Love is a sacred feeling, perhaps the most sacred of all—a complex, multifaceted force that requires not just passion, but a willingness to be laid bare through vulnerability. Romance, in its truest form, is defined by a journey into the unknown, where the stakes are high. In this light, Fontaines D.C.'s decision to title their fourth album Romance feels like more than just a nod to the theme, it’s a declaration of intent.
On my phone screen, Conor Deegan—better known as Deego—sits against what appears to be the backdrop of a hotel room, his eyes covered by pitch-black sunglasses that lend him an air of enigmatic charm. He pauses often, gathering his thoughts before giving long, measured responses, as if navigating the profound significance of a record that clearly means a great deal to both him and the band. As our conversation unfolds, it becomes increasingly evident that Fontaines D.C., at the peak of their success, is far from resting on their laurels. Instead, they’re looking forward towards a newly discovered sense of purpose, reaching for a new plane of artistic transcendence that feels almost sacred in its ambition.
The knack for reinvention and the quest for novelty has long been second nature to Fontaines D.C. It’s not merely a habit but a fundamental aspect of their evolution. "With our second record, we really wanted to break away from the post-punk label that had stuck to us," Deego explains, reflecting on A Hero's Death. "So, we added some ballads and experimented with shoegaze sounds." Romance, their fourth studio album is further refined by their uncanny ability to sense the exact moment to shift gears and abandon the familiar. He explains that they had experimented with convention and what was expected from them.
"It felt like that moment where we either play it safe, find our lane and a pace that we’re okay with, and keep going with that, or try and make some bold decisions with risks involved. Risks that could lead to us embarrassing ourselves if it didn't go well. It's constantly risking absurdity like Ferlinghetti said."
Despite the acclaim garnered from A Hero's Death and Skinty Fia, the band isn’t interested in recycling their past triumphs or diluting them for an easy win. They get a kick out of shedding some skin.
The opener, aptly named “Romance,” is a masterclass in contrast. It pairs a dark, brooding atmosphere with infernal instrumentals, all while delivering the line, "Maybe romance is a place for me and you" over a soundscape that is anything but traditionally romantic. Rather than evoking the cliché imagery of flowery fields or initials carved into trees, the track challenges our understanding of "romance" itself. It’s not a concrete experience but rather a lofty, almost sanctified concept. As Deego puts it, it’s "not a thing we're going to experience like a concrete thing. It's a place. People have to work towards or move towards to be 'there." It’s as if romance is reimagined as a sacred destination, more profound and elusive than any typical sentiment.
The release of the asthmatic Starburster was a pivotal moment in the album rollout, marking a new era for Fontaines D.C. To me, it stands as their best single to date—a complex, richly layered piece that showcases the band at their most innovative. There’s an unmistakable sense that the band was rejuvenated after its release, as if they collectively exhaled, feeling a wave of relief and newfound confidence wash over them. “There is a cage of identity that you'can be stuck with. The more that you endorse it, the more people will expect that of you and if you don't align yourself according to that expectation they will be quite upset with you." he reflects. "I feel very blessed that people perceived Starburster very well. There was a chance that they could have said, ‘This is not you,’ The music video for Starburster alone signals the evolution of Fontaines D.C., who now roll out visuals that play like short films. The track craved a music video that was attention grabbing and attention grabbing it was. You might wonder where the rich, cinematic visuals and this fresh, funky styling came from. The answer lies in their new partnership with XL Recordings.
"One of the biggest reasons we signed with them is because of the creative campaigns they did in the past. They have always been consistently amazing, stretching back to The Prodigy. We really wanted to push ourselves into that world."
The music video for Starburster is "a meditation on someone who wants to be a huge star and have big achievements as someone who grew up in a small town. It shows us that he's an extra in all of the shoots he goes to, but when he comes home he is the hero. There is a compromised version of a dream." The beating heart of Fontaines is still there—whether it’s the working-class neighborhoods or the ever-present theme of detachment—but it’s all delivered in a more eclectic, and layered style that feels like a rich payoff.
From the heaviness of In The Modern World to the raw and honest Starburster and the existential depth of Horseness Is the Whatness, the album unfurls a spectrum of expressions, each rooted in the band's evolving exploration of connection and its many forms. Each song has its own palate of inspirations which seem to be more developed than before. Here’s The Thing could be mistaken for a variation of Weezer’s Buddy Holly, Meanwhile, Favourite glistens with the nostalgia of alternative currents that came before them. Sundowner emerges as a dreamy shoegaze piece, overflowing with sentiment and atmosphere. Grian Chatten’s vocal performance shines with exuberance, showcasing a dynamic range. What ultimately brings this eclectic mix into a cohesive and compelling whole is the band's ability to channel their newfound confidence into every bit of the album. The drumming feels incredibly assured and thunderous, the themes more fully realized, and a fresh collaboration breathes new life into their musical landscape. There was a certain kind of confidence built up by them through the approach they took with James Ford in the studio.
"We were starting to have a craving for less conventional ideas and to be given space to be able to that was amazing. We knew that we could pull off strange sounds that might have come off 'wrong' before in the past."
The confidence Fontaines D.C. now exude was hard-earned and didn’t materialize overnight. As Deego reflects, their career trajectory has been quite strange. From the days of moving to London and encountering crass stereotypes to navigating the isolation of a pandemic that turned milestones into digital abstractions, their journey has been marked by unusual challenges. “Me and Grian were in New York for a few days, and we got stopped by fans a few times. It’s pretty nice,” he admits. “I’m surprised by it because I’m still operating with the mindset of 'We have no fans in America.' Old ways of thinking die hard, I guess.
When I asked Deego about his interpretation of romance—whether as a vague notion, a concrete reality, or a thematic element—he offered a quite beautiful reflection. "Leading a life on tour, weathered by the constant grind of being in a band, has made me fight for my experience of romance. I've had to struggle to preserve that part of myself." he said. "That struggle, to me, is what makes it special. It’s a form of self-respect that often goes unnoticed. The reason we titled this album Romance is to focus on the core theme of our lives and to dig deeper into what we’ve been exploring in our previous work."
As our conversation drew to a close, hearing Deego talk about rediscovering his bright-eyed spark was nothing short of invigorating. It’s a sentiment that seems to echo through every band member, suggesting a collective renewal that pulses through Romance. This record isn’t just a step forward but a resurrection radiating with vitality. Fontaines D.C. seem to be charting a course into the future with a clarity and confidence that’s almost palpable, even if their journey unfolds against a backdrop of shadow, doom and introspection. Each song becomes a mirror of this transformative phase, painting a portrait of a band not merely evolving, but redefining their essence with a blend of resilience and hope.
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