Saro New Single «Boy Tears»

L.A. artist Saro releases his new single «Boy Tears» via Tragic Fashion Records.

The track written by Saro, Jesse Saint John (Britney Spears, Kim Petras, Charlie XCX) and David Burris (Mothica, Slayyyter) who also produced is stepped in dark, frenetic, electronic beats with Saro’s signature, falsetto riding delicately on top. «This song is about an insatiable hunger for what flows from a guy’s eyes when they’re in fear, duress or deep sadness. We wanted this song to feel like an industrial, underground dance party in Gotham at 4 am, but make it queer», he says about the track.

«Boy Tears» follows the release of kick off single, «Daddy I Love Him». Saro teamed up with long-time collaborator, Dave Burris for the album, who was joined by Neek for writing and production on «Daddy I Love Him». The electronic-dipped pop gem set against confessional lyrics released on Tragic Fashion Records. “A lot my early work was lyrically and melodically dark but during the pandemic I needed an outlet for light. I think this song shows a more carefree side of me. «Daddy I Love Him” is a nod to my coming out story. At a certain point I realised that if someone didn’t accept me for my true self, they didn’t deserve me in their life», says Saro.

Saro pairs genre-bending, hypnotic, future/pop, left field R&B and elegant, cinematic sounds against his subtly commanding voice—an otherworldly instrument that drifts from airy falsetto to soulful intonation, an outpouring that is simultaneously elegant and alluring. Saro’s brand of noir-pop ultimately bears a hypnotic power that’s got much to do with the fluidity that defines him as an artist. “I think that fluidity is one of the keys to great art—blurring lines and blending influences and though humans will continue putting each other in boxes, the real visionaries will continue to break out to move the world forward.” Originally from the San Fernando Valley, Saro started singing as a child, but mostly kept his voice to himself. “I remember being five-years-old and singing songs to my dogs on the swing set, with all these really sad melodies and dramatic lyrics,” he notes. At the same time, music also provided him with a powerful emotional outlet. “Growing up, I always walked the line between ‘masculine’ and ‘feminine,’” says Saro. “I remember stealing my sister’s tutus to perform on the living room table—I was scrawny and hated sports. Kids would tease me for having a high voice and for being ‘soft.” At age 16, Saro wrote his first song—an R&B number that came to him in the shower, its lyrics including a nod to Disney’s Pinocchio.

His musical debut «In Loving Memory», was an exquisitely mournful EP written after losing a dear friend—singer Simone Battle—to suicide. «She was the first person who inspired me to make music and to believe in me as a songwriter», says Saro. «With her death, a piece of me was lost». Executive-produced by Robin Hannibal (Kendrick Lamar, Little Dragon, Kimbra), «In Loving Memory» also served as his first release under the name Saro (a moniker inspired by a line in “Pretty Girls Make Graves” by The Smiths) and earned acclaim from outlets like Rolling Stone who hailed his single «Test» as «beautiful, dark, twisted fantasia». A year later, Saro poured his emotions out once again into an elevated sound on his sophomore effort «Boy Afraid» featuring the dark, disco thump of «Eyelids» and epic, beauty of «Sardonic». Next came the hauntingly, beautiful EP «Die Alone» giving birth to lead single «Please» which had Paper Magazine cheering «Saro’s triumph rests in the fact that his music full of edgy textures, gorgeous turns of phrase and sweet melancholy melodies exists at all» and The Advocate calling him «Morrissey for the modern era».

Since he began his rise as an artist, he has collaborated with a diverse group of musicians and his feature work can be heard across tracks by Flight Facilities, DVBBS, Slaters, Tinlicker & Helsloot, Zes, Neek and many others. He has also continued to draw attention for the visual elements of his output and a mesmerising stage show that’s entirely bare in emotion. Performing with artists like Empress Of, TR/ST, Sofi Tukker, Miguel, Moses Sumney and at major festivals like Bonnaroo, Pride, Outloud and more has allowed Saro to create unique audience experiences both large and intimate. With more performances on the horizon, he is intent on continuing to blur the boundaries between artist and audience. The release of «Boy Tears» will be followed by additional single releases into a fall album. «With my music, I always want there to be some kind of solidarity. Right now, at a time of such adversity, it’s important to be brave and stand up for race and gender equality and not be afraid to express your sexuality. When people hear the new music, I want them to feel in tune with their emotions and feel pride in their individuality. Beauty, love, and even pleasure can be born from darkness, but you may have to shed a few boy tears along the way».