Shari Page steps out as Roon on confident debut single “Next Best Thing”
Known for her remarkable percussive talents and wry sense of humor, Shari Page (THICK) steps out from behind the kit on a solo project that confidently flexes her talents in new directions. “Next Best Thing,” Page’s debut single as Roon, is a lo-fi blast of punky power pop, scuffed up like a favorite pair of Chucks and honest as a best friend.
Synth melodies and some truly ripping guitar lines propel “Next Best Thing” with an earnest momentum shot through with the kind of self-assured adrenaline that comes from finally taking a big leap into the unknown. It’s thrilling and intimate, like Page is inviting the listener to participate in her real-time decision making, a co-conspirator in a personal mission of reinvention and self-actualization. Surprisingly, the drums feel slightly hesitant amidst the other instruments, as if Page is holding back ever so slightly on her primary skillset to make room for fresh ideas. Wrapped up in stylized production that maintains the even keel of early alternative cassette releases, “Next Best Thing” leverages the tangible nostalgia of private moments alone with a Walkman discovering exciting sounds and bold perspectives carried upon the metallic hiss of a whirring cassette tape.
Stream “Next Best Thing” on Spotify and follow Roon on Instagram.