Video Premiere: ROME Reconciles with Reality and Illusion in New Music Video, “Black & Blue”
Photo Credit: C. McNany
Rome Ramirez, also known as ROME, is pulling back the veil to reveal two sides of reality in his new Matt Leddo-directed music video for “Black & Blue”: the infantilizing illusions we create from a place of idealization, versus the dull state of being that sustains those fantasies through sips of amber spirits. The new video comes after the release of Ramirez’s debut solo EP, Gemini, in September, which initially featured the track. Today’s drop creates a visual narrative that resonates with viewers through its meticulous shifts between the head’s search for logic and the heart’s longing.
“Black & Blue” finds ROME relinquishing his inner dialogue. Presented like pledges of commitment to a significant other, he uses lyrics to acknowledge his wrongdoing and muster resilience in the face of tantalizing disillusionment—hate versus love. Sonically, Ramirez blends elements of soul through expressions of desire and social consciousness, with an island edge akin to his history with Sublime. The track bolsters a Nashville-inspired aptitude for narration like potent liquor-led honesty.
“‘Black & Blue’ is a visual dive into that fragile space between reality and the stories we tell ourselves when we’re pushed too far. The video walks that razor-thin line between delusion and consequence—between what’s imagined and what’s actually unfolding. It doesn’t spell out the truth; it just lets you sit inside the storm,” Ramirez exclusively told Relix.
Today’s release arrives after the success of Ramirez’s new chart-topping single, “Slow & Easy,” with the help of guest contributors, Dirty Heads’ assertion of their Southern California blend of reggae, hip-hop, and rock tendencies on the EP single. Of the set, ROME says, “Gemini is the sound of me letting go of expectations and finding freedom in the music. This isn’t just another EP; it’s a reset button, a new chapter I needed to write. I’m truly honored to share the first glimpse into the musical world I’m building.”
Ramirez is currently on the road in support of Gemini. He is scheduled to perform at Brooklyn Bowl New York tonight, Wednesday, November 12, followed by a touring regimen that will take him through the Northeast, ahead of pre-Thanksgiving dates in the Southeast. See a complete list of upcoming tour dates below. For tickets, visit www.romeramirez.com/tour.
Order the EP, or stream here.
Tour Dates
November 12 – Brooklyn Bowl – Brooklyn, N.Y.
November 13 – Toads – New Haven, Conn.
November 14 – Reckless Shepherd – Columbia, Md.
November 15 – XL Live – Harrisburg, Pa.
November 16 – Mr. Smalls Theatre – Pittsburgh
November 17 – Newport Music Hall – Columbus, Ohio
November 19 – Music Farm – Charleston, S.C.
November 20 – Lincoln Theatre – Raleigh, N.C.
November 21 – Elevation 27 – Virginia Beach, Va.
November 22 – House of Blues – Myrtle Beach, S.C.
November 23 – Terminal West – Atlanta
