06 July 2022 - 0 Comments

Tauranga-based hip hop artist Rosegang has changed name to Rome ahead of the release of his new single, Beautiful To Me Now. The new name reflects new ambitions following a meteoric rise in popularity over the past two years. A celebration of growth, maturity, and change, Beautiful To Me Now will be released under the name Rome on July 8.

Rome burst onto the music scene in 2021 with a number of songs released under the name Rosegang. Raw, honest, and colorful, Rome’s music combined slick harmonic hooks with powerful instrumentation to create a dynamic and compelling sound. Featured on NZ Musician, Muzic.net.nz and Rap TV, Rome collaborated with artists such as Poetik and Phlimingo on his path to amassing almost one million YouTube hits in less than two years.

But Rome has grown in the past two years, and so has his music. Rome’s previous work as Rosegang drew heavily from his experiences growing up on the streets of Tauranga. Songs like 12 Over 6 and Buggatti In My Shed carved out a niche with their driving bass and powerful vocals, but they were constrained in focus, and were heavily influenced by Rome’s time among “the wrong crowd”.

Rome is ready to move beyond that now. He has bigger ambitions and an improved, wider sound - hence the name change. “The music I was putting out under Rosegang was influenced by the crowd I was hanging around with. But I always had other stories I wanted to tell,” Rome says. “There’s more to me than what I was showing. I think the new name reflects that.”

Rome’s recent releases have shown a completely different side of the singer-songwriter. Jesus In My Eyes and My Best Life have been more vulnerable and emotionally open than his previous work, dealing with feelings of dissatisfaction, unhappiness, and regret. Rome wants to explore that aspect of his music more, and sees the new name as symbolic of his decision to pursue other avenues with his writing.

“Deep down, I’ve always known I wanted to write more about my feelings, about being hurt,” Rome says. “That’s what I’ve always been interested in. That’s the kind of music I wanted to write as a kid. So for me, the name change is kind of like coming home. It’s about returning to the kind of music I always wanted to make.”

Rome’s new single Beautiful To Me Now launches on 8 July. The song is a mix of soothing guitar and glittery synth hits, leaning into Rome’s new direction. Inspired by Rome's recent rebirth, the song deals with the pain and inspiration that comes from growing and moving forward.

“In order for my music to get to the next level I had to let go of a few things,” Rome says, “Old habits, old friends, old ways. But that’s okay. I knew for myself and my music I wanted to grow and do more, and that’s what this song is about. I’m happy with the way I’ve turned out. I want to celebrate that.”

Beautiful To Me Now launches on the 8th of July on all digital platforms.

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