From the upcoming album "Good Grief", “Without You” is a haunting ballad rooted in loss and self-reflection.Photo Credit: Caity KroneLos Angeles-based singer-songwriter Rio Romeo delivers their most vulnerable release yet with “Without You,” a piano-led ballad exploring personal grief and unspoken loss. The single is out now and will appear on their debut album Good …
Rio Romeo Shares “Without You,” an Intimate Tribute to Grief and Identity
From the upcoming album “Good Grief”, “Without You” is a haunting ballad rooted in loss and self-reflection.
Photo Credit: Caity Krone
Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Rio Romeo delivers their most vulnerable release yet with “Without You,” a piano-led ballad exploring personal grief and unspoken loss. The single is out now and will appear on their debut album Good Grief, out July 18 via AWAL.
“‘Without You’ is one of the heavier songs on the record,” Rio recalls. “I wrote it about one of my friends who ended up dying in a suicide by cop incident when I was very young… he was my first boyfriend, and we were friends for many years.”
Rio explains the emotional gravity behind the song: “Although my life ended up moving forward and his didn’t, I think I am with him, fundamentally, in concrete—the 17-year-old inside my body.”
Their music is rooted in theatrical emotion and punk spirit—a reflection of years marked by personal upheaval. From homelessness to near-fatal injuries, Rio channels their past into Good Grief, a record that finds meaning and beauty in life’s darkest corners.
With a growing community of over 713K TikTok followers and the viral success of “Nothing’s New” (now surpassing 308M streams), Rio has emerged as a powerful voice for young Queer listeners seeking connection and representation.
Their Good Grief! Tour kicks off October 2 with stops in New York, LA, DC, and more, bringing Rio’s gripping storytelling to life on stage.
