Breathing suddenly becomes a stranger, hearts racing, minds frantic. A freakout that can leave you numb. All of the above is captured in real-time in “Panic Attack” by Caroline Romano as she pulls from her worst mental assault to date. This song could’ve gone in a myriad of directions as the nature of a panic attack could very well be displayed perfectly in several styles, but Caroline does so in this airy pop meets coffee shop way that takes listeners to the unexpected.
This Mississippi singer-songwriter recalls penning this song after a phone call with her mother post-the “one of the worst panic attacks” she’d had to date. Being able to collect one’s thoughts and put them down on paper has been a saving grace for many creatives for as long as humans have learned to write. There’s a calming quality to placing the whirlwind of one’s mind on paper, or in this day and age – the notes app. That calming quality also translates into the way “Panic Attack” can make one feel when listening as this Billboard-charter tells this tale calmly with a lighthearted arrangement. Then capping it off with some reassurance for all who were able to see themselves throughout the song with, “I think I’m gonna be okay.”
That last line was a good surprise and tells the audience more about Caroline Romano; she’s got optimism running through her. Something we need right now as the world continues to leave us questioning, well, everything. This AOL “next big thing” gives good with the bad in life in her music, including her 2021 single “Jagged Star.” To hear that, “Panic Attack” and more from Caroline Romano, make sure to check her out now on all major music and streaming sites today.
Written by Kendra Beltran