"It gave me a glimpse of the vision" - Sergio on supporting Jonah Marais, his Musical Influences and best fan experiences on and off stage!

Transcribed and Words by Grace Wearn

Interviewers: Jessica Kamp & Soph Leigh

Photo Credit: Jessica Kamp

We started prior to the interview by catching up with Sergio, asking what he has been up too and asking how he is.

Jessica: Sergio! Hi, how are you?

Sergio: I'm doing great.

Soph: It's been a long time.

Sergio: Yeah! right, I just got back. I landed in Nashville this morning. I was in LA for a couple days. Back here and ready for my release.

Soph: Perfect. Okay, first question. Who are your musical influences? And how do you think that has influenced you with writing your own music?

Sergio: I have a few, but some of the biggest definitely have to be Bruno Mars and Ed Sheeran. Yeah, those two are definitely up there for my musical influences. And I feel like I feel like I take a little bit of both and to put put and put it into everything that I do. So when it comes to the writing side, they're both fantastic at writing both melodies and lyrics. They also both play instruments. And I try to take that into my sessions as well, just because at the end of the day, every session is a little different. But, you know, it's always nice to have some sort of my personal DNA in the song, whether it's me playing the guitar or piano. And obviously, when it comes to writing, sometimes it's me on my own, or I have a couple of co writers.

But yeah, I think on the performing side of things, they are both fantastic performers. And they're both so different, right? Like Ed Sheeran, it's just him and his guitar. And then with Bruno Mars, it's him and a whole band and he's dancing and he's doing all these things. But I think what I love about both of them is that they bring such an energy to the stage. And both of their shows are so dynamic at the same time. You know, there's definitely moments in the show where everyone's jumping in lyrics together, but then there's also more intimate moments. And that's something that I like to include into my shows as well. Um, I've recently been hearing a lot of people tell me that whenever I have some sort of guitar parts in my songs, it kind of feels like Ed Sheeran strums, because him and Shawn Mendes both heavily influenced my guitar playing. I like to say that I'm not great at guitar, I can just kind of make it seem like I'm pretty good because of certain things that I do when I'm strumming. But yeah, I think, for sure, Bruno Mars and Ed Sheeran are two of the biggest influences.

And then, I mean, to be honest, Justin Bieber also, I think is the artist I look up to the most when it comes to vocals. At the end of the day, I like to, I always work on becoming a well- rounded, on being a well-rounded artist. But at the end of the day, first thing is I'm a vocalist.

And that's why I prioritise that when I'm performing, when I'm recording, even just like on the side, I do a lot of vocal exercises as well. I'm always singing like non-stop. So yeah, those are definitely a few of my biggest influences musically.

Soph: Yeah, that sounds amazing. I can see how it has influenced you!, Now I am thinking back and like when I listen to your music, I look at it now you've said that and I'm like, ah, yes I can see it.

Sergio: That's cool. I'm glad, you know, I think it's so cool because like, you know, we're all so different and every artist, every person is so different. And, you know, I think I used to approach making music and just like I used to approach my solo career from a perspective of like, I want to be the next X. I want to be the next this, that, right. But I got to a place where I was like, no, because I'm just trying to remake something that has already been done. And I started to learn that I started to pull influences from all these different artists that I love and that I've grown up listening to and pour that into who I am as a person. And once I started to lock those two together, right, like being able to pull influences from these people and put into my own music, I think that's when my music started to take more of a turn into just being more authentic to who I am. And I want to continue to go down that lane. But I think it's so cool that people could hear influences as well. Because, yeah, I mean, at the end of the day, that those are the people that I look up to.

Soph: yeah! So on that, Do you have any advice for anyone trying to get into music, like production tips, lyrics, writing, like just kind of any advice you just want to give out to anybody?

Sergio: Yeah. Any advice I'd give out to anybody is just stay patient, to be honest. I think that's the the biggest thing that I've learned the past couple of years. I mean, I've been pursuing my music career in general for 10 years now, but my solo career, it's been five and a bit years. And I think the biggest thing that has killed me, but also started to help me was patience, you know?

Jessica: yeah!

Sergio: Easier said than done, obviously. But, I think the way you are patient is by continuing to live your life, you know, and at the same time, find the joy in the process, because at the end of the day, we all will get desperate or upset if we don't meet certain expectations that we hold for ourselves. But if you think about it, if that's how we're viewing our careers, whether it's in music or anything, to be honest, we're never going to be happy or satisfied? So I think once I started to switch the perspective from I can't wait till I get this goal till I get that goal, X, Y, Z, to just, yo, enjoy where you're at right now. It really started to just help me stay present. And then being present led me to just feeling more patient with myself. Same thing when I'm creating in the studio. Being patient is very, very important, because you can't just like force or rush ideas out. But yeah, I think just patience and consistency are the two biggest things and enjoy what you're doing. That's it, because everybody's journey is different. No one's, I can't, I will give, I can tell you my journey, my story so far, it's going to look completely different to what you're going to experience and what you're going to experience than anyone else. But I think it's cool because we get to learn from everybody's stories, you know. But I think for me, biggest thing is stay patient, stay consistent, and have fun with everything that you're doing.

