It’s already a feat to be a touring musician who travels via van with all that big, heavy gear in tow. Loading in, unloading, setting up, breaking down, and doing it all over again every night on the road. But when
Rio Romeo told me they pack up their 64-key melodigrand piano in a van and take it on every tour across the country – that’s a next-level kind of love for the craft.
There’s no question that Rio Romeo’s dedication is innate, as it’s also bolstered by their inability to be anything other than themselves. The Los Angeles-based butch artist, who’s been releasing music since 2018, does a little bit of everything (hence the Instagram username), from writing theatric pop bangers, painting, playing piano and guitar, to making DIY music videos and endless, charming social media reels – which all make up the parts of the world Rio has created that is of their queer experience and geniune artistry.
You’ve likely heard Rio’s eternally chill-inducing hit piano ballad, “Nothing’s New,” the brilliant butch anthem “Butch 4 Butch,” or many of their other genre-fluid tracks. They most recently released the single “Jane Freaks Me Out,” a power-pop-punky bop that hopefully gives a good sense of what’s to come next from the artist.
Enjoy some of Rio’s favorite things below, see their wonderful portraits shot by resident AC photographer
Marc Giuffre, and listen to
their music, or else, you’re missing out.
1. My grandmother’s chair
I inherited this chair from my grandmother, and I love it so much. The color and elegant curves are so beautiful to me. I have a tattoo of the chair’s silhouette on my arm.
3. Butch cat
On my last tour, a fan gave me this cat that they had hand-decorated to look like a butch lesbian. I couldn’t believe how cool it was. At first, I thought they just brought it to show me how cool it is, and then they said it was for me to take. Truly one of my most prized possessions.
4. My beautiful cats
My partner and I adopted these cats in 2020, and they were with us throughout the pandemic. They are perfect angels and best friends with each other and with me.
5. This broken piece of art
I had this beautiful hand-painted glass piece from my grandmother, and when I was moving as a 20-year-old, it fell face down and shattered into a million pieces. I was so devastated, but I decided to turn it into an art piece of its own rather than let the memory fade.
6. My personal slot machine
I picked this up on tour in an antique store in Indiana. It was the best find ever. I love having my own little slot machine.
7. My mannequin, Chelsea
I bought this mannequin at a yard sale my sophomore year of highschool and she’s stuck by my side ever since. Chelsea has traveled with me to Chicago and every apartment I’ve had in California. She has been with me my entire adult life.
8. My Bose headphones
I got these headphones in 2020 during my brain injury, and now they are a core part of my personality. When I make self-portrait doodles, I always find myself having these headphones on by default.
9. My customized Doc Martens
I put much love into these shoes over the years, and couldn’t wear them for a long time because I had hip issues. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, I suppose. These got paint all over them from years of being a sloppy artist.
