Jia Lissa
A significant artistic collaboration has emerged within the electronic music landscape, as Romy Madley Croft, widely recognized as Romy from the acclaimed band The xx, has unveiled a new rework of Planningtorock’s seminal 2011 single, ‘The One’. Released via Human Level, this new rendition marks a contemplative evolution for the track, transforming its original arrangement into a more ethereal and introspective soundscape characterized by hypnotizing, swirling synths that underpin Romy’s distinctively soulful and laid-back vocal delivery. The rework not only revitalizes a beloved piece of music but also underscores a profound connection between two prominent queer artists, reflecting shared experiences and mutual admiration.
The Genesis of "The One": A Decade of Longing
The original composition of ‘The One’ dates back to 2009, a period Planningtorock – the stage name of Berlin-based musician Jam Rostron – describes as one of significant personal introspection and longing. Rostron, who identifies as trans, penned the song at a time when they were single and had not yet fully embraced or expressed their trans identity publicly. This deeply personal context imbues the original track with a palpable sense of loneliness and a yearning for a love that felt distant and perhaps unattainable. The song was a highlight from Planningtorock’s critically acclaimed 2011 album, W, an experimental electronic record that garnered widespread praise for its avant-garde approach to pop, its exploration of gender, identity, and sexuality, and its distinctive, pitch-shifted vocals. W was released through DFA Records, a label known for its influential role in electronic and dance-punk music, further cementing Planningtorock’s reputation as an innovative and boundary-pushing artist. The album’s themes resonated deeply within the queer community and beyond, establishing Planningtorock as a vital voice in contemporary electronic music. The raw, emotional honesty of ‘The One’ made it a standout track, capturing the universal human experience of seeking connection while navigating personal evolution. Its initial reception highlighted Planningtorock’s ability to blend intellectual depth with visceral emotion, creating music that was both challenging and deeply moving.
Romy’s Interpretive Vision: From Indie to Dancefloor
Romy’s approach to reworking ‘The One’ is rooted in a deep respect for its emotional core, aiming to amplify the inherent longing and tenderness. "I wanted to honour the emotion in the original, letting the heart of song breathe whilst taking it’s hand and bringing it into the dancefloor," Romy explained, articulating her dual objective of preserving the track’s essence while recontextualizing it for a new sonic environment. The rework meticulously slows the tempo, creating a more expansive and meditative atmosphere. The aggressive, sometimes angular electronic textures of the original are replaced with softer, more atmospheric synths that build and recede, creating a sense of hypnotic drift. Romy’s vocals, rather than replacing Planningtorock’s, are layered, offering a delicate counterpoint, adding a new dimension of vulnerability and warmth. This reinterpretation aligns seamlessly with Romy’s evolving solo musical identity, which, since the release of her debut album Mid Air in 2020, has gravitated towards emotive, dancefloor-ready electronic music. Mid Air itself was a deeply personal exploration of love, loss, and queer joy, often characterized by its melancholic yet uplifting synth-pop soundscapes. Her solo work has seen her collaborate with influential figures in electronic music, including Fred again.. and Four Tet, further solidifying her presence within the dance music scene as both a vocalist and a DJ. This rework of ‘The One’ serves as a testament to her skill in transforming existing material, infusing it with her signature blend of introspection and dancefloor sensibility.
A Shared Queer Narrative: The Power of Collaboration
The collaboration between Romy and Planningtorock transcends mere musical interplay; it is deeply enriched by their shared experiences as queer artists. Planningtorock underscored this connection, stating, "Romy’s rework of this song is so beautiful. She’s managed to take its original queer longing for love to another level of tenderness and hope and created something deeply moving." This sentiment highlights how Romy’s personal understanding of the song’s themes allowed her to re-imagine it with a heightened sense of empathy and nuance. Romy echoed this, reflecting on their close friendship and an "unspoken understanding" born from their parallel journeys. "Our connection and friendship made this feel extra special to work on," she added. This mutual admiration and shared identity are not merely background details but are integral to the emotional resonance of the rework. In an industry where queer voices are increasingly gaining visibility, collaborations like this serve as powerful affirmations of solidarity and artistic kinship. They create spaces for narratives that might otherwise be marginalized, offering comfort, representation, and inspiration to LGBTQ+ audiences worldwide. The act of one queer artist reinterpreting another’s work, especially one so laden with personal queer history, transforms the track into a living document of evolving identity and shared community, underscoring the enduring power of music as a vehicle for personal and collective expression.
