After releasing her widely praised debut album and some equally impressive stand-alone singles, Caroline Romano is back with her new song ‘Doesn’t Matter’. Hailing from Mississippi, and now living in Tennessee, the 22-year-old is currently supporting Small Rooms and Grayscale on their tour along the West Coast and has simultaneously dropped her new track on May 3rd.
Caroline has already proved plenty of times that she is capable of penning down touching songs that speak to everyone who is yearning, loving and/or hurting. Her EP A Brief Epic, which came out last year, following the release of her debut album Oddities & Prodigies, boasts heavy electric guitar notes, moody tunes and well-thought-out stylistic devices. While Caroline may be described as the American equivalent of Holly Humberstone, there are traces of Olivia Rodrigo, Halsey and even mid-2000 Avril Lavigne in her music. To sum it up, Caroline has mastered pop-punk bangers, soft alt-rock ballads and chill indie tracks.
‘Doesn’t Matter’ falls into the third category. The track grabs your attention with a scratch, and then Caroline’s tender voice kicks in as she starts describing a nerve-wracking relationship. Cheating is implied, although it is much more about the anxiety that comes with not knowing where you stand with the other person. One of the highlights is the pre-chorus with the line “Does it always go like this? You lock the door and I hold my breath”. The chorus itself is a lyrical outpouring, further symbolising said anxiety and containing poignant lines such as “Love me deeper than we’re sinking”. A steady beat supports the song until the first part of the last chorus, making it feel like a free fall. This is yet another stylistic element that conveys the meaning of the song perfectly.
It would have been nice to hear Caroline’s lower register and her more powerful vocals which she beautifully showcases in several of her other songs. However, the hushed tone that she retains throughout ‘Doesn’t Matter’ works in favour of it as it emphasises the anxious mood of the track.
Written by: Melanie Falkensteiner
Edited by: Ilse Muis
