someone warned me that my credibility would always be in doubt so I've broken my back to make certain I could beat match blindfolded and never depend on BPM displays or wave forms. He had been the one to insist I get CDJs and learn with tape over the BPM meter in order to play entirely by ear and I'm extremely glad I did. It's been really nice especially recently to have people and other DJs surprised to see me "flying blind" or playing without having my files analyzed by Rekordbox. It's definitely something I take pride in. So of course there have been challenges. I've sent hundreds of emails and messages I'll never receive a response to, disadvantages placed on me for being a female, and plenty of other rejections that have absolutely nothing to do with my gender. It's a constant grind that every aspiring artist faces. Challenges are presumed and I've no plan of staying down at anything that tries to knock me down.

Most important, favorite, or memorable experience so far?
Goodness I don't even know where to begin with this! I've been so lucky to have played some really cool gigs. The time that stands out the most to me would probably be the time I got to play at The Georgia Theatre rooftop for Flux Pavilion's after party. I had so many friends show up and it was absolutely crazy. We got rained out near the end but the entire crowd was screaming my name. It was surreal. I still go back and watch the videos to this day.

Another time that stands out would have to be when I played Caledonia as a headliner for my own gig. I think maybe 40 people showed up and paid the door fee, but at the time, the fact that FORTY people paid to see just me? Unreal. It really shows how amazing your friends are and also how a little support goes a long way. I've learned a lot by creating pages, marketing for"likes" and gigs to build my online credibility. I saw once that the absolute best way you can support your friends and aspiring artists is to buy their shit. Come out for the gig, pay the cover, buy their music, buy the merch, spend 3 minutes voting for them in a contest, share a status; all these seemingly small little actions really can go a really long way when supporting your friends and artists. So having had that many people in small-town EDM-hating Athens at UGA was such a cool feeling.

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A post shared by Kelly Romo (@kellyromo8) on Apr 24, 2018 at 5:52pm PDT

Also, when I met Alison Wonderland it was a pretty riveting experience. I used to spend a lot of time researching artists to learn about how they got to where they are today. Meeting her allowed me to turn a huge corner with that mentality. I was able to thank her and share my own dreams and ambitions and hear her vocalised support, which was simply unreal. But more importantly I came to realise that these people are people just like us. There's no big secret to getting where they are, or achieving my own personal goals. What she did for me as an inspiration is absolutely incredible. After I met her, I went on a 2AM tattoo adventure with her photographer. Now I have "Calm Down" in her handwriting tattooed on my side along with a video her photographer took that got posted to Alison Wonderland's social media page. It was unforgettable but also an important lesson I learned in living my life to the fullest and following my own path instead of trying to emulate the path others took.

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A post shared by Kelly Romo (@kellyromo8) on Oct 15, 2017 at 8:44am PDT

I also had a quick exchange with Lido in which he provided support and advice. Also I was able to get his handwriting tattooed on me too. I guess I'm becoming a walking autograph book for those who inspire me! It is pretty fucking cool though because every artist I love has influenced me in such a different way and shaped the way I make, listen, and play music.

Is there anyone you want to shout out?
There have been so many cool people that I've met like Justin McElhannon, Austan Malik, and Vandal Rose to name just a few. The Sunday Swerve group is so incredible and individually talented. There's really a lot of budding talent in Atlanta I've been lucky enough to encounter and I look forward to learning more from them.

Looking beyond the local scene, of course there's Alison Wonderland. My dawg. I wouldn't be here without her and meeting her was life changing. Artistically, Lido is my personal production God. Then there's Hucci. Fuckin' Hucci. Love that guy. There's also Stooki Sound, Senojnayr, and Mija. Oh and Haim. Totally unrelated but those girls are the most musically talented and incredible individuals on the face of the earth. Don't even try to fight me on that!

I also want to call out Julien Baker and Halsey as well. They seem totally random and different, but they're both strong lyricists and exceptional poets. They altered the way I write songs because they gave me a sense of liberation from traditional boundaries and expectations. Halsey has such an ethereal and otherworldly magic about her music, while Julien is extremely grounding and honest. They both hold an extremely powerful amount of influence over me as an artist.

Where are you hoping to take this adventure that you're on?
Oh the inevitable question... I guess the short answer is that I really don't know. I mean when I went into it, without a shadow of a doubt, I wanted to be the next female Hardwell. Or some major bass music DJ. House and bass music were what I was all about. If you asked me now, after I've had some true experiences and become more honest with myself and my future as an artist, I would definitely have the more accurate answer of "no fuckin' clue." My influences in music are ALL over the genre board, and there's absolutely no telling how my tracks will come out. I'm working on an EP release most likely mid-2019, with a track out before the end of this year. I just keep second guessing the sound that I want to attach to my name. I'm so sure I'll have some grimy ass house shit under another alias, or some DnB or crazy bass music.

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Buy my record !! Coming soon . . . . . Jk itâ€™ll be free

A post shared by Kelly Romo (@kellyromo8) on Jul 2, 2018 at 7:18pm PDT

I'll always love the vibe of a house or bass gig. However, with my own teetering emotional states and having music as my therapeutic release, there's absolutely no telling the direction my music is going to take. All I care is that I love it and I am confident in it even if the rest of the world turns out to hate it.

As a DJ, I do take almost every gig I'm offered. I love the challenge of accepting a gig for a type of music I've never listened to. I love the challenge of tops and pop and conducting a crowd. I love watching people bang their heads over an explosion of household noises. I just love music in any and all forms. I hope I get opportunities to play all kinds of it for as long as I can.

Overall, I'd love to be a semi-successful DJ and artist under my own name. Nothing huge, I'd be happy to fly commercial! I'd also love to be an overall well-rounded producer. I'd love to release and produce my own records as well work with other artists. I just think it'd be so cool to drop a bass album and then crank out a hip hop record for a rapper, or some alternative electro vibe shit for a vocalist. Even have a hand on a Top 40s pop record. I don't even need the credit. If I can make a living on nothing but music, that's all I really need. For me, it's not about the fancy things, money, or even a huge fan base. I just need me, my art, and my honesty. Nothing else but air and a whole lot of love.

A big thank you to Kello Romo for taking the time to answer our questions! Follow her on social media to be in the know about her next gigs and new releases!