Global Debut at Coachella: A Strategic Unveiling
The rework received its first public airing during Romy’s highly anticipated DJ set at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April 2024. This strategic debut placed the track firmly within the context of a global cultural event, ensuring maximum exposure and immediate buzz. Romy’s performance at Coachella was part of a broader weekend that also saw The xx return to the stage for their first collective performances in eight years. The band, consisting of Romy, Oliver Sim, and Jamie xx, delivered a set that garnered significant attention, reminding audiences of their enduring impact on indie and electronic music. Romy’s solo DJ set, following The xx’s triumphant return, served as a poignant bridge between her group identity and her blossoming solo career. Introducing ‘The One’ rework in such a high-profile setting not only showcased the track’s immediate dancefloor appeal but also signaled Romy’s continued artistic evolution and her commitment to championing music that resonates with her personal and artistic values. The Coachella platform provided an ideal launchpad, allowing the rework to immediately reach an audience of hundreds of thousands, generating excitement and anticipation for its official release. This kind of high-visibility premiere is a common strategy in contemporary music marketing, leveraging the cultural cachet of major festivals to introduce new material to a vast and engaged global audience, amplifying its reach far beyond traditional promotional channels.
The Evolution of a Track: Remix Culture and Artistic Reimagination
The practice of remixing and reinterpreting existing tracks is a cornerstone of electronic music culture, serving multiple functions from extending a song’s lifespan to introducing it to new audiences and genres. Romy’s rework of ‘The One’ exemplifies this dynamic process. It takes a track originally rooted in experimental electronic pop and re-imagines it through the lens of atmospheric dance music, potentially appealing to fans of both artists and attracting new listeners who might not have encountered Planningtorock’s earlier work. This cross-pollination of fanbases is a significant benefit of high-profile remixes. Romy herself is no stranger to the power of reimagination. Her previous solo single, "Love Who You Love," released in 2023, received a series of notable remixes from prominent electronic artists such as HAAi, KI/KI, and SHERELLE. These remixes further diversified the track’s sonic profile, showcasing its versatility and cementing Romy’s connection to the broader dance music community. The decision to enlist Romy for this rework speaks to her growing reputation not just as a songwriter and vocalist, but also as a producer and DJ capable of crafting compelling sonic narratives. Remixes, in essence, allow artists to engage in a dialogue across time and genre, creating new interpretations that reflect contemporary sounds while honoring the original’s spirit. They are a testament to the fluid and ever-evolving nature of music, where a single composition can inspire countless artistic responses.
Broader Implications and Future Trajectories
The release of Romy’s rework of Planningtorock’s ‘The One’ carries several broader implications for the electronic music scene and beyond. Firstly, it highlights the increasing fluidity between different subgenres of electronic music. Romy, an artist initially associated with the minimalist indie-electronic sound of The xx, has successfully transitioned into a solo career that embraces more overt dancefloor aesthetics. Her rework bridges the gap between Planningtorock’s art-pop experimentalism and her own emotive house inclinations, demonstrating how genre boundaries continue to blur. Secondly, this collaboration reinforces the growing visibility and influence of queer artists within mainstream music. By openly discussing their shared experiences and the profound impact of their queer identities on their art, both Romy and Planningtorock contribute to a more inclusive and representative music industry. Their work serves as a powerful testament to the fact that personal narratives, when expressed authentically, possess universal resonance.
Furthermore, the rework adds a fresh layer of narrative to a song already rich with personal history. It allows ‘The One’ to continue evolving, finding new meaning and connection with audiences over a decade after its original release. This longevity speaks to the enduring quality of Planningtorock’s songwriting and the timelessness of themes like longing and self-discovery. For both artists, this collaboration is a testament to their continued artistic growth and their willingness to explore new creative avenues. For Planningtorock, it brings renewed attention to their influential back catalogue, potentially introducing their pioneering work to a new generation of listeners. For Romy, it further solidifies her standing as a versatile artist capable of both creating original, deeply personal electronic music and skillfully reinterpreting the work of her peers. As the music industry continues to embrace cross-genre collaborations and celebrate diverse voices, partnerships like this between Romy and Planningtorock are poised to become even more impactful, shaping the sound and narrative of contemporary electronic music for years to come.
