“Without You” is a raw, emotional look at loss from Rio Romeo’s debut album “Good Grief”, out July 18.
Rising Los Angeles-based artist Rio Romeo unveils their new single “Without You,” a soul-stirring, piano-driven ballad from the forthcoming album Good Grief, set for release July 18 via AWAL.
The track captures a deeply personal story of loss and memory. “‘Without You’ is one of the heavier songs on the record,” Rio says. “I wrote it about one of my friends who ended up dying in a suicide by cop incident when I was very young… Although my life ended up moving forward and his didn’t, I think I am with him, fundamentally, in concrete—the 17-year-old inside my body.”
Rio’s haunting vocals and stripped-back instrumentation allow the emotional weight of the song to shine. The message is not only a personal elegy but a connection to anyone who has experienced the permanence of loss. 
“Without You” is the third preview from Good Grief, a collection shaped by Rio’s last five years—marked by homelessness, injury, self-discovery, and growth. The album channels theatrical expression with a punk edge, showcasing Rio’s genre-fluid, deeply honest approach to songwriting.
“Back in 2015, I really could have used somebody saying that it was going to be okay,” says Rio. “I hope that it makes one person feel heard and feel less alone.”
Rio will headline their Good Grief! Tour this fall, hitting iconic venues like New York’s Bowery Ballroom, LA’s Lodge Room, and Chicago’s Chop Shop. With more than 713K TikTok followers and over 308M Spotify streams, Rio Romeo’s moment has truly arrived.
