Serra | A Heaven of Hell

Dillon

Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter and producer duo Synde Broady and Sena Bodden aka Serra bring us a stellar introductory effort with their first dreamy-fuzzed-out and moody EP A Heaven of Hell. The production quality on display here is solid, and feels extremely polished especially for an act that seems to, from what I can gleam from their online presence, take pride in a DIY and low-fi aesthetic. Serra is a classic example that DIY doesn’t necessarily mean simple and the backing instrumentation and choices made here make for a really excellent and textured soundscape. I do have to admit, at least on first listen, that a good deal of the singing and lyrical work sort of washed over me working in concert with the backing instrumentation, and quite cohesively evoked this melancholic and almost ethereal mood piece. 

Sean

Serra’s “A Heaven of Hell” is a downtempo melancholy dream. Every track on the release is fantastically understated. With a more stripped down style each individual instrument is given the chance to shine through. The stand out of these sounds being the duo’s vocals. Every line delivered is overflowing with emotion and the perfect amount of reverb to send your mind into the void.

Greg

Light some candles, turn the lights down, lay back on your cushions and vibe to this one. Serra captures so many moments just through her tonality and consistency overlaid on this slow-motion EP. I thought Serra really shines on “I Don’t Mind” where you grasp a preview of her range–I’d love to hear more like it.