Born in 1977 in Köpenick hospital, Romano discovered his passion for music at an early age. At the age of 5, he tried his hand at beatboxing, unaware that this was being used in hip hop at the same time. In 1987, he had his first classroom performance with the song “I want your sex” by George Michael (including pointing stick) – although he barely understood English. However, Romano was not only able to inspire as a class clown, but also with long lectures/performances on literature and history. His father was a pyrotechnician and demolition expert for GDR television.
As a child, he spent a lot of time in the props department among uniforms, costumes and his father’s self-developed special effects. Uncle Ziggy, his father’s brother, had emigrated to Hollywood as a make-up artist and reported on the music and film stars during his visits. Inspired by the 80s pop era and the emerging interest in hip hop and metal, Romano began to write lyrics and poems before gaining his first experience as a singer in the Köpenick rock band “Maladment” in 1996. After graduating from high school in 1997 and 13 months of community service in the cancer ward of the Charité hospital, he first completed an apprenticeship as a media designer for media technology and got to know Berlin’s print and copy store scene from 2000 to 2013.
The S-Bahn Berlin is celebrating a century in motion. The yellow and red icon has been providing mobility in Berlin for 100 years and has been setting standards since its first journey (from today’s Nordbahnhof to Bernau) on 08.08.1924. Romano, the Köpenick musician with S-Bahn in his heart, was one of the first to congratulate in April.
He wrote a catchy song for the transport system to mark its anniversary, transforming everyday S-Bahn life into a catchy, feel-good tune: “Not by sports car, scooter or catamaran – everyone would rather travel by S-Bahn.” In spring, the heads of all Berliners should sway to the reggae beat of the S-Bahn anthem.
“The S-Bahn Berlin has been with me since my early childhood. The ride to school, meeting up with friends, later in the wild 90s to the city’s parties at night and to work in the morning. But sometimes just to go shopping in the city, flirt, listen to the Walkman and count clouds – Happy Birthday!” — Romano
FACTS
1. Romano danced ballet.
2. He loves strawberry cake and Swedish ice cream (vanilla ice cream with applesauce and eggnog).
3. He is also known as “der schöne General”.
1. What is the biggest inspiration for your music?
Everyday life, the small conversations at the bakery or at the train station with grandmas, workers, rich guys and the unemployed. The bizarre, strange and the seemingly insignificant.
2. How and when did you get into making music?
I enjoyed entertaining people from an early age and liked to perform songs during school breaks. All I needed was a pointer stick as a microphone and a few good dance moves. Shortly after the fall of the Berlin Wall, I listened to “Public Enemy” and “NWA” for the first time. We swapped cassettes in the school playground and I wrote my first rhymes. During my winter vacation in 1995, I met 2 guys from the rock/metal band “Maladment”. They were looking for a singer and liked my style. A short time later we had our first gig together after just 2 days in the rehearsal room. That was exciting.
3. What are 5 of your favourite albums of all time?
Spice 1 – 187 He Wrote
Morbid Angel – Covenant
Farinelli – Il Castrato (Soundtrack)
Tupac – Me Against the World
Whitney Houston – Whitney
4. What do you associate with Berlin?
Rough, direct, undisguised, hard, dirty and indescribably beautiful…
5. What’s your favourite place in your town?
Köpenick – the center of the world.
6. If there was no music in the world, what would you do instead?
I would paint pictures or become a monk…
7. What was the last record/music you bought or listen?
Castle Rat – Into the Realm
8. Who would you most like to collaborate with?
Snoop Dogg or D Double E
9. What was your best gig (as performer or spectator)?
One of the most brilliant concerts was at the “Kong” club in Munich in 2015. Small, cramped, sweaty. People were standing on the bar table because it was just too crowded. The stage almost collapsed when a well-known metal guy who never dances (I was told) suddenly stood on stage and wildly stomped his steel boots to my song “Metalkutte”. It was like an accolade. Everyone went crazy, unfortunately the club no longer exists.
10. How important is technology to your creative process?
It’s impressive what has happened over the years. My first recordings were still on tape machines. You no longer need large studios or giant SSL consoles and can do everything on the small computer. I love the warm analog sound of the old synthesizers and the advantages of the new plugins. All the possibilities that arise. My producer Siriusmo designs the soundscapes on which I then write lyrics or I have the lyrics first and then he develops the sound with me. Oh, I sing most song ideas into my cell phone first before I forget them again. That’s great.
11. Please tell us a your favorite S-Bahn moment/adventure?
Late one afternoon after work, I got on the S-Bahn at “Bahnhof Zoo”, switched on my Walkman and dozed off. Suddenly, a tattooed thug with a fighting dog got on the train and blocked the entrance. I had to get off at Ostbahnhof and had no choice but to walk past him. As if guided by an inner voice, I took off the Walkman, loosened my long hair and walked towards him. Just as I thought he was going to strike, he bowed. As if remote-controlled, I held out the back of my hand to him, which he kissed. I got off and the people on the train were amazed. Probably even the thug himself. Maybe he thought I was a Valkyrie or an Greek Amazon. Crazy!
