Eti Romano Reflects on Traumatic Past, Musical Journey Ahead of Indie Negev Debut

Singer-songwriter Eti Romano is set to perform at the Indie Negev festival on October 15th, marking her first major performance featuring original songs. Romano, 34, discussed her long road to this point, including her early aspirations to be like established Israeli singers Rita and Miri Mesika. Her journey has been significantly impacted by a sexual assault she experienced a decade ago, which led to hair loss. Romano has been undergoing PRP treatments for hair regrowth and is hopeful about not needing to wear a wig on stage in the future. She also spoke about her new single, "Asu Li Ein" (They Gave Me an Evil Eye), and her upcoming third album, which she aims to make more introspective, focusing on self-examination rather than external blame.

Romano explained that her new album's theme stems partly from a lesson by Rabbi Yigal Cohen about the "evil eye," suggesting that one's own actions, like showing off, can make them susceptible. She reflected that her past complaints about experiencing the evil eye might have been linked to her own pride. While she prefers not to dwell on the assault itself, she emphasizes her recovery process, aided by Torah classes and the eventual decision to stop wearing a wig.

Her musical career began with performing covers in Tel Aviv venues before she decided to pursue original music. This transition was challenging, as she doesn't compose melodies and had to rely on others, including prominent musicians like Dudu Tassa and Amir Benayoun, to set her lyrics to music. She released her first song with Tassa's composition in 2020. Romano currently works as a social integrator for a child with special needs to support herself financially while pursuing music, expressing a desire to eventually earn a living solely from her art.

Romano's music often tackles difficult subjects, including her parents' divorce in the song "L'Abba" (To Father) and the depression following her assault in "Dagel Alai" (Skip Me) from her 2023 debut album. Her second album, "Ani Bat Yam" (I Am Bat Yam), explored more complex themes with a blend of humor and cynicism. She also covered Meir Banai's "HaLayla Shel Eti" (Eti's Night), aiming to shift the tone from potential listener discomfort to a more approachable narrative. Romano is currently working on her third album, which she hopes will be less about painful topics and more about personal peace, though she acknowledges it still delves into challenging themes. She also shared details about a difficult breakup from a toxic relationship three years ago, which she described as one of the bravest things she has done.