Interview: Who is the Romerdome Familia?
When you take a lap down the path at Harmony Park, you’ll find something or someone new every time. You might join the tail end of a parade or gaze upon a Gnome Garden. You might come across a blanket of handmade jewelry or an artist with his easel set up. You could run into an old friend, or make a new one. You might also discover people gathered on rugs, in and around a dome enjoying some ‘home grown music’. This is the Romerdome. The intimate stage is hosted by Ricardo “Romie” Romero and the Romerdome Familia with these types of chance happenings in mind. He said, “it’s all about the happy accidents you come across.”
“Amór y Paz” is a phrase ringing from Romie’s lips on the daily. It translates to “love and peace,” something Romie carries with him in all his creative endeavors.The collective was founded in November 2015 and has grown from a small gathering to what we see today: a collective of people with talents of music, technology, food, art, activism, gatherings, prayers, yoga and mentorships. The Romerdome Familia’s goal is to produce and enjoy homegrown experiences that feel like a spontaneous living room jam sesh.
Romie began playing percussion in 2010 while undergoing therapy for PTSD following the Iraq war in 2005. Romie takes care of the technical side of everything for the Romerdome Familia, as well as Management, booking, marketing, web development, communication and everything in between. His past projects include: Dyad Riot, The Common Ground Company, Northern Medicine, Happyfeet Music and The rOMerdOMe AllStars. Currently he plays in Mae Simpson Music.
“Ever since the Military, I have had this urge to work and work the hardest I have ever worked before. A lot of self work has gone into this, but I can’t seem to stop,” shared Romie.
At the core of the Romerdome Familia collective is Tyler Renney, director of the Silent Jamz. His projects outside of the Romerdome include Rootz Within and Renneygade. Sammy Strings focuses on health, wellness and activism – providing ideas, booking and scouting homegrown talent. He bridges the connection between the people and the shows. Sammy’s outside projects include Sammy Strings & The Can of Bliss and The Bad Shine.
As a whole, the Romerdome Familia consists of a variety of other labels and projects including Wookiefoot, Kava of the People, Vicarious Visions, Dizzle Arts, The Blue Rhythmic Monkey, and now This is Perfect Harmony! Each label brings a unique flavor to the collective, making all the Romerdome endeavors a group effort. Romie quoted a friend and fellow musician, Trill LeBeau of Cosmic Serenity, as to why he considers so many as part of the team.
“Wherever I go, we go.”
The collective creates a platform for determined, up and coming artists to perform and gain exposure. Whether it’s a show held in a geo dome, living room, yoga studio, an internet stream or through a pair of headphones in the late evening hours; The Romerdome Familia brings ‘home grown music’ to different parts of the Midwest through mutual support and “Amór y Paz”.
“What drives me is seeing new artists grow within our tribe ranks,” said Romie, “when an artist that sought out help, strives and becomes known.”
During festival season, the The Romerdome Familia sets up the dome at Project Earth and Shangri-La at Harmony Park Music Garden and curates a This year at Project Earth, the collective teamed up with DJ Wigglez for a new light show, featured refreshments from Kava for the People, and featured Blue Rhythmic Monkey and Dizzle Arts creating live. As for Shangri-la, the team is still dreaming up how to make this year bigger and better than ever.
At Galactic Get-Down (GGD) held July 18-20, The RomerDome Familia will host Silent Jamz, a live show emitted through headphones during the late night hours.. A new endeavor called The Launch Pad will consist of a new stage for more ‘home grown music’. GGD will be at Outback Ranch in Houston, Minnesota
During the off season, the The Romerdome Familia hosts a monthly music series. The first two seasons were hosted in Romie’s living room and streamed live. It outgrew the living room and into Open Minds Fusion Studio, a yoga studio in Uptown, Minneapolis. Over the last year, the series partnered with with Peter Greenlund, and his students, at the Institute of Production and Recording in Edina, MN to bring a higher quality of production.
. The first two seasons were hosted in Romie’s living room and streamed live. It outgrew the living room and into Open Minds Fusion Studio, a yoga studio in Uptown, Minneapolis. Over the last year, the series partnered with with Peter Greenlund, and his students, at the Institute of Production and Recording in Edina, MN to bring a higher quality of production.
Beginning in November, the fifth season of the monthly music series will partner with Vicarious Visions to bring the Romerdome Familia to the MTN Network, and Comcast Channel 17! All leaps and bounds from their humble, living room beginnings.
This is Perfect Harmony will be covering The Romerdome Familia’s appearances, line ups and growth as well as sharing interviews with the varying artists involved. Can’t wait? Jump on www.romerdomefamilia.com to learn more.
Photos courtesy of Cody Nas, Romerdome Familia and Alycia Grace.
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