MANY Filipinos seem to think that indie artists all have the same sound: slurred lyrics with a ukulele playing in the background, sometimes with a kazoo or a xylophone to add that extra “quirk” factor. And while there’s nothing wrong with that sound, it leaves others wanting more. Obviously, this can’t be it. Obviously, if you look deep enough, you’ll find that there’s more to it.

I was lucky enough to one day stumble on the profile of an artist named Serro. The first thing that stuck out to me was the different aesthetics each of his albums had; “Games 4 Two” had a blue, melancholy aesthetic, featuring Serro surrounded by a mess of cables and wires. His other album, “Mantra Hill,” seemed the opposite of this; the album cover was a dark, sensual red – with music to match.

What truly reeled me in was his music. One of the songs currently on top of his Spotify is “Home,” a collaboration with Alisson Shore. Filled with cheery synth tones and a snazzy beat to match, it’s no wonder the song has so many streams (more than 246,000 as of this writing). The titular song on Mantra Hill, on the other hand, gives off a much edgier sound. 

With his diverse discography, Serro, who calls himself “Saturn Boy,” proves to his listeners that he can do it all.

His new album “Summer Flame” is dropping soon. But before this takes place, we were lucky enough to get the chance to talk to Serro. 

Read the interview below to see the artist’s thoughts on his music, identity, and the future of Serro.

Time to get to know Serro and his many facets.

Who is Serro? Who does he make music for? What does he stand for?

Serro is the alternative ego of Joaquin, wherein he is darker and [more] mysterious in his presentation and demeanor. His music is mainly focused on creating pain into art wherein it could be the voice for many people. 

Normally, his messages in songs would be about playing the victim or seeking growth through hardships. However, he has expanded into letting people know it’s okay to get hurt. We can always use that lesson to embrace our shadows and become whole again.

How did you get started in the music industry?

I started as a DJ when I was in high school, and I ended up producing EDM for the entirety of my years there. As soon as I entered college I started to produce bedroom beats. After a while, I started doing gigs in bars as a producer while I had someone sing or rap with me.  After college, I wanted to step up and started producing Hip-Hop and RnB for Soundcloud artists from South Korea and Manila.

However, I still felt I could do more. I started singing around 2019 since I knew I could be more than just a producer. Ever since then, everything changed for me. I met so many local artists and received opportunities that led me to keep growing into who I am now as Serro.

What is Summer Flame about?

Summer Flame is Serro’s continuation of his story of changing personas and the storytelling of the reflection of his personal life. He has now entered a new chapter wherein he is now embracing his “villain arc,” but in a more triumphant way. 

The album “Summer Flame” is a 10-song album that consists of Alternative, Hip-Hop, and RnB songs that send a message of being able to enjoy heartbreaks and failed connections. It’s all about being able to embrace that villain arc in a proper way, claiming that anyone can pull themselves out of that rut and be the better version of themselves again. 

Serro is normally known to have melancholic and dreamy songs but I switched it up and made the album primarily more upbeat and euphoric to emulate the feeling of being in the process of a rebirth of something new.

What song on the album is the most meaningful to you? What was your thought process while writing it?

I’m having a hard time picking out what is the most meaningful since it’s really all a culmination of emotions from events that have happened to me throughout the year. If I would have to choose one it would probably be the song “Summer Flame” itself. Since the direction of the album is about failed connections with people at a specific time in your life, I think a lot can relate to that situation. 

Summer Flame is a metaphor for flings you have over summer that didn’t work out, but it doesn’t need to be just summer. It could be just anytime in your life, and being able to take that lesson into another [form of] character development is what the thought process was in making the song.  

How is this different from your other releases like New Feel and Games 4 Two?

New Feel was an EP where I was still a producer, and I wanted to work with a selection of different artists from Manila and South Korea to merge my scene at that time.

Games 4 Two was a time wherein Serro’s persona was an A.I. I wanted to tell a story similar to Pinnochio, but in this case, a robot wanted to be human so he can feel emotions. However, once able to finally feel, he slowly witnesses the horror of being overwhelmed with emotions as he learns how to love and be conscious of his world. 

Summer Flame is a continuation wherein Serro has gone through that cycle and is in a different chapter wherein he’s in control of his emotions and consciousness.

What do you want listeners to take away from this album?

I want listeners to feel the redemption that is possible on their end. The feeling of “I can bounce back and be the main character once again.” This album is all for the people who’ve been done wrong and thrown away like they were nothing and to come back and use that experience into becoming a whole new being wherein they are completely in a better state of life. 

To anyone seeing this who still hasn’t listened to your music: why should they start listening?

I don’t like to force people into listening to my music, but I can say that it’s always straight from my experiences. Funny to say, but the way I write and make music is near Taylor Swift’s method of get hurt, then make a song or album. Everything I make is already my journal, and it’s made to serve as a friend you listen to when you need that extra embrace or push to keep your head up. I hope I can reach a wider audience as I love being able to share stories through my music as that’s what art is really about: a shared moment, a voice for many, and an experience to remember. 

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Catch Serro at the release of his new album “Summer Flame” on March 11 at Seltsam, Makati, and see performances from Ysanygo, Jarlo Bâse, Some Guy, and of course, Serro himself. Come as early as 7 p.m. and watch Serro enter his villain era – we’re definitely excited to see it!