Draft:Romil Hemnani

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Romil Hemnani
Born (1995-04-06) April 6, 1995 (age 29)
OriginSouth Windsor, Connecticut
GenresHip hop
Occupation(s)
Instrument(s)
Years active2010-present
LabelsVideo Store
Formerly ofBrockhampton

Romil Hemnani (born April 6, 1995) is an American record producer, DJ, and songwriter from South Windsor, Connecticut. He is best known for being a founding member of hip-hop collective and boyband Brockhampton from the groups founding in 2010 until its dissolution in 2022. Although his early output primarily consisted of production on his bandmates solo projects, he has since worked with artists such as Kali Uchis, Arlo Parks, Paris Texas, Midwxst, and Brittney Spencer. Hemnani, along with former bandmate Kevin Abstract, founded the record label and clothing brand Video Store in 2021.

Early life[edit]

Hemnani was born on April 6, 1995 to a Pakistani Hindu family.[1] In Connecticut, Hemnani often collaborated with future bandmates Dom McLennon, Jon Nunes, and Rodney Tenor.[2]

Career[edit]

Brockhampton[edit]

Hemnani, along with Dom McLennon, Jon Nunes, and Rodney Tenor, formed the Connecticut branch of music collective AliveSinceForever after being recruited by Kevin Abstract an internet forum.[2] In 2014, Hemnani served as the producer of Abstract’s debut album MTV1987.[3] The same year, Hemnani, along with other members of AliveSinceForever, moved to San Marcos to found a new group, Brockhampton.[2]

Brockhampton achieved notability with their 2017 studio albums Saturation, Saturation II, and Saturation III, a significant portion of which where recorded in Hemnani's bedroom.[4] Hemnani acted as a producer on 33 of the 48 tracks in the trilogy.[4] After signing a deal with RCA Records and removing Ameer Vann from the band, the group recorded Iridescence at Abbey Road Studios in London.[5] Iridescence became the group's first record to debut atop the Billboard 200 and earned the band a nomination for Best International Group at the 2019 Brit Awards.[6][7] The groups fifth album, Ginger, was released in 2019 and spawned the double platinum single "Sugar", produced by Hemnani and Jabari Manwa.[8] Ginger was followed by Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine in 2021.[9] Roadrunner was the first time that Hemnani was credited under the production duo Video Store along with Kevin Abstract.[10]

The Family, released in November 2022, was the first Brockhampton album that Hemnani did not produce for, although he is credited as a songwriter on several tracks.[11] TM, the final Brockhampton album, was released the day after The Family and prominently featured Hemnani's production.[12]

Solo work[edit]

Hemnani was an executive producer, creative director, and songwriter on bandmate Kevin Abstract's debut studio album MTV1987, along with serving as a producer on all tracks. He also produced bandmate Joba's debut single, "Sad Saturdays", in 2015.[13] In 2016, he produced "No One Like You", a single by Bearface featuring No Rome. The same year, he returned in his role as a producer and recording engineer on Abstract's second album, American Boyfriend: A Suburban Love Story. In late 2017, Hemnani, along with bandmates Bearface and Joba, served as a producer on Roy Blair's debut album Cat Heaven.[14]

Hemnani co-wrote and produced "Just a Stranger" from Kali Uchis' debut album Isolation alongside Steve Lacy, who is also a featured artist.[15] After co-producing Kevin Abstract's third album Arizona Baby alongside Jack Antonoff, Hemnani supervised the recording of Homesick, the sophomore album by Laundry Day. The band later referred to Hemnani as a mentor and unofficial member.[16] In 2020, Hemnani contributed to Jim-E-Stack's Ephemera.

In 2021, Hemnani, along with Kevin Abstract, founded the record label and apparel company Video Store, which signed Brockhampton affiliates SoGone SoFlexy, The Blossom, and Christian Alexander.[17][18][19][20] Hemnani contributed to the debut projects of signees Christian Alexander and The Blossom.[20] The company's first collection, "Warhead", was released alongside Abstract's single "Slugger", which was produced by Hemnani and features Slowthai and Snot. "Slugger" was followed by "Sierra Nights", featuring Ryan Beatty and produced by Hemnani.[21] Hemnani produced RCA labelmate August Royals' single "Prada".[22] Hemnani also contributed to Alexander's studio album I Don't Like You and The Blossom's 2023 single "Merry Go Round".[23][24]

