eXante Sera Kalo
- 1Can You Speak My Language04:37
- 2Now I'm Here03:42
- 3Vital Signs04:01
- 4Go03:59
- 5A Space For03:56
- 6Baby When You Get Home02:57
- 7Amuse Me03:08
- 8Sirens I'll Be Fine04:52
- 9Don't Xplain04:18
Info for eXante
Sera Kalo is a U.S. Afro-Caribbean musician and songwriter. She grew up in a Caribbean home in Connecticut steeped in a mix of musical styles, from her St. Lucian mother’s soulful singing of old hymns and Motown classics to her Dominican father’s love of reggae, cadence and calypso. From a young age, the diverse musical influences of her childhood home combined with the suburban big city sound and various alternative style mixes shaped her love for music. Her vocal idols have among others been Carmen McRae, Sarah Vaughan, Nancy Wilson, India Arie and Erykah Badu.
Sera Kalo’s album entitled, eXante is a collection of genre-bending songs characterized by passionately melodic progressive futuristic soul melodies that merge with a sultry electronic atmosphere and unconventional rhythms. eXante branches into two sound collages. The first being an extravagant soundscape of acoustic-electronic characteristic guided by audiovisual narratives of healing and the movement towards serendipity. The second being an intimate eargasm of warm and deep overtones that sonify the themes of love and desire.
eXante is a window into the many universes within Sera Kalo’s person and artistry through sensitive song arrangements and poetic story-telling. Sera Kalo co-produced this dynamic work with dear friend, swedish bassist and producer, Petter Eldh. Their great musical connection and bountiful imagination brought this album to life. eXante also highlights the worthy contributions of the incredibly diverse and international music scene in Berlin,Germany featuring artists like Otis Sandsjö, Philo Tsoungui, Ruhi Erdogan, Julia Kadel, The String Arkestra and many more…
Philo Tsoungui, drums
Julia Kadel, piano
Vincent Bababoutilabo, alto and soprano flutes
K'boko, percussion
Otis Sandsjö, alto clarinet
Ruhi Erdogan, trumpet
Samira Aly, cello
Members of The String Archestra:
Sarah Martin, violin
Neneh Sowe, violin
Yassin Sowe, viola
Jan Burkamp, drums
Igor Osypov, guitar
Petter Eldh, bass, guitar
Sera Kalo
is a U.S. Afro-Caribbean musician and songwriter. She grew up in a Caribbean home in Connecticut steeped in a mix of musical styles, from her St. Lucian mother’s soulful singing of old hymns and Motown classics to her Dominican father’s love of reggae, cadence and calypso. From a young age, the diverse musical influences of her childhood home combined with the suburban big city sound and various alternative style mixes shaped her love for music. Her vocal idols have among others been Carmen McRae, Sarah Vaughan, Nancy Wilson, India Arie and Erykah Badu.
At the age of eight, Sera fell in love with classical music, particularly the works of Mozart, Chopin, and Rachmaninoff. She was convinced that she would become a classical pianist, but years later she discovered her love for singing after listening to Monica’s recording of “Angel of Mine.” Sera was too shy to perform in public, so from then on she played alto and tenor saxophone, guitar and classical piano. It was the song “At Last” by Etta James that finally awakened her subconscious desire to sing, leading to her first public performance at the age of 14. Sera went on to study classical piano, but eventually focused more on her voice. Her vocal idols included Carmen McRae, Eva Cassidy, Sarah Vaughan, Nancy Wilson, Lauryn Hill, India Arie, Amel Larrieux and Erykah Badu.
In New York, Sera met a bassist who later became a good friend and introduced her to the magic of jazz legends like Charles Mingus, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis and Ornette Coleman. The Kitchen, the 55 Bar, Smalls, the Village Vanguard, the Jazz Standard and the Stone became her regular haunts, where she immersed herself in the sounds of improvisation and free jazz.
Today, Sera’s unique timbre and musical expression are the foundation of her collaborations and distinctive sound, and she is not locked into any particular style. Her penchant for music that crosses genres is also evident in her work as a songwriter and performer. Sera has contributed to over 18 albums produced in Germany and Asia, and has made a lasting impact on the Berlin music scene with her upcoming jazz-soul project Seraleez. In 2019, she released four singles, including “Serenity” (solo), as well as “No No Never” and “Let Me Know” from her second album “So Precious” with Seraleez.
In April 2022, Sera was nominated for the Listen to Berlin Audience Award 2020 along with Isaac de Martin for their song “In My Feelings,” which was released on the Italian label Four Flies Records. Sera’s previous projects include the band SoulSom, Seraleez and La By’le, and her current projects include her newest band Sera Kalo’s eXante and IKE and The Great Escape. With her unique sound and versatility, Sera Kalo is a force to be reckoned with in the music world.
This album contains no booklet.