For more than a decade, Rome Ramirez has been the voice behind a sound that shaped summers and soundtracked road trips. As the frontman of Sublime with Rome, he’s played to packed crowds around the world and helped carry the torch for a band that defined a generation. But now, for the first time, he’s stepping out entirely on his own.

Born in the Bay Area to first generation Mexican American parents, Rome grew up surrounded by love, hustle, and music. Bob Marley played in the background. So did his mom’s classic soul and his dad’s rock records. He got his first guitar at 11 and started writing songs the way most kids played video games: all day, every day.

At 20, he landed the gig of a lifetime, stepping into Sublime’s legacy and helping shape its next era. With four albums, multiple gold and platinum records, and collaborations with artists from Dirty Heads to Enrique Iglesias to Blues Traveler, Rome built a career on versatility and straight-up talent. But somewhere in the middle of everyone else’s projects, he lost track of what his music sounded like.

His solo work is a return to roots not just sonically, but spiritually. It’s honest, melodic, and genre-fluid: a mix of reggae, soul, and rock that feels like if Bob Marley, Leon Bridges, and Tom Petty cut a record in Nashville. There are live instruments. There are lyrics that say something. And there’s no pretending.

The debut solo album, set for 2025, is full of the kind of songs that make you want to roll the windows down. “Why Me?” is a laid-back, grateful reflection on the weird road Rome’s been on. “Back to the Start” is a love letter to long-haul relationships. And “Knew Me” is a wink at everyone who thinks they’ve got him figured out. He collaborated with various friends across the project, including powerhouse producer Dann Huff (Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Josh Groban, Carrie Underwood), whose touch brought new depth to tracks like “Back to the Start” and “Why Me?”

After years of writing for others, he’s writing for himself again — in between raising kids, playing backyard shows, and chasing the magic that got him into music in the first place. This is Rome, without the filter. And he’s just getting started.