Rio Romeo Debuts “Without You,” a Poignant Ballad From Their Upcoming Album “Good Grief”.
In “Without You,” Rio Romeo reflects on loss, identity, and the stillness of memory through raw honesty.
Queer singer-songwriter Rio Romeo returns with “Without You,” a striking new single that delves into grief, remembrance, and the constancy of identity through change. The piano ballad is the third preview from their debut album Good Grief, out July 18 via AWAL.
“‘Without You’ is one of the heavier songs on the record,” Rio explains. “I wrote it about one of my friends who ended up dying in a suicide by cop incident when I was very young… 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.”
Rio’s voice shines in this stripped-down arrangement, filled with warmth, pain, and tenderness. The song is part of a larger collection that explores personal and collective trauma over the past five years.
Good Grief is shaped by Rio’s experiences with homelessness, recovery from serious injury, and a growing fan community that has helped them thrive. “I hope that it makes one person feel heard and feel less alone,” says Rio.
This fall, they’ll headline the Good Grief! Tour, with dates in New York, LA, Chicago, and more. Rio’s blend of theatricality, authenticity, and emotional intelligence continues to resonate with listeners, especially through the viral success of “Nothing’s New” (308M+ streams) and their 713K+ TikTok followers.
