Serge Alex to the Rescue of Boston’s Dying Music Scene
Cover image for Serge Alex’s single Playin’
The young artist joins me in the Lion’s Den with his usual springing step and dazzling smile. Serge Alex grew up just around the corner in Roslindale, where he released his first single in 2018 titled “3AM.” It’s no surprise that the energetic 21-year-old has his sights set on the big stage; he’s been interested in performing since the mere age of 16.
The Massachusetts native discovered his passion for music at the local music program, City Spotlights, where Serge also met some of his featured artists and long time friends. The program hosted at the Boch Center focuses on helping teens develop leadership skills and fight for social justice through creative outlets. Since attending, the singer has released four singles across streaming platforms.
His bluesy R&B melodies all seem to convey similar messages of heartbreak, loneliness, and self-discovery— things that come with navigating the trials and tribulations of today’s bizarre dating world. Serge hopes that these common sentiments bring a touch of “relatability” to his audience. Like most artists, he aims to make his listeners feel less alone by saying “things that people are scared to say out loud.”
His upcoming single, “Venus,”will surely do just that. Accompanied by a music video he’s currently creating with Emerson’s Johnny Fort, Henna Jamal and Tristen Pon, the single will display themes of pleasure, materialism, and sexuality. Serge is looking to take a more upbeat tone with the song to try to give his audience a little “boost of serotonin.” The song will feature another local artist, Black Velma, whom Serge met through the same music program he attended as a teenager. The two artists have grown close throughout the years, and have supported each other’s art as they each continued to create beyond the camp.
This past summer, Serge got a chance to explore the west coast music scene while he was working for an internship in Los Angeles. He found himself surrounded by other creatives working towards similar goals and found the environment much easier to work in. Despite our neighbor Berklee being a musical hub, Boston has not seen much success from local artists in recent years. Of course one can’t neglect the state’s 20th century rock sensations like Aerosmith, The Cars, and the eponymous Boston. The city also had its fair share of singer/songwriter sensations like Tracy Chapman and even the contemporary Clairo.
But Boston’s name has been all but erased from the musical map in the last two decades as other major cities have quickly produced the world’s next superstars. As genres like rap and hip hop have risen in popularity, natives from cities such as New York, Atlanta, and LA have seized the top of the charts. The biggest name to exit Massachusetts in recent years is the “Whole Lotta Money” rapper, BIA (although it’s worth noting she had moved to LA before blowing up).
While it’s hard to pinpoint what exactly is holding bean-town back from its previous notoriety, Serge mentions that it’s rather difficult to find stable producers and engineers in this city. Without a supportive environment full of other creators, it’s nearly impossible for the music scene to get its feet back on the ground. Boston’s venues could be another culprit, as many of them are on the small side and rarely utilized for only concerts.
Not to fear, Serge Alex isn’t going anywhere any time soon. The singer hopes to follow in the footsteps of idols such as SZA, UMI, and Alicia Keys, and wishes some day soon to be able to go on tour. As long as there are those like Serge willing to wear their hearts on their sleeve, Boston’s music scene has a glimmer of hope to once again thrive.
Check out all of Serge Alex’s Music on Spotify Here: