Title: “Where the Real Things Are”
Artist: Kara Romero
From: “Do I Have Your Attention Now?” (2016)
Release Date: March 27, 2016
Length: 5:09
Format: CD Single, Digital Download, Weekly Airplay, 7” Single
Recorded: February 2016 – Basement Studios, Brooklyn, New York, US
Genre: Rap, Alternative Hip-Hop, Adult Contemporary
Label: Just Record
Written: February 2016
Writer(s): Kara Romero
Producer(s): Kara Romero, TJ Cousins

“Where the Real Things Are” is the title of the fifth official single released from the American rap/adult contemporary singer ‘Kara Romero’. The single marks an extremely productive year so far from the musician who has released two singles already this year, the first being the emotive and honest “Same Old Tears” which saw the singer bare her soul as she rapped about the challenges of losing her mother at a young age and the subsequent use of vices that she used to numb the pain of such a loss and lack of a strong female role model. She then followed that up with the strong and confident “Perish” a track where she acknowledged that she may not have built on her potential in her breakthrough year but showed that she’s still got plenty of fight left in her and she was ready to prove doubters wrong. Both of which peaking at number #2 on the singles charts, her highest commercial positions in her career and as well as that she is a star in the April movie ‘One Final Memory’ and has also featured on a single by American rock trio ‘Riot! in the Boulevard’ on the remixed version of their song ‘Poster Kids of Pop-Punk’. It has proven to be a busy year as predicted by media outlets including ‘Culture Uncut’ as the singer is finally closing in on the release of her debut album, something that has been on hold since her debut back in 2012, with label issues and inconsistency being primary reasons for such a huge delay, it’s been said that 2016 will be the year that Romero finally shows her true ability to the music industry and delivers on the potential that many saw back in 2012.

The track was written by Kara in February 2016, inspired by the awards season, the track not only takes a shot at the fakery surrounding the entertainment industry but also at herself for being drawn into the hype, the lyrics in particular, “Alright, so here’s the gist, this is what it fucking is/Cause you’re still pretty new and you ain’t nominated for shit/This is a chance to get some extra hits.” It’s not new for Kara to reference her own shortcomings in her lyrics as she has done in previous singles, most notably “Perish” where she referenced the fact that she never truly lived up to her potential when she originally broke through.
The track continues the hype towards her debut album, recently confirmed to be titled “Do I Have Your Attention Now?” and marks a truly busy beginning to the new year for Kara as she continues to build anticipation towards her long-awaited debut album. The track was recorded in February at Basement Studios in Brooklyn, New York and was produced by Kara alongside TJ Cousins. It will be released on March 27, 2016 as a CD Single, Digital Download, Weekly Airplay and a 7” Single.

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Lyrics;

“The hours are ticking down to the big night
Red carpet, fancy dress, suit and tie in front of the spotlight
Like fuck it kid, you’ve really made it
When you’re talking bullshit with the rich and famous
Isn’t this where you always wanted to be?
Staples Center, at the Fan Choice Awards and the Goldies
Wonder if it’s really like how it looks on TV
Everybody talkin’, laughin’, smilin’ showing their white teeth
Now I’m learning
Ain’t nothing like how it looks on TV

Walk up to the red carpet, smiling like I’ve been told to
Paparazzi snap a couple quick ones and I’m hearing, “Kara we don’t want you”
I’m being shuffled inside by security
Not being mean, but your face don’t get us hits like a blurry shot of Izzy
So they take us to the back and run us through the show
There’s management talking for the artists
Backstage demands and more
There’s a newbie being told to get a photo with Weekend
So they can latch onto their fame and snatch a few fans along the way
The fuck is this place?
I’m taken to my seat, told to put a big smile on my face
When the camera pans around, remember that’s the goal from the evening
Make sure you’re seen enough
I guess now, I understand the meaning

Sometimes I wonder where the real things are
Where the real things are, where the real things are
Sometimes I wonder when the lights will go dark
When the lights will go dark, when the lights will go dark
Sometimes I wonder where the real things are
Where the real things are, where the real things are
Sometimes I wonder when the lights will go dark
When the lights will go dark, when the lights will go dark

Alright, so here’s the gist, this is what it fucking is
Cause you’re still pretty new and you ain’t nominated for shit
This is a chance to get some extra hits
So find yourself a singer in the same boat as you
Start some beef and tomorrow they’ll be talkin’ bout you
Your name will be all over TMZ and Twitter
It’s the only way we can make your stock rise quicker

So I’m thinking to myself, man these fuckers can’t be for real
They say a lot of upcoming artists cut this sort of deal
And I’m like nah, I just don’t see how that’s true
But then I’m looking round the room and I’m like oh shit, they do
Got a few guys coming up to me
Asking to take photos and a couple of selfies
I’m like, yeah sure, you seem pretty cool
They like, thanks ma, you know the kinds of rumours this will fuel?
Holy fuck, when will this shit end?
Can’t we just be real and not fucking pretend?
We make music, it’s a passion, an expression, a creative outlet for our aggression
It’s about power, it’s about freedom, it’s about always believing
It’s life, it’s love, it can be everything it can and should
It’s where we can say everything we wanna say
But I guess we lost it
Somewhere along the way

Sometimes I wonder where the real things are
Where the real things are, where the real things are
Sometimes I wonder when the lights will go dark
When the lights will go dark, when the lights will go dark
Sometimes I wonder where the real things are
Where the real things are, where the real things are
Sometimes I wonder when the lights will go dark
When the lights will go dark, when the lights will go dark”

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Personnel;

Kara Romero – lyrics, vocals, production
Augustine Francis – drums, programming, keyboards
Ignacio Santos – bass, mixing, programming
TJ Cousins – production, mixing, engineering
Rebecca Lowell - photography