Romes

Romes is an alternative rock act with Canadian roots, originally formed in Toronto, Ontario. The group is made up of brothers Jacob and Nicolas Bitove, and it begins in 2016 with four members: the Bitove brothers together with Irish friends James Tebbitt and Andrew Keyes. The four meet while attending school in Wicklow, Ireland before moving to Toronto.

Line-up changes and name

The band is sometimes written in all capitals as ROMES. James Tebbitt and Andrew Keyes leave the group amicably in 2020, leaving the Bitove brothers as the core members.

Releases

Romes issues its debut EP, Believe, in 2016. The following year the band releases its first full-length album, Romes, on Five Seven Music. Both records are produced and mixed by Tony Hoffer, a Grammy-nominated producer known for work with Beck, M83, Phoenix and The Kooks.

After those releases, the group continues with independently released singles, including Lose My Cool, which is a collaboration with Mark Foster of Foster the People, and the self-produced EP My Demons Are My Best Friends, released in 2021 and featured by Rolling Stone Mexico.

Live activity and recognition

Romes makes its U.S. major festival debut at Austin City Limits Music Festival in 2017, while also touring the United States in support of Mutemath on a 34-date run. The band also supports The Strokes, Silversun Pickups and COIN. In January 2017, Alternative Press names Romes one of its Artists to Watch in 2017.