Love doesn't come with a manual, and romiin isn't pretending otherwise. On his new single "one at a time", the New Zealand based singer takes all the messy, unglamorous bits of a relationship and turns them into a smooth, funky pop-R&B tune that's surprisingly easy to dance to.
Who Is romiin?
romiin is a Filipino born, New Zealand based singer and songwriter, and an R&B crooner at heart. His fresh melodies sit on modern R&B arrangements that echo artists like Mac Ayres, Arin Ray, ASTN and RINI. Early mentorship and a co-sign from NZ music names David Atai (Nesian Mystik) and Marcus Powell (Blindspott, City of Souls) pushed him to chase music seriously.
His path has been anything but straight. He started out in his early teens as a solo acoustic act, became the clean vocalist for Auckland hardcore band New Beginnings, and eventually found himself as an R&B artist. His 2021 debut single "Back for It" was featured on MTV Upload and sniffers.co.nz, and follow-up "Higher" (2022) got a write-up in Remixd Magazine in the US. According to his bio, he was also part of the performance line-up at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Loving Someone Through the Static
"one at a time" is built around a relationship caught between misfires and good intentions. It lives in that middle space: the miscommunications, the half-said things, the moment you catch yourself packing a bag before you've even decided to leave. romiin doesn't ask for a happy ending here, just a little mercy.
The line "So please be gentle, don't wanna fully lose my mental" sums it up. It's not a plea for love to be easy, it's a plea to get through it with some part of yourself still intact. That honesty is what makes the song relatable. Most love songs are about the big highs or the dramatic lows, and this one is about everything in between.
Funky Pop-R&B With a Soft Heart
Musically, the song rides on a funky pop-R&B pulse that keeps things light and upbeat, even when the subject is heavy. That contrast works really well. You get a groove that makes you nod along and a smooth, crooning vocal that carries the emotion without overdoing it. Fans of the intimate, upbeat sound of artists like Magnus Ferrell and LEISURE should feel right at home.
Indie and alternative R&B has been on a real roll lately, with more artists blending live-feeling grooves, soft vocals and honest, everyday songwriting. It's R&B that feels personal rather than polished to perfection, and "one at a time" fits that wave nicely. It's also a lovely reminder of how much good R&B is coming out of New Zealand right now.
"one at a time" was released on October 9th, 2026.
A Tip for Independent Artists
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What Do You Think?
Have you ever been in that messy middle space romiin sings about? What's your favourite R&B song about the complicated side of love? Let me know in the comments!