Soph: Yeah, that's amazing. Lovely, you know, so many people are going to have like different journeys. It's like, some people can like go like from point A to point B. But some people, they just go zigzags, I guess and that's ok - they go up and down.

Sergio: And everything, everything happens for a reason. We also have to, as creatives, whether it's in music or anything else, like we also have to experience life to be able to make art, you know. That's super important.

So yeah, definitely those couple things.

Soph: I'm not going to judge you by what you say next and definitely not biased, but what is your favourite venue you've played so far?

Sergio: I mean, I'm not even saying this just because it's us here, but I really, really loved the Amsterdam and the London venues.

Jessica: Are you sure about that? haha!

Sergio: 1000%. The two venues that we played, the one in Amsterdam and in London, Paris was pretty crazy too. And I say that because I vividly remember, for example, like the Amsterdam show, I walked in the venue to do soundcheck and I just saw the stage and the production of the lights and everything. And I was just like, ah, this is what I've always seen myself, the setting I've always seen myself in, you know? And then I look back at videos of that night and I was just like, wow, that show was just amazing. And then everybody that was working there was so kind. They came up to me and asked me how I wanted my lights and how I wanted to have the stage when I came out and all that. And it was just so cool to experience that. And to look back at those videos, I was just like, damn, I was seeing the vision, it gave me a glimpse of the vision. And in London, same thing, like it was a great venue. It was packed as well. High energy from everybody.

Soph: I'm very glad about that.

Sergio: Yeah. That's why I started that answer with, I'm not even saying it just because it's us three here, but I do mean that for sure. Yeah.

Soph: So leading on from that, what is your dream venue to play at?

Sergio: Yeah. I mean, the dream is obviously to work towards getting those arenas and stadiums, but I think what I've learned is to keep my eyes on the closer goals, because that way I, you know, I don't, I don't get lost in the, in not meeting expectations, you know, like whether that's like getting to this venue by this age or whatever. I say all that because my dream obviously is to play like all the arenas everywhere, you know, the stadium back at home.

But I think right now, the one I'm really working towards is playing the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. Really, really good venue. I think it's just like a couple thousand, I think it's like 3000 or 5000. But it's a really cool venue. And it's also just like, when you play the Greek Theatre, and you sell it out, like that means that your next tour is like, bound to be a bigger one, whether it's an arena or something. So once I get there, not only is it just such a cool venue that I've seen all of a couple of my favourite artists play right before they do arenas. But like, it's just a special, I think that I think playing the Greek Theatre is a very special and memorable point in your career, because that's when you go from playing a couple 1000. Like the Greek Theatre is that that's, I said a few 1000. And then you go to arenas and stuff. And that's where you do the big switch. I've seen, you know, Shawn Mendes and all these artists I look up to play it, and I'm just like, dang, that is so sick. So that's my first, first big venue goal, for sure.

Soph: Tell you what, I've never been to the States, but it semes like a really nice venue from the way you're describing it.

Sergio: It's funny, because I've, I'm taking like these, uh, these big goals that I have and dreams, like, they're kind of like coming as my career goals. It's not like I decided to start my career. And then I had, I want to play here, I want to do this, I want to do that. If anything, I did start my career doing that. But a lot of things happen that I feel like I had to get those thoughts out of my head, not crush the dreams, literally just put them aside for now. Then focus on what I have in front of me, you know, and the artist and the person that I'm becoming the songwriter, the vocalist. I'm holding those dreams tight. I just feel way better about myself, focusing on the more tangible goals, you know, for right now. But yeah, I think when it comes to an arena, I would love to play the arena back in my hometown, in San Francisco. I'm from the Bay Area. It's called Oracle Arena, that would be amazing.

Soph: That's, that's, that's amazing. Like, I don't think I don't like, it's nice to know that, you know, you don't have these high expectations. Because if you even if you if you don't reach those expectations, you're going to be so feel so awful.

Sergio: I have, like no doubt in my mind that, you kind of have got to be delusional at the same time. I have no doubt that I'm gonna be doing all these things, it’s just a matter of time. So it's like, might as well just focus on what the time that I'm in right now first. Because then, when all the other things come, it's going to be even it'll be even better.

Soph: What was your best fan interaction while performing off or on stage?

