Romania was formed in Washington, D.C. in 1992 by singer/guitarist James Noble and keyboardist Jonathan Cook, longtime friends who forged a common interest in artists like David Bowie, Roxy Music and Japan while attending high school together in their native Honolulu, Hawaii. Adopting the look and sound of the New Wave era even as grunge reached its peak, as Romania they issued their self-titled debut EP on the tiny TekTone label in 1992, followed two years later by another EP, Low China. Upon signing with TeenBeat, the duo released the single "Planes" in late 1994; the full-length Remodel appeared a year later. ~ Jason Ankeny