Hemnani produced for British singer-songwriter Arlo Parks' second studio album My Soft Machine, including the singles "Impurities" and "Pegasus", featuring Phoebe Bridgers.[25][26] Hemnani co-produced and co-wrote every track on Abstract's fourth studio album Blanket, which was released on Video Store in 2023.[27] In 2024, Hemnani produced "New To This Town" off of Brittney Spencer's first studio album My Stupid Life, and reunited with former bandmate Matt Champion as a songwriter on "Slow Motion", a track by Champion and Jennie that was included on the former's debut album Mika's Laundry.[28][29][30]

Selected discography[edit]

For Hemnani's work on Brockhampton projects, see the groups discography. For his work on Kevin Abstract's solo albums, see MTV1987, American Boyfriend: A Suburban Love Story, Arizona Baby, and Blanket.

List of tracks produced and written, with year released, artist, collaborators, and album
Year Artist Title Written with Produced with Album
2013 Dom McLennon "The Pedestrian" Thesis (Side B)
"Sky Ferriera Is Not Addicted To Heroin" feat. Kevin Abstract Producer only Dom McLennon
"The Rabbit Hole"
"Thinkpiece" Quiet Luke
"Futuresong" feat. Mic Kurb Kiko Merley
"Rhythm O" Dominique Simpson Dom McLennon
2014 Matt Champion "Burn" feat. Jon Waltz Producer only Albert Gordon Non-album singles
2015 "El Dorado"
"You're Too Cool For Me" Joba
Joba "Sad Saturdays" Russell Boring
2016 Matt Champion "Punks" Producer only Albert Gordon
"Salud"
Bearface "No One Like You" feat. No Rome Bearface
2017 Roy Blair "Alex" Sole producer Cat Heaven
2018 Kali Uchis "Just a Stranger" Steve Lacy Isolation
2019 Laundry Day "Messy Eyes" Producer only Production supervisor Homesick
"I Feel Good"
"Friends"
2020 Jim-E Stack "One Shot" feat. Bearface
Songwriter only Ephemera
2021 The Blossom "Hardcore Happy"
97 Blossom
"Smoke" feat. Matt Champion
"Black Eye"
"Cloves"
Kevin Abstract "Slugger" feat. Snot & Slowthai
Non-album singles
The Blossom "Sports Car"
  • Zach Fogarty
  • Mark Lizotte
  • Lily Lizotte
  • Anthony Kilhoffer
  • Mark Lizotte
  • Zach Fogarty
Kevin Abstract "Sierra Nights" feat. Ryan Beatty
  • Gabe Acheson
  • Baird Acheson
August Royals "Prada"
Songwriter only Inhaler
2022 Christian Alexander "Waste Her Time"
  • Federico Vindver
  • Joba
  • Christian Alexander
I Don't Like You
2023 The Blossom "Merry Go Round"
  • Lily Lizotte
  • Aaron Shadrow
  • Mark Lizotte
  • Sarah Aarons
  • Sophie Gray
  • Aaron Shadrow
  • Sophie Gray
Non-album single
Arlo Parks "Impurities"
  • Al Hugg
My Soft Machine
"Devotion"
Baird Acheson
"Pegasus" feat. Phoebe Bridgers
Paris Texas "Split-Screen"
  • Dilip Venkatesh
  • Louie Pastel
  • Felix
  • Dilip Venkatesh
  • Louie Pastel
  • Felix
Mid Air
"DnD" feat. Kenny Mason
  • Dilip Venkatesh
  • Louie Pastel
  • Felix
  • Julian Ali
  • Edwin Green
  • Robert Mansel
  • Dilip Venkatesh
  • Louie Pastel
  • Felix
  • Julian Ali
  • William Sullivan
Midwxst "Old Me"
E3
2024 Brittney Spencer "New To This Town" Producer only Sole producer My Stupid Life
Matt Champion and Jennie "Slow Motion" Songwriter only Mika's Laundry

Filmography[edit]

Year Title
Role Medium
2014 mtv1987 Himself Documentary
2015 Dreams Die Young Short Series
2016 All-American Trash Documentary Documentary
2017 Helmet Boy Pedro / Brendon Short Series
American Boyband Himself Documentary Series
Jennifer's Tour, A Live Show By Brockhampton
Billy Star Football Player Short Film
Saturation Documenatary Himself Documentary
2018 Love Your Parents Tour Documentary Series
The Longest Summer In America Documentary
2019 Keeping The Band Himself (fictionalized depiction) Series

