Last Romeo

Last Romeo is a song by British recording artist Jack Stevens from his fifth album Close Encounters.

Background
Recording for Jack’s fifth studio album Close Encounters was completed in secret at Jack’s home in The Cotswolds, during the Summer 2020 period when the majority of the United Kingdom was in lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. Jack recorded and produced the album from his home studio and worked remotely with his long-term collaborators Shell Ruin and Knobfeelers.

Initially reluctant to record an album, the process of recording simply began as a hobby and a chance to reconnect with Shell and his production team, during a time in which like many others Jack found he had more time on his hands and a desire to be creative in a time that felt the majority of those outlets had been taken from him. After recording in the early part of the Summer, Jack shelved the album but was eventually persuaded to ‘test the waters’ with the release of a Greatest Hits collection by friend and business partner Emily Henning, CEO of Blush Recordings who Jack signed an exclusive licensing and distribution deal with for his own imprint JSM.

After the critical success of the Greatest Hits collection and it’s accompanying single Nothing In Common, Jack was approached by Live Nation with an offer for a 2021 UK and Ireland stadium tour, reluctant to take to the road without new material, Jack and Shell revisited the collection of songs and created the album in late Summer 2020 with the announcement of the album and it’s first single Masc For Masc being made the same day as tickets for the Close Encounters Tour were released. 'Last Romeo' was the final track written and recorded for the album and was described by Jack as being a love song to his career and the nostalgia he feels for his older albums, many noted the irony of the track's references to being a faded popstar, after the success of the album.

Release & reception
'Last Romeo' was officially confirmed as the second single from Close Encounters in late January after a few false starts and problems with the album campaign. The track was released on a limited edition vinyl single and with accompanying remixes to streaming platforms on February 5th, 2021. Jack promoted the single with a performance on ITV's Dancing On Ice along side the show's professional skaters. 'Last Romeo' received generally positive reviews from fans and critics.