Noir-pop singer Saro recently dropped ‘Daddy I Love Him’ – the first offering from his upcoming album. The track was inspired in equal parts by his own coming-out story and The Little Mermaid. The track is serving up fluttery falsetto, a hook that will live in your brain rent-free and Saro’s first foray into vocal production.
Loverboy catches up with Saro to find out more about his first love, performing at the LA Coliseum and Starcraft.
Saro, hello! We’ve finished an important Pride month – how was it for you?
Hey! Pride month was great. I got to perform at the LA Coliseum early in the month which was a dream come true. My outfit on Pride day consisted of sweats though. I was working on music!
Functional and fashionable! Congratulations on ‘Daddy I love him.’ Tell us how it came to be.
Thank you! The song was partially inspired by a boy I dated that my dad hated and also inspired by another boy I dated who had a snake tattooed on his face. It is also the first Saro song where I produced the final vocal myself.
Nice! I feel like you are giving us a much-needed 2021 queer take on ‘Papa Don’t Preach.’ Was that song ever in your mind?
It wasn’t but a few other people have told me that and that’s such a huge compliment so thank you.
On your Instagram post, you mentioned Ariel saying it in The Little Mermaid and I had totally forgotten. Was this part of the inspiration?
When I first wrote that line I didn’t remember either, but when I put it together it became a huge part of the inspiration. After all, it is one of the classic forbidden love tales.
Is there an album on the way? Anything you can tell us?
Yes! All I can say is that it will be a journey. It is unfinished but I am hustling to have it out later this year.
Have you always been able to sing falsetto?
I remember singing in my falsetto as a kid. It came pretty naturally but I did work to strengthen it over the years. I was such a closet singer but my parents would hear me sing in the shower and try to send recordings to agents/managers. I was like, “leave me alone… I’m playing Starcraft”.
You’ve talked about how visionaries break out of boxes and I agree! Do you find starting out in your career, it is easier to conform and be marketable and then breakout? Or just be uncategorisable from the beginning?
All of my faves cannot be categorized even from their first releases. I feel like I have become more “marketable” over the years but that’s just because my tastes are evolving.
How has coming from San Fernando Valley influenced your sound?
I’m a valley boy through and through. I don’t really know what that means for my sound but I’m sure it means something.
You have taken the name Saro as a reference to The Smiths. How do you feel about the way Morrissey is behaving these days – being anti-immigration and pro-Brexit and generally more Conservative. I find it increasingly difficult to remain a fan….
I despise his behavior and given the chance to meet him I would refuse. I have never seen him live and have passed up many opportunities to do so. That being said, I have an idealistic, Smiths-era version of him immortalized in my mind. Those songs are such a big part of who I am.
I know performance is really important for you. What plans do you have for this next era performance-wise?
I love performance. Lately, I am intrigued by increased interaction between movement and music so possibly having dancers and musicians “connected” in new ways. Stay tuned.
Lastly we are named after the biggest-selling single of 2001 so we always ask what is your favourite Mariah Carey track and why?
‘Always Be My Baby’ because of NOSTALGIA. It reminds me so much of my mom and my childhood. The video is also perfect.
‘I Love Him Daddy‘ is out now
Follow Saro on Instagram / YouTube / Spotify
