Steve Romig - CD

Steve Romig is what happens when society falls apart just enough to make everyone a philosopher, but not enough for anyone to admit they might be wrong. Written during the lockdowns — when the world stopped, opinions didn’t — the album grew out of 10-kilometre daily walks with Jasmine, who remained refreshingly uninterested in politics, social media meltdowns, or the collapse of civil discourse, and far more focused on smells. Somewhere between her sniffing sessions and the eerie quiet of empty streets, these songs took shape. The album explores the great modern pastimes: arguing with strangers online, panicking about things we don’t fully understand, confidently spreading misinformation while claiming to fight misinformation, and the universal skill of pretending we’re coping beautifully when we absolutely aren’t. Each track shines a light on a different flavour of social chaos — from performative outrage and tribal loyalty, to algorithm-approved thinking, to the ever-growing human need to be absolutely certain about everything, even when absolutely no one is. Musically, the album blends blues, roots, folk, and soul, giving the social commentary a warm, melodic frame — because if we’re going to face society’s contradictions, we may as well do it with a groove. There’s humour in the delivery, but it’s the kind that comes from long observation rather than cheap punchlines. A raised eyebrow in musical form. The lockdowns didn’t invent these issues; they simply hit the ‘zoom in’ button on them. With the world unusually quiet, the absurdity of human behaviour was suddenly louder. And those long walks — Jasmine trotting ahead like a four-legged life coach — became a surprisingly fertile ground for lyrics. Passing thoughts turned into choruses, strange public behaviour into verses, and the general madness of the moment into something strangely musical. Steve Romig is ultimately an album about us — not individuals, but the collective circus we create when technology, fear, boredom, and very strong opinions collide. It’s thoughtful, a little cheeky, occasionally exasperated, and ultimately hopeful in the way only someone who has watched a lot of human behaviour can be: amused, bemused, and still interested enough to write it all down.