Meet Romana Bereneth | Bandshee frontman and novelist (Pen Name: ML McIntosh)

We had the good fortune of connecting with Romana Bereneth and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Romana, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
From Romana:
One word: Passion. On writing days, the thing that gets me out of bed is the idea of hitting the keyboard and telling the stories bouncing around my head. As I’ve grown older, too, the motivation behind those stories has morphed from self-entertainment, to entertaining others, to making a point through creative writing. On the Bandshee front, my favorite days of the week are band practice day. When Bandshee comes together, I finally get to hear the complete idea that’s come from that first riff or phrase I heard in my mind’s ear.

There’s also that connection to readers/fans. Art only exists in the context of the humans who take it in and process it, then share the emotions evoked by it. I always say, the best musicians are the best fans. The best writers love to read. You can just tell.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I think something that does set me apart from others is that I’m also a published author. When I’ve got copies from my publisher, you can come to the Bandshee merch stand and shop for books. I’ve worked hard to make meaningful gains in a career as a published author and a touring musician, without financial backing from a loaded family or the good luck of getting someone’s attention when I was eighteen or something.

I’m weirdly proud of not giving up. From the minute I chose this path, everyone has told me it was a bad idea. No one really believed I could have any success. So when, to refer to Stephen King, I filled up that nail in the wall with rejection slips from literary agents, I had to keep going. I figured out how to self publish and you know what? There are actually a few people out there who really like my books. Go figure. So I’m proud that I didn’t throw in the towel. I’m proud that I figured out how to do ebook formatting, publishing through Amazon, I persisted in going to conventions until a publisher noticed me. When Bandshee started, and COVID hit, I had a good cry and kept going. When the first rhythm section collapsed, I went to a Mastodon show, pointed at the stage and told myself, That there. That’s the goal. When the SECOND rhythm section dipped out on me halfway through the world’s easiest tour, I met the New Guys at the coffee shop the next day and kept going. That’s what I’m proud of. Not the hip, tough to get into festivals or big shows or sales or whatever. I’m proud of not giving up.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
OK, so I live in Louisville, KY. This city is literally under siege from out of state Corporate Overlords… and she’s very much losing. The cool, the unique, the “weird” of Louisville is fading fast to be replaced by very generic bourbon and tequila bars (I get the bourbon but why tequila???) and weird outdoorsy shops and bro bars that look straight up air dropped from a very uncool version of like, Universal Studios or something.

But let’s hit the remaining spots of Louisville where some kind of heart beats.

I’d start with coffee and breakfast burritos at Safai Coffee on Bardstown. Then I’d hit up the Louisville Zoo in most weather, because I love the zoo and never get to go.
There’s some very mid tourist trappy stuff happening downtown, so I’d definitely AVOID that neighborhood, and NuLu too. Except for Please & Thank You. It’s always chocolate chip cookie time.

The parks here are beautiful and have great walking paths and honestly? Walking around in the woods without being bothered by people is my idea of The Best Time Ever. A short drive south and we could even see the giants at Bernheim Forest and maybe contribute a few dollars towards the Arboretum not being razed by googley eyed capitalists who just gotta build One More Thing to sell sell sell…. ::eyes roll::

Now the record stores… Sorry if you wanted to go to Underground Sounds… that guy’s getting the boot so the landlords can bring in (you guessed it) Another Corporate Tequila Bar for Tourists and Soulless People. BUT Guestroom is still killing it, they have amazing selection and the staff are cool and helpful and love Windhand. All positives. Better Days Records is also a must stop, as is Matt Anthony and Surface Noise (they’re neighbors- even better!)

Logan Street Market for light shopping, snacks and 5 o’clock spritzes. Fat Rabbit for hipster vintage browsing (I always need more stage wear and they have it.)

Dinner options: Against the Grain for burgers and beer OR Dragon King’s Daughter for sushi and sake. Your call.

Hopefully we were paying attention to the local show flyers in the windows of the record stores cause now it’s off to the venues- I’d definitely cruise the lineups at Limerick Lounge (one of Louisville’s only remaining house venues and the coolest one imo), Mag Bar, Planet of the Tapes (where we’re going to stop, anyhow, cause it’s a cool place. I mean it’s literally decorated by old VHS tapes), Portal, and Kaiju.

Really more like three days. Come for the weekend.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I wanna give a shout out to Drew Walker, a serious music supporter in Louisville, KY. He believes in the music. He actually messages us when he sees band submissions open for festivals he’s excited about. We need more Drews in the world.

Website: https://bandsheemusic.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealbandshee/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRealBandShee

Youtube: @stonedghost

Image Credits
Main Photo: Jim C (jctech2112 on IG)
Other performance shots: Lonnie Turner
Graveyard Photo: Lou Tingle