10 Seconds: Sera Kalo

"I’m a pretty… dramatic active listener, so I wasn’t sure how much I should (or shouldn’t) explain why these moments mean something special to me. In the end, I decided not to overthink it and just be candid and honest about my reactions to each tune. It turned out to be a weirdly therapeutic little challenge. Thanks for the invitation to participate! It also gave me a chance to rediscover some gems I hadn’t listened to in a while and reflect on different chapters of my life and musical growth. Hope you enjoy it!

Hugs, Sera https://serakalo.com/

1. Brandee Younger - Unrest II (2'17" - 2'27")

from Brandee Younger - Unrest (2022)

"This passage is a storm in a crystal bowl. The harp flickers between rhythmic protest and melodic meditation, creating a tension that’s somehow both grounding and elevating. There’s a rising urgency in the phrasing, as if the strings are breathing heavier, more insistent. It's only ten seconds, but the emotional architecture is immense."

2. Amel Larrieux - Sweet Misery (0'00" - 0'10")

from Amel Larrieux - Infinite Possibilities (2000)

"That reversed mantra of a melisma gives me a deer-caught-in-headlights paralysis, and that pronounced, bassy sweep into the downbeat is so sexy and elegant!! She’s one of my biggest influences, and this song is one of the reasons neo-soul and experimental R&B will always have a place in my heart."

3. Brad Mehldau - The Falcon Will Fly Again (feat. Joshua Redman) (6'12" - 6'22")

from Brad Mehldau - Highway Rider (2010)

"This entire piece is an absolute paradise of sound, but this is the part where Brad introduces a new theme. These ten seconds—when he repeats the melody for a second time—are pure alchemy. The attack of the first note sends me. The brilliance and decay of that note hug the rest of the phrase until it reaches resolution. I find myself exhaling cautiously, as if the force of my breath might shift a note out of place. The diversity of movement here feels like a blissful, gentle whirlwind."

4. Denai Moore - Desolately Devoted (3'19" - 3'29")

from Denai Moore - We Used To Bloom (2017)

"Eargasmic mixing magic. Lustrous shine. My ears perk up every time. I just want to jump inside the track and be surrounded by all those voices—again and again."

5. Petter Eldh - Love Declared Disaster Averted (0'14" - 0'24")

from Petter Eldh - Love Declared Disaster Averted 7" (2013)

"A “stank-face” evergreen. I’ve been revisiting this tune every year since I first heard it in 2017. It’s those micro-transitions in the groove for me—subtle, yet profound. No preparation. As a listener, I’m just surfing on those deep, woody basslines and trusting the process—joyously free-falling every time. Not giving a shit about the meter. Just feeling it. From the first second, you’ll be squinting your eyes, and shortly after, stank-face activation will be engaged. The tune is a trip!"

6. Victoria Monet - Jaguar (0'12" - 0'22")

from Victoria Monet - Jaguar EP (2020)

"TEXTURE!! It’s the “textcha” for me!! The vocal treat: lusciously layered harmonies drenched in wide, soft, dreamy, retro-y reverb—that’s what I hear. An ocean I want to swim in. It took me a while to even get to the rest of the song because I was stuck in a loop with this intro—haha. Stacks-on-stacks-on stacks… on stacks!!! Love it. I must also acknowledge the anchoring bass that stealthily sneaks in—a warm touch and an opening moment. Elegant tingles all around!"

7. Octavian - Party Here (1'09" - 1'19")

from Octavian - Party Here (2017)

"A simpler arrangement in comparison to the other songs I’ve mentioned, but no less profound. Some voices need simplicity so they can take up all the space. Often it’s the arrangement that carries the voice—but here, it’s the other way around. The instrumentation is the skeleton; O’s voice is the heart. Octavian’s tone is so raw, so unique—it’s incredible to hear how it fills those pauses when the bass, kick, and synths drop out. These ten seconds of his voice transport more than just lyrics. It’s like a lifetime squeezed into a moment. The inflections, the stillness, the lyrics—they give me chills."

8. Tweet - I Was Created For This (3'31" - 3'41")

from Tweet - Charlene (2016)

"Sweet, warm, harmonious, gentle. Honey for the soul—period. A “turn that frown upside-down” vibe :) An empowering hymn. These ten seconds are golden because you can hear the breath of each singer and the prolonged “s”-es at different times. It’s that organic human element that brings a certain je ne sais quoi to the phrasing and the roundness of the timbre."

9. The Vernon Spring, Loa - Blossoms (1'42" - 1'52")

from - The Vernon Spring - Earth, On A Good Day (2024)

"A suspended sigh in the shape of music. The piano- delicate and intentional. Loa’s voice rises like hot steam from a teacup— intimate, close, but still rough on the edges. This moment is less about arrival and more about becoming. A full moment."

 10. Sera Kalo - Vital Signs (1'17" - 1'27")

from Sera Kalo - Exante (2023)

"My favorite part of the song is the dance between the vocal harmonies and the bass melody. It’s probably one of the most beautiful musical moments I’ve ever co-produced. A simple, stunning relationship between two voices—one low and grounding, the other floating and supportive. Interlocking with ease. Holding each other. It’s a dialogue. It’s connection and energy in motion. Yeah, we did that :)"