New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Green Light Go) Dion Roy, frontman of Fire and the Romance, did a lot of Oscar Wilde reading while writing songs for the band's 2014 EP Adaptations, but he is tacitum when it comes to just how much Wilde's work influenced his songwriting. This is the delight of it; just as one becomes infatuated with a picture while striving to catch every nuance, to interpret every shadow, listeners of Fire and the Romance can become enveloped in both honest and mysterious narratives while trying to pinpoint the moments where Wilde's spirit resonates.
"I spent a few hours coming up with names that I thought Oscar Wilde would approve of, and I landed with Fire and the Romance."
Fire and the Romance's music weaves in and out of sparse, bass-heavy pop and arena-ready alt-rock anthems with singalong melodies. Tracks range from tales of a debaucherous night on the town when you don't know which will come first: sunrise or the police, to songs about the cryptic connections that draw you to those who "sing a song only you can hear." Just as in Wilde's written work, Fire and the Romance's aural art will be interpreted differently by every fan, but one thing is for certain: the eclectic mix of danceable and relatable tracks will keep listeners moving emotionally and literally. With the band's blended inspirations and influences, Fire and the Romance finds themselves somewhere between Keane,
Atlas Genius, and
Bastille on the genre map.
Now living in New York City, Roy and his band have released the single, "Way Down Below" and its music video, which premiered on PureVolume and was featured on Earmilk. Says Roy, "'Way Down Below' was born out of a pretty vocal melody idea I had in the middle of the night, but grew in just a few hours into this untamed emotional demon, complete with teeth and a killer haircut," Roy said, "You just can't look away." The band has also released their sophomore single "She's A Devil" along with its music video that tells a seductive tale of mischief and mayhem -- something Mr. Wilde would surely appreciate -- and was premiered on PopMatters.
Listen here
Fire and the Romance's Adaptations LP (2014) features the production and behind-the-scenes talents of Steven Solomon (Demi Lovato, Colbie Caillat, Avril Lavigne),
David Hodges (Kelly Clarkson,
Christina Perri, Evanescence, Daughtry) and Justin Glasco (Cary Brothers, Garrison Starr). "It's been an incredible experience developing this band; the process was both fun and intriguing, the Adaptations LP was an experiment in sound that really turned into something special for all of us - and I love what we found," says Roy.
Praise for:
"Heavy, feedback driven bass and minimalist guitars help to feature Roy's raspy, Frank Black-esque vocals and clean lyric delivery." - BitCandy
"Fans of high energy acts like AWOLNATION and
Imagine Dragons should find themselves enjoying what the band has to offer." - Under The Gun Review
"'She's A Devil" blends modern pop with sonic flavors from the soul and alternative genres for a more experimental sound that makes Fire and the Romance a band to watch in 2014." - PopMatters
Tour Dates
06/19 North Star Bar- Philadelphia, PA
06/20 Local 269- New York, NY
06/21 The Southern- Charlottesville, VA
06/24 Jammin Java- Vienna, VA
06/26 The Space- Camden , CT
06/27 Knitting Factory- Brooklyn, NY
06/28 Vibe Lounge- Rockville Centre, NY
06/29 Dingbatz- Clifton, NJ
