Julianne Romanelli shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Julianne, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
The most recent moment that made me feel truly proud was getting to sing a duet with Brandi Carlile. In my first VoyageTampa interview, I talked about how her music helped me through my recovery from spinal surgery — so this was an incredible full-circle moment. I attended her music festival in May and had the chance to sing “I Have a Voice,” a duet originally performed by Brandi and Alicia Keys. Standing on that stage beside someone whose music carried me through such a difficult time was surreal — and deeply meaningful.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi again! I’m Julianne Romanelli — vocalist, worship leader, and half of the acoustic duo Roman Fortune with my husband, Stephen. Since my last VoyageTampa interview, life has been full of growth, both musically and personally. Stephen is now the Contemporary Worship Leader at our church, and I’ve been leading worship alongside him — it’s been such a joy to serve and make music together in a deeper way.
This past year also brought new challenges when I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called mixed connective tissue disease. It’s been a journey of learning balance, grace, and healing. Out of that experience, I started @TheFusedSongbird on Instagram — a space to share my story, raise awareness for spinal fusion and autoimmune illness, and build community through music, faith, and honest conversation.
At my core, I still believe in the healing power of music — but now I get to live it out more authentically than ever before.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was a curious, creative kid who sang simply because it felt like breathing. But as I grew up, the world — through society and even well-meaning family influences — encouraged stability over creativity. Music wasn’t really seen as a “realistic” career path, so I did all the expected things: went to college, earned my degree, and built a professional life in the corporate world.
But the thing is, music never left. It’s always been there, woven into every season of my life. Even when it wasn’t at the forefront, it found ways to grow — in choirs, church, and theatre. Looking back, I realize it was never diminished; it was simply waiting for the right time to bloom fully.
Now, I get to live that calling out loud — leading worship, performing with my husband and amazing friends, and sharing my journey through @TheFusedSongbird. It feels like I’ve finally come home to who I was always meant to be.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me things success never could — patience, humility, empathy, and the quiet strength that comes from sitting with pain instead of running from it. When life forces you to slow down, you start to see the world differently: the beauty in small moments, the grace in vulnerability, and the light that can only be found after walking through the dark.
It’s also given me perspective. Even in the hardest seasons, there’s always something to learn. I ask myself, “What is this teaching me? How can I grow from this?” Hope isn’t the absence of pain — it’s believing something meaningful is waiting on the other side.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
I think my closest friends would say that what really matters to me is genuine, soul-level connection. Whether it’s through music, conversation, or simply showing up for someone, I care deeply about people feeling seen and understood.
They’d also tell you that authenticity means everything to me. I’ve learned that real is always better than perfect, and that vulnerability fosters true connection. But they’d definitely throw in that I love to laugh — and I don’t take myself too seriously. Life’s heavy enough sometimes, so I try to find humor wherever I can. A good laugh can reset a bad day and remind you not to lose sight of the joy in the middle of it all.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope that people say I used my voice, both on and off the stage, to bring light to others. More than anything, I hope I touched people and made them feel something through my music.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.romanfortune.band/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefusedsongbird
Image Credits
Personal Photo: Genevieve Bureau, La Pose Rebelle
Additional Photo 1: Topeka
Personal Photo 3: Genevieve Bureau, La Pose Rebelle
