The Luxembourg-based music project ROME, founded by singer-songwriter Jérôme Reuter, has been awarded the prestigious Global Project Grant 2025.
This annual grant supports artists across multiple genres—including pop, rock, electro, hip-hop, jazz, world music, and classical/contemporary compositions—enabling them to develop and promote their work on an international scale. This year, the grant will support Reuter’s ambitious 20th-anniversary project, a milestone moment in ROME’s celebrated career.
For the past two decades, Jérôme Reuter has carved out a unique space in the Dark Folk genre, blending elements of Post-Punk, chanson, and literary influences from renowned figures such as Brecht, Céline, Cioran, and others. Through ROME, Reuter has masterfully intertwined history, philosophy, and music, telling stories of resistance, exile, and resilience.
As Luxembourg’s most internationally acclaimed music project, ROME’s 20th anniversary is set to continue this legacy, featuring a new body of work, a global tour, and a multidisciplinary artistic exploration titled Écotones: Investigating Sounds and Territories, created in collaboration with various artists and intellectuals.
To gain deeper insight into the significance of the Global Project Grant and ROME’s upcoming anniversary project, we spoke with Jérôme Reuter about what this recognition means for him and the evolution of his Dark Folk sound.
“More than just financial support, it’s a recognition of the work we’ve put in.”
What does winning the Global Project Grant mean for you as you celebrate ROME’s 20th anniversary?
Receiving this grant at such a milestone moment is truly an honor. It’s an incredible validation of the journey we’ve been on for the past two decades. More than just financial support, it’s a recognition of the work we’ve put in and the themes we’ve explored through our music. This grant will allow us to push creative and thematic boundaries further than ever before, helping us bring our ambitious plans to life, from new releases to a worldwide tour.”
How will you use the grant to shape ROME’s 2025 anniversary program?
One of the most exciting aspects of this grant is the opportunity to create new material that expands on ROME’s sonic legacy while experimenting with new elements and technology. The support enables me to work with inspiring artists and thinkers, allowing for fresh perspectives on what Dark Folk can be. Alongside a special anniversary tour, we are also focused on reaching new markets and audiences, bringing our music to places we haven’t been before like Australia.
How do you see ROME’s signature Dark Folk sound evolving in this next phase?
The beauty of Dark Folk lies in its ability to adapt and absorb different influences while maintaining its core identity. Over the years, ROME has evolved by incorporating diverse musical elements, and this grant gives us the opportunity to continue that evolution. The upcoming releases will feature a broader sonic palette, from acoustic storytelling to more experimental compositions, deepening the emotional and historical narratives that have always been central to our work.”
“Luxembourg’s music scene has changed immensely since I started.”
How do you see the Luxembourg music scene evolving over the years?
Luxembourg’s music scene has changed immensely since I started. There’s now a stronger infrastructure, more support, and greater recognition for local talent on the international stage. The country’s diversity and unique position at the crossroads of Europe have created an incredibly dynamic and rich artistic community. It’s an exciting time for Luxembourgish music, and I hope to contribute to that growth through ROME’s projects and collaborations in the years to come.
This article was published in the 5th edition of Forbes Luxembourg magazine.
