Romans (musician)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

RØMANS
Birth nameSamuel Elliot Roman
BornPinner, Middlesex, England
Genres

Sam Roman, known by his stage name Romans (stylised as RØMANS), is an English singer, songwriter and record producer. He first gained mainstream recognition after being featured on Naughty Boy's "Home" and penning "My Loving," "Long Hard Look" and "Doubt" for Mary J. Blige, which were released on her thirteenth studio album, The London Sessions.[1] Other artists he has penned for include Demi Lovato, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Elton John, Clean Bandit,[2] Jonas Blue,[3] AlunaGeorge, Disclosure, Claudia Leitte, Little Mix,[4] DNCE, Ella Mai and more.

Early life

Romans was born in Pinner, Middlesex, which also is the birthplace and childhood residence of Elton John, whom he cites as one of his key-influences. He attended Orley Farm Prep School, Harrow where he was taught, amongst other music, the piano. He also taught himself to play guitar, cello, piano, drums, and saxophone, as well as teaching himself how to produce. His first gig was the Northwood Hills hotel at the age of 13 (the same venue as Elton John's first show), and he left school at 16 to pursue music full-time.[5]

Career

His music style has been described as a mix of soul, pop and hip-hop.[6] His early career included the release of numerous singles in the United Kingdom.[5] In July 2014, RØMANS was featured on "Home" off Naughty Boy's debut-album, Hotel Cabana, their collaboration was released as a single. On 6 May 2014, it was announced that he had signed a record deal with Roc Nation.[7]

Having previously focussed on EPs, 2016's Silence and 2017's Automatic, his third and fourth releases overall, received radio support from BBC Radio 1's Annie Mac, Clara Amfo and Toddla T, as well as 1Xtra's MistaJam and DJ Target. Rarely performing live, he played The Fader's infamous Fader Fort stage at SXSW and has continued to receive support from the publication, along with other tastemakers including Spin, Wonderland, Pigeons & Planes and The Line Of Best Fit.

He sees his own music as a creative necessity that complements the process of his songwriting career. "If I do a month of writing with other people I’m suddenly like, ‘Right, I need to just go home, be on my own, and play some fucking weird guitar shit,’” he explains. “I think it’s also partly because there’s a natural frustration there as a writer: a lot of stuff gets wasted and sits on hard drives forever. I couldn’t just write for other people and do the conveyor belt of songwriting if I didn’t have an area where I can make things to my taste".[citation needed] His latest project PEOPLE which consists of nine records launched in August 2018 with the release of 'Glitter & Gold'.

Discography

EPs

Title Album details
Overthinking Pt. 1
  • Released: 10 July 2015
  • Label: Roc Nation
  • Formats: Digital download
Act I
  • Released: 11 December 2015
  • Label: Roc Nation
  • Formats: Digital download
Silence
  • Released: 25 March 2016
  • Label: Roc Nation
  • Formats: Digital download
Automatic
  • Released: 31 March 2017
  • Label: Roc Nation
  • Formats: Digital download
PEOPLE
  • Released: 2019
  • Label: Roc Nation
  • Formats: Digital download

Songs written

Year Artist Title Album
2014 Mary J. Blige "Doubt" The London Sessions
"My Loving"
"Long Hard Look"
Naughty Boy "Home" Hotel Cabana
Olly Murs "We Still Love" Never Been Better
2015 Claudia Leitte "Shiver Down My Spine" Haja Coração, Vol. 2
Disclosure "Jaded" Caracal
Kwabs "Father Figure" Love + War
Melissa Steel "You Love Me?" (featuring Wretch 32) Non-album single
Gorgon City "Saving My Life" (feat. RØMANS) Non-album single
2016
Birdy
"Beautiful Lies" Beautiful Lies
"Growing Pains"
"Beating Heart"
Clean Bandit "Tears" (featuring Louisa Johnson) What Is Love?
DJ Mustard
"10,000 Hours" (featuring Ella Mai)
Cold Summer
Mahalia "Back Up Plan" Diary Of Me
Låpsley "Love Is Blind" Long Way Home
Little Mix "Down & Dirty" Glory Days
"Private Show"
AlunaGeorge "I'm In Control" I Remember
2017 Ella Mai "Breakfast in Bed" READY
"Makes Me Wonder"
Jonas Blue "Mama" (featuring William Singe) Jonas Blue: Electronic Nature – The Mix 2017
Noah Cyrus "I'm Stuck" Non-album single
Little Mix "If I Get My Way" Glory Days: The Platinum Edition
"Is Your Love Enough?"
Rag'n'Bone Man "Fade to Nothing" Human
Gavin James "Hearts on Fire"
Only Ticket Home
Youngr "Monsters" This Is Not An Album
Craig David "Heartline" The Time Is Now
Joe Jonas, Naughty Boy "One Chance to Dance" Non-album single
DNCE "Christmas Without You" A Very ROC Christmas
2018 Justine Skye "Don't Think About It" ULTRAVIOLET
Demi Lovato "Sober" Non-album single
Matoma "One in a Million" One in a Million
Jonas Blue "Rise" Blue
Jonas Blue, Liam Payne, Lennon Stella "Polaroid"
AJ Mitchell "Girls" Hopeful
Axwell & Ingrosso "Dancing Alone" Non-album single
Tom Walker "How Can You Sleep at Night?" What a Time to Be Alive
Lewis Capaldi
"Someone You Loved"
Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent
Rita Ora "Velvet Rope" Phoenix
Clean Bandit "Should've Known Better" (featuring Anne-Marie) What Is Love?
2019 Maisie Peters "Stay Young" Single
Khalid "Self" Free Spirit
Zhavia "17" 17
Louise "Lead Me On" Heavy Love
HRVY
"
Younger
"
Non-album single
Camila Cabello "This Love" Romance
2020 Demi Lovato "Anyone" Dancing with the Devil... the Art of Starting Over
Meghan Trainor "Babygirl"
Treat Myself
Elley Duhé "LOVE ME HARD" TBA
X Ambassadors "Everything Sounds Like A Love Song" TBA
2021 Mary J. Blige "Hourglass" TBA
2023 Shania Twain "Giddy Up!" Queen of Me
Pink
"Lost Cause" Trustfall
Labrinth "Never Felt So Alone" Ends & Begins

References

  1. ^ Castillo, Monica (17 April 2015). "Mary J. Blige Opens Up About 'The London Sessions' Album and Documentary at Tribeca Film Festival Premiere". International Business Times. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  2. ^ "Clean Bandit Return With "Tears" Featuring Louisa Johnson: Listen". idolator. 27 May 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  3. ^ "Jonas Blue presents music video for his latest single 'Mama' feat. William Singe". Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  4. ^ "Little Mix collaborate with Sam Romans for fourth album". Hamada Mania Music Blog. 26 August 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Pinner artist follows in Sir Elton's footsteps". Get West London. 24 February 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  6. ^ "Roc Nation / Def Jam Celebrate Romans' L.A. Debut". All Access Music Group. 8 May 2015. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  7. ^ "Welcome ROMANS to Roc Nation Records". Roc Nation. 6 May 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2015.