By Sean Maldjian, Contributor

Meet The Sere

Lace-up your platform docs and head out to a woodland bonfire because it is getting all kinds of atmospheric and gothy on TFR today. Based in NY Jon is The Sere. The project hits harder than a truck with carefully calculated punchy drums lifted by Jon’s powerhouse vocals. In our latest interview, we chat with The Sere about the prom, inspiration, and family.

“THE PROM” A fill in the blank with The Sere

If there's a melody you can't seem to get out of your RIGHT ELBOW or a song running through your HIPS, then bring your feet to this year's FRUMPY prom. As usual, our LACE will be held in our high school HAIRSPRAY. A dress code will be observed. No one will be admitted wearing JUDGED or torn CATS. Girls must wear a CONDOM and boys must wear a dress shirt and a GYMNASIUM. As always, hot TRAINS will be served, and there will be INTOXICATING prizes and an award for the best-TEXTING.couple. The INSOUCIANT dance committee is also proud to announce that every girl who attends will receive a POINTE SHOE to pin to her T-MOBILE SIDEKICK, and every boy will receive a complimentary ANGST.

Would You Rather

Whose face would you rather have on the back of your head Shia Lebouf or Martha Stewart?

Probably Shia Lebouf, so people can be reminded to "DO IT" and "make your dreams come true".

Some Questions with The Sere

What other goth acts have inspired the work you are making as The Sere?

I really like some of the newer acts that are coming out of the US like Twin Tribes, House of Harm, Mareux and others. It's just inspiring to see that this music still exists and is vibrant and is curiously relevant in 2021.

Where is your favorite place in NYC to see a show? Why?

I haven't had a favorite in a while, but I used to really like this small space called LaunchPad in Brooklyn.

What was the creative drive behind your 2021 release “Always the Cold Moon”?

Generally, a sense of mourning. Mourning the loss of youth and the future loss of loved ones. "Even the Rain" is about the former. "The Inheritance" is a totally made up story, but the emotional underpinnings are real. It's about the fear of losing my parents, who I'm really close to. The title track is all about getting lost in a maze mentally and emotionally, and feeling your sense of clarity and perspective draining out of you.

Do you remember the first album/CD/tape you ever bought? Has it had any impact on the music you are making today?

The Prodigy - Fat of the Land. I still think "Diesel Power" is the hardest beat I've ever heard. It's difficult to tell what kind of impact that album has had on me, but at the least it introduced me to electronic music.

Who was your most influential family member growing up? 


Definitely my Mom. The only one in the family who I felt I could have be "random" around or have a philosophical discussion with. That was influential enough in and of itself, to know that there was someone who would respond positively to whatever weird thought or question I had.

How did you come to hone your unique vocal style?

Probably by trying to imitate other singers and failing. I'm kind of a singer by necessity; I hated being in bands so I had to figure it out for myself. I latched on to other singers because I didn't know what I was doing. But it turns out I'm not good at imitation, so I ended up sounding more like me than anyone else. Now, years later, I'm fairly confident with my own voice and try not to overthink my approach. This reminds me that I can't to start performing live with The Sere!

What gear was essential in finding your sound as The Sere?

I'd like to start name dropping a bunch of analog gear for cred (which I do use), but the reality is I use a lot of software because I work faster with a computer. I am not fond of having to physically turn knobs; I find it tedious and exhausting. I get that a lot of musicians find that fun, but not me. Using hardware is something I do begrudgingly because it does often get a "better" sound. I've been using the Korg Minilogue xd a lot. It's been the sonic foundation for The Sere.

Any final comments? (This is your electronic soapbox for one last answer.)

I have new music coming soon that is a slight departure from "Always the Cold Moon". It's colder, more machine-like, and dancier. I had a realization that I really want to make people dance, even if it's to dance their sadness away. My vocal delivery has evolved, too. I'm really excited about the future and all the music I have yet to release.