Herizon Music Mashup: Romantasy Music Craze
Thao, Charlie XCX, Chelsea Coy, New Music Videos, Events, Poll Time!
In This Issue
Spotlight: All Things Considered & Charlie XCX
Spotlight: Five For Friday - Guess The Theme!
Spotlight: Chelsey Coy “Sync Licensing 101”
New Music Videos: Thao, Vitamin String Quartet
Upcoming Events
Herizon Music Mashup: Romantasy Music Craze
Welcome to the Romantasy Music Craze Mashup issue! This Mashup draft didn’t start as a Romantasy-themed issue. Yet, the Divine FemiNINE stepped in and willed it through seemingly unconnected roots that bloomed into this metaphorical Garden of Eden. Who am I not to heed the call?
For music fans not familiar with this multi-media entertainment genre, indie author and illustrator Angeline Trevena’s article “Five Common Elements of A Romantasy” offers a quick summary. While “Romantasy” may be a pop culture buzzword, the storylines originate from fairy tales of yore. Disney made billions from their historical magic kingdoms.
Publishers, Hollywood, streaming services, and now record labels are milking Jack’s cash cow. The genre dominates the adult fiction book market with a 40% year-over-year growth rate. That does not include subsidiary rights like merchandising, gaming, or movie/series revenue.
Detroit punk/garage/goth fan and personal friend “Riley” turned me onto the genre last year with Jennifer L. Armentrout’s “starter” series Ash and Blood. An easy sell since my binge history includes True Blood, Twilight, Penny Dreadful, Vampire Diaries, Lucifer… Point made.
Female-centric fans connect on social (BookTok leading the charge), then meet up at local venues, adopt the fashion, buy the merch, and curate the soundtracks. Big fandom, big bucks.
SPOTLIGHTS
All Things Considered
Which brings us to NPR’s All Things Considered segment featuring host Juana Summers and iconic (and my favorite) music critic Ann Powers discussing music’s growing influence on romantasy/romance fans. The jumping point: Charli xcx’s Wuthering Heights soundtrack album for the 2026 feature film starring Margot Robbie released on Valentine’s Day.
Let’s hit “pause” for a moment. Emily Brontés’s Wuthering Heights is a savage revenge novel akin to Dante Alighieri’s Inferno or the softer Alexander Dumas’s the Count of Monte Cristo. How do we idly accept the plot as a romance? Perhaps Hollywood’s machine cast a curse convincing us that weaponizing sexual violence and control = love and romance (sub-category Dark Romance). Charlie’s single “Chains of Love” lyrics and video are submitted to the court as evidence.
I’m glad Riley started me out with Blood & Ash, where heroine “Poppy” and her true love Hawke develop a sensually intense yet playful Fire Horse romance that battles evil forces.
Just announced: Sony picked up the Blood & Ash series for TV production! What I wouldn’t do to be on the Music Supervisor’s team for this baby. Anyone have a lead for me?
Five For Friday - Guess The Theme!
Music Stacker Emm As In Music publishes Five For Friday, a playlist-themed series. In this playlist, Emm has to guess the veiled common thread that collaborator Kirstin DeMarr’s chose for her five songs. It fits perfectly with our Romantasy theme. Click here to play!
Chelsea Coy & “Sync Licensing 101”
All you indie songwriters may want to pitch your music for a series or any sync opportunities that generate more revenue than a lifetime of Spotify streams. Chelsea Coy was the special speaker at Herizon Music’s off-SXSW event in 2024. It’s a PACKED hour of everything you need to know to prep and submit your music correctly for consideration.
NEW MUSIC
Thao
From Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles to HBO’s True Blood to The CW’s The Originals, I think we can safely claim New Orleans as the epicenter of U.S. romantasy. Thao released the music video “Remember Me” from short indie film Amongst The Disquiet. The Cajun Catholic Eucharistic Procession on the bayou and spirit warding in crypt cemeteries is just what the witch doctor ordered. (Thank you Lavender Sound (Max Freedman) for introducing me to Thao!)
Vitamin String Quartet, Los Angeles
Vitamin String Quartet is a revolving group of classical musicians who have released over 300 classical renditions of popular music.
Bridgerton (Netflix) paints a fanciful world where characters of all stations, colors, and ages may climb their way into masquerade balls and royal courts. Season 4’s Cinderella theme with VSQ’s rendition of Paramore’s “All I Wanted” sets the mood for a happily ever after. This ensemble features violinist/composer/arranger Rachel Grace.
Are you a female or female-fronted act releasing new music? Submit the following info for consideration:
Artist Name
Contact Name (if different)
Contact email address
Link to YouTube video for the single; audio-only videos are fine
Link to website
Poll Time!
Substack has character limits on poll answers, so here’s a detailed listing.
“A Thousand Years” (Christina Perri), Twilight
”Temptation Waits” (Garbage), Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Angel
”Never Let Me Go” (Florence + The Machine), The Vampire Diaries
”All I Wanted” (Vitamin String Quartet), Bridgerton
Itty Bitty Merch Store
The results are in and the Herizon Music Can Cooler was last month’s most popular merch. Maybe because you can personalize it with your name for FREE. Get yours and one for your music friends today!
EVENTS (click orange or underlined text)
Coffee & Cassettes Radio Series Debut. Mixed tape DJ extraordinaire Joi invited Herizon Music’s host Thea Wood (me) to be the premiere episode guest. It’s an eclectic curation of classic icons and indie artists with the story behind each.
Wavemakers Learning Series, April 10th. “Alchemy, Systems, and the Art of the Fan Funnel with Ali Holder” covers how to build a high-level narrative using tools like Substack, how to automate the “boring stuff” with AI and Brand Briefs, and how to own your audience through smart email funnels.
Sintija Brence Herizon Music Podcast Interview, April 16th-ish. Author and PhD Researcher of American Protest Music and Sociomusicology, Sintija Brence talks the politics of Grunge for Herizon Music fans.
BMI Composer Lab Grant, April 24th deadline. Apply for the 9-day online workshop, followed by a 10-day intensive in Los Angeles, CA.
Disney Sync Opp, July 2026. Get a head start on this golden opportunity. Details posted on Instagram by Valentina Reynolds.
Thanks to everyone who chipped in for Bel & Quinn’s Dakar Music Expo trip. Their concert was a smashing success. Here is a clip of their performance and the story behind the airline losing her bass before the show. Never a dull moment in the music industry!
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Together We Rise,
Thea ❤️🧡💛