DeathbyRomy at Elsewhere: Grit, Growth, and a Voice That Cuts Through
Shot by: @brianasista
I arrived at Elsewhere just before the doors opened, and already there was a buzz outside.The kind that comes with a crowd who knows they’re about to witness something special. Inside the dark warehouse stood a few hundred heads, decked out in platforms, creative makeup, and eclectic outfits. The space was filled with the energy that builds before a show where people really care. You could feel it— everyone was there for her.
Before the show started, I had the chance to slip backstage to meet Romy and take some portraits. She was on vocal rest, so we didn’t exchange words, but somehow she still communicated everything with her presence. The backstage was cast in a gritty shade of blue—unpolished, kind of raw, but it fit perfectly. Her long black hair, sharp eye makeup, and tattoos all felt like extensions of the music she makes. It may feel dark to some, but it is deliberate and beautiful in its own way. We shot casually, no pressure, just vibes. At one point we moved into the black-tiled bathroom, and honestly, it ended up being the perfect setting. We didn’t need a perfectly curated backdrop or lighting setup— just two creative women making something special in the moment.
As always, when the lights drop, that is when the magic begins. Flashy, intricate visuals lit up the screen, pulling everyone deeper into the atmosphere she had built. The crowd continued to shift with excitement, eagerly anticipating the moment she would appear. A few moments later, we were greeted by a woman-fronted band, each one owning their space with confidence and intensity. Then, Romy stepped out, and the energy in the room erupted. Without saying a word, she took her place center stage, fully in control. Her presence was striking— bold and composed—like she had been building to this moment for years.
Well, she has been building to this moment for years. Between songs, Romy shared that this was her first U.S. headline tour. “ I started DeathbyRomy 10 years ago, when I was just a 15-year-old girl”, she told us. And now, a decade later, she stood in front of a venue packed with hundreds of people screaming her lyrics back at her. The show moved in constant waves of emotions—one moment we were moshing in a storm of distortion, the next we were swaying to melodies, and then suddenly dancing like no one was watching. Romy gave us her full emotional spectrum and invited us to live in it with her.
I felt like I’d just witnessed an artist step into a new chapter in real time. It wasn’t perfect in a polished, over-rehersed way—it was raw, real, and fully Romy. I absolutely adore when you can see just how much an artist loves what they are doing. You could feel how much this tour meant to her, and that energy spilled into every song and part of the night. It reminded me of why I love live music in the first place—when it’s done right, it pulls you out of your head and drops you right into someone else’s world.
