Fresno-based writer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist roman around—the project of Roman Rivera—has released Wish (Tapes EP), a four-song experimental deep dive into themes of shame, U.S. policy, and the heavy realities of decades-long military occupations and mass deportations.
Yet, the EP unfolds in a way that feels exploratory, atmospheric, and fluid—as if all of it is happening at once in a whirling sonic discovery.
On the making of the EP, Rivera says: “Wish (Tapes EP) is a remake of several of my songs from 2022 to 2024. This project allows me to experiment and express concern with some ongoing geopolitical issues. I hope to show my perseverance and leadership, as those who know me know that I have been climbing out of a hole for a minute. I'm not going anywhere!”
The EP opens with the title track “Wish,” a true avant-garde cut that pulses for four minutes and twenty-six seconds.
Rising and falling synths are accented by crystalline bell tones, but it’s Rivera’s whispers that anchor the track, leaving the listener both curious and unsettled. The result is a haunting, reflective motif woven through an intimate atmosphere.
The following track, the focus cut “Moves pt. 2,” layers clock-like synth elements with echoing vocals, unfolding into a dark, meditative journey.
“Bear the Burden (pt. 2)” grooves with a hypnotic sway that’s hard to resist, its panning, dreamy vocal ad-libs adding a trance-like quality that underscores Rivera’s knack for locking listeners into a groove and pulling them deeper into the magic they uncovers along the way.
Closing with “Star Signs (pt.2)” twinkles with repetitive bright sonic elements with Revera’s heartfelt soulful vocals.
All in all, Wish (Tapes EP) is meant to be felt as much as heard—it isn’t for listeners chasing a quick, catchy pop fix, but for those willing to linger and get lost in the process.
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