Sera Kalo

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.

“The complex songs defy genre boundaries – intentionally. Allowing all of the facets of her identity to co-exist, Sera Kalo leaves room for a multiplicity of meanings, sounds, and emotions.” – Nothing but Hope and Passion

Sera Kalo is a U.S. Afro-Caribbean musician, songwriter and actress. 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 has contributed to over 17 albums produced in Germany and Asia. She was born and raised in Connecticut, toured the US and Europe with various projects. She left a lasting impression on the Berlin music scene with her future jazz-soul project Seraleez. In 2019, she released four singles, “Serenity” (solo) as well as “No Never” and “Let Me Know” from her second album with Seraleez, “So Precious.” Recently, Sera Kalo was nominated for the Listen to Berlin Audience Award 2020 along with Isaac de Martin for the song “In My Feelings,” which was released in April 2022 on the Italian label Four Flies Records along with their collaborative album under the name Ike & The Great Escape.

For the production of her first solo album, Sera Kalo teamed up with Berlin-based Swedish jazz bassist, bandleader and composer Petter Eldh. The self-titled project called “eXante” will be released on June 23, 2023 on o-tone music, but a taste of the album is available even earlier. The first single release “Can You Speak My Language” will be released on March 31, 2023. In this chapter of Sera’s career, she explores the boundless approach of jazz music in combination with orchestral sounds and electronic beats together with guitarist Igor Osypov, bassist Sofia Eftychidou and drummer Philip Dornbusch. Sera has not only found her voice as a singer, but also as a songwriter and producer, characterizing her sound with intimate musical soundscapes and poetic narratives.