We were lucky to catch up with Anthony Romano recently and have shared our conversation below.

Anthony, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

My journey into the professional creative space has been far from a direct path—or at least, that’s how I feel. For as long as I can remember, music has been at the core of my life, but it never seemed like a practical career choice simply because I hadn’t known anyone personally who was actually doing it.
This initially led me toward a goal of attending medical school, so I pursued a degree in theoretical chemistry. Throughout this time, however, I casually picked up DJing and hosting events—both as a way to escape the meticulous nature of studying chemistry and to earn a bit of money. Even while playing at various events, I didn’t see it as a career pursuit; it was more about honing my skills and helping people momentarily escape their own realities. It wasn’t until my final year of college that it truly dawned on me—I should formally explore this world. So, I packed my schedule with as many music-related classes as I could while continuing my chemistry research.
At the time, I wasn’t consciously considering a career in music—I was simply following an interest that came naturally to me. I took courses on music theory, global music traditions, the history of recorded sound, and music since 1900. To my surprise, I moved through them effortlessly, even as I juggled the demands of my chemistry degree. I loved chemistry and excelled at it, but maintaining focus required immense effort. Still, I was convinced I was going to medical school.
Fast forward to the year I took off to study for the med school entrance exams. I worked odd jobs to get by and, for a time, stopped DJing publicly. During this period, music production became my new escape from the monotony of studying and preparing. My family didn’t quite understand—it seemed to them like I wasn’t doing anything that made sense and some of them even mocked me for it—but for me, it was liberating. After absorbing so much information for this one all-important exam, music continued to be my release. It all finally clicked when, during one of my final study sessions, I found myself coming up with ideas for songs that would fit into a DJ mix. My thoughts about what songs would go well together drowned out all the talk of test taking techniques.
From that moment, something shifted within me. The realization didn’t take hold immediately, but a new reality began to settle in. I continued working odd, unrelated jobs, but I finally started DJing in public again. That’s when I discovered a community of professional creatives—people who had been living this life all along—who would soon become my family and ongoing inspiration.
Now, the path was set.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m Anthony Romano—a DJ, sound designer, producer, and event curator based in NYC. Really, all of that translates to one thing: I’m absolutely obsessed with music, sound, energy, and helping people feel more in tune with themselves and those around them.
Music, to me, is the one constant in life that never ceases to amaze and has yet to let me down. It serves as a form of therapy on an individual level, yet in a public setting, it acts as a beacon for like-minded individuals. This belief has driven me to dive deeper into the world of music—specifically DJing, producing, and curating dance music events.
I am the creator and founder of Lounge Sessions, an event series I’ve hosted at notable venues such as Avant Gardner, Elsewhere, and most frequently, Silo in Brooklyn. The concept behind Lounge Sessions is to highlight the true artistry of local DJs rather than prioritizing superstar talent solely for high ticket sales. Each event features myself alongside multiple DJs of various disciplines, playing together all night to create a cohesive and unique experience. Lounge Sessions thrives on the dynamic between the dance floor and the DJs—there are no predetermined setlists or rehearsals, just the raw call-and-response between the crowd and the music. Primarily geared toward dance music, you can expect to hear Disco, Electronica, House, Techno, and everything in between.
As a DJ and producer, my current focus is within the genres of House, Indie Dance, and Techno, though my influences span many styles. Early in my career, I played open-format sets that included hip-hop, pop, and even rock. Today, I use that experience as a tool to create a sense of familiarity within my sets, even when the arrangement is something entirely new. I believe this approach is what keeps my craft fresh and engaging, not only for myself but for those experiencing my work for the first time.
More than anything, I’m grateful for the opportunity to share my passion and energy with others. My appreciation for meaningful musical moments and my relentless drive to unite people through sound keep me fired up to continue this work. For those who love music—or for anyone seeking a fresh experience—I invite you to Lounge Sessions.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I’ve faced many roadblocks in my ongoing pursuit as a creative, but the one that frustrates me more than anything is the lack of a response from someone you’re trying to conduct business with. For some, that might be a sign to give up and try another approach, but to me, it just comes across as disrespectful and rude. And I can’t go for that.
I understand that everyone has their own busy schedule, and for some, there’s a hierarchy of who is “worth” responding to. But I’m not someone who leaves another person unanswered.
There was a time when a mutual friend introduced me to someone via email to coordinate an event with the venue they represented. After the initial introduction, I received no response. I waited a bit before sending a follow-up—still nothing. I assumed they were just busy, so I gave it a few more days before following up again. Once again, silence. At this point, it wasn’t just about me; they were disregarding the person who had introduced us as well, which didn’t sit right with me. I knew I had to find a way through.
With a little push in the right direction—and a burning desire to make this event happen—I finally managed to secure a meeting to discuss a date. It only took finding the right sequence of hoops to jump through to get a response. In the end, the event was a massive success—one that people still ask me about to this day.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I had to unlearn the idea that I needed to navigate this journey alone.
There were times when I faced disrespect regarding my work—when I wasn’t given credit or even had work stolen from me. This didn’t happen simply because I was going at it alone, but rather because I wasn’t surrounding myself with the right people. Learning to sort through and identify those I can rely on for support, confide in, and bounce ideas off of has been essential to my growth and development as a creative.
Everything is an exchange of energy—especially in music and events. When something or someone drains too much of that energy, it leaves little left to actually accomplish what needs to get done.
With the support of my partner, mentors, confidants, collaborators, and family, I now feel like I’m in a place where I can fully focus on delivering my work without doubts or reservations. I wouldn’t have recognized this missing piece of the puzzle had I not experienced setbacks along the way. For that, I’m grateful—for the journey so far and for everyone who continues to push me to do more.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsanthonyromano/
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/anthony-romano

Image Credits

Sasha Charoensub, Jason Crowley, Bryan Kwon