References[edit]

  1. ^ Wood, Mikael (2021-04-14). "Brockhampton on cancel culture, Shia LaBeouf and how they 'helped open the door' for Lil Nas X". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  2. ^ a b c Cea, Max (2019-10-03). "The Oral History of Brockhampton... as Told by Brockhampton". GQ. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  3. ^ Ramirez, Erika (2014-07-15). "Kevin Abstract, 'MTV1987': Exclusive Album Stream". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  4. ^ a b "Meet BROCKHAMPTON'S Romil Hemnani". Abbey Road Studios. 3 July 2020. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  5. ^ "Brockhampton release their fourth studio album 'Iridescence'". Abbey Road Studios. 19 September 2018. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  6. ^ Caulfield, Keith (2018-09-30). "Brockhampton's 'Iridescence' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  7. ^ Trendell, Andrew (2019-02-21). "Brockhampton told us about their perfect London night out and how their next album 'is not what you expect'". NME. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  8. ^ "American single certifications – Brockhampton – Sugar". Recording Industry Association of America. November 19, 2021.
  9. ^ Shaffer, Claire (2021-03-26). "Brockhampton Announces New Album 'Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
  10. ^ Fuamoli, Sose (2021-04-14). "Finding the line between myth and reality on BROCKHAMPTON's ROADRUNNER". Triple J. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
  11. ^ Eubanks, Alex (2022-12-09). "Brockhampton - "The Family/TM"". Everything Is Noise. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  12. ^ Monroe, Jazz (2022-11-17). "Brockhampton Releasing Another New Album, TM, Tonight". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
  13. ^ Price, Joe. "Premiere: Joba - "Sad Saturdays"". Complex. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
  14. ^ Graves, Shahlin (2018-01-24). "Interview: 2018 Must-Know - Roy Blair". Coup De Main Magazine. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
  15. ^ Hussein, Wandera (April 6, 2018). "Here are the full album credits for Kali Uchis's Isolation". The Fader. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
  16. ^ Rindner, Grant (Jul 9, 2019). "Meet LAUNDRY DAY, the Unconventional New York Band Inspired by Brockhampton and Tyler, the Creator". Complex. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  17. ^ Zanes, Anna (2021-04-07). "The Blossom is in full bloom". Document Journal. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  18. ^ "Dylan Minnette models for Video Store". Coup De Main Magazine. 2021-03-14. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  19. ^ Haylock, Zoe (2021-04-14). "Brockhampton Has Lil Nas X Tripping in the 'Count on Me' Music Video". Vulture. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  20. ^ a b Damara Kelly, Tyler (12 May 2023). "Christian Alexander returns with his brand new single "Heaven Knows"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  21. ^ Okon, Wongo (2021-08-19). "Kevin Abstract's 'Sierra Nights' Video Captures A Cool Summer Night". UPROXX. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  22. ^ Kenneally, Cerys (22 October 2021). "August Royals links with Kevin Abstract on Romil Hemnani-produced single "Prada"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  23. ^ Brickner-Wood, Brady (April 4, 2022). "Christian Alexander: I Don't Like You". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  24. ^ Pointer, Flisadam (2023-04-28). "The BLSSM's Single 'Merry Go Round' Is A Revolving Door Of Resentment". UPROXX. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  25. ^ Duran, Anagricel (2023-05-11). "Arlo Parks teams up with Phoebe Bridgers for new single 'Pegasus'". NME. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  26. ^ Geraghty, Hollie (2023-03-02). "Arlo Parks shares ambient new single 'Impurities'". NME. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  27. ^ Helfand, Raphael (October 11, 2023). "Kevin Abstract announces new album Blanket". The Fader. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  28. ^ Nicholson, Jessica (2024-01-18). "With Debut Album, Brittney Spencer Forges Her Own Path — But Not Alone: 'This Is a Very Collaborative Record'". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  29. ^ Gustafson, Hana (2023-09-29). "Listen: Brittney Spencer Details Debut Album 'My Stupid Life,' Shares Lead Single "Bigger Than The Song"". Jambands. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  30. ^ Das, Hrishita (2024-04-18). "Check out BLACKPINK's Jennie's collaborations that prove her global appeal". Pinkvilla. Retrieved 2024-05-15.