Sergio: Oh, I will tell you right now, there was one girl that was singing every single lyric to all my songs in Munich. We were in Munich, Germany, and she was singing everything like I played the whole set.

At other shows, there were a couple fans that already knew me, which was really cool, because I'd never been to Europe or UK or anything. But the was one fan in Munich that was just so like, knew everything- I'm talking every single lyric of my own songs, obviously the covers, but like my own songs, too and I was like, wow, that's crazy. In Spanish and English too! because, I sing both. She was singing it all, I was like, dang!. And after I remember, I shouted her out, between one of the songs, I had to ask her what her name was, because I was like, I've never had anyone, you know, be this excited or know this many lyrics in all of my songs, to be honest, especially from another country.

So I think that was definitely the most memorable, it just reminded me of the path that I'm going in. And then obviously, like meeting everyone new as well, like that, that's the whole point of that's why open shows right now is to meet new fans and whatnot. So it was so exciting to everybody and like, it's funny, because I got a lot of people apologising that they didn't know who I was. I was like, you don't have to. They're like, sorry that I've never heard of you. But I promise I'm gonna start listening to your music. I was like, you're good. Like, give me a hug. Thank you for watching the show and I'm glad you like the music. But that was one thing I noticed about all the fans on this tour is a lot of them would be like, Oh, sorry that I didn't know , and I was like, No, you're good.

That’s why I'm doing this.

Soph: Yeah. I bet that's like a memory you'll never ever forget. That's like, that's your European, like,

first! “Yeah, I'll never forget that” moment.

Sergio: Her name is Anika. I'll never forget it. Her favourite song is always one of the songs that was

that's on my project that I dropped last year.

But she was everything. She was singing everything. I was just like, Oh, my. And she was like, freaking out that I was there. Yeah, it was the sweetest thing. Sweetest, sweetest thing.

Anika, if you're watching this, I love you.

Soph: We love we love you. So what’s your favourite fan interaction OFF stage?

Sergio: Um, I'm trying to think. I mean, honestly, Paris was also really cool meeting all the new fans there because everyone was just so sweet. I mean, everyone at all the shows was so sweet to be so honest, like, really nice people, very kind. And they were just all so excited to be there.

And I think that all as I said, I came back to the States just like very inspired. And it was all

very much what I needed to kind of keep that motivation going.

You know, and yeah, there were a lot of new fan interactions for sure. But Dublin was cool, there was a good amount of people there. Honestly, yeah, in Dublin, there were four fans that all came up to me afterwards. They were fans of they knew my old boy band ‘in real life’. And they were just so excited to finally meet me. They were like, we've been following you since 2018. And it was just it's crazy that, you know, you're part of these people's lives. And you basically grow up together. So it was really special to to talk to them and finally meet, you know?

Soph: what was the band you were in?

Sergio: It was called “In Real Life”. We were put together on a TV show that was called Boy Band. Here in the US in 2017. Yeah, it was a singing

competition. So the premise of the show was to put together a boy band. A bunch of guys flew in to audition to be a part of this band. And then throughout the competition, they would put us in groups, we'd perform and then people would get eliminated. They'd shuffle the groups until there was one last band. And yeah, and I was a part of that. Then we got signed to Hollywood Records. They were a record label that was affiliated with Disney. So they got to help get us started. And yeah, basically just threw us on tour right after the show. So yeah, it was very similar to Jonah. That's how Jonah and I met back when we were in boy bands. So yeah, pretty crazy.

Soph: In Real Life and Why Don’t We, huh! Leading on, what’s your favourite song to perform?

Sergio: My favourite song to perform? Honestly, right now, Fix Me. Because it is just so it's such a good

it's high energy. It's really fun. But I know my new song Don't Come Back is coming out. And it might it MIGHT turn into that one. Not gonna lie, because I mean, with every single show, I know the song isn't even out yet, but by the end of the song, everybody was already singing it and jumping around. And I mean, it's just it's a great one to perform live! So I feel like when I start to perform, so I'm like, all right, I really enjoyed it, and everyone seemed to really have enjoyed it before it even came out, so I can't imagine once it's out, it might be a fan favourite, everyone's gonna be yelling it, all these things, but during the tour, I had a lot of fun performing Fix Me, because it's just like, it's a pop banger, you know, and it's a great way to come on stage, it's very high energy, it's exactly how I like to start my shows.

Soph: I will be honest, when you played “Don't Come Back” I was actually like this is amazing. And I was with people that I had just met that day, and they had the same reaction!

Sergio: Thank you, thank you so much. I feel like it's gonna turn into a fan favourite one. I think that was, I've been performing Fix Me for so long now, but yeah, it's gonna turn into Don't Come Back. I feel like that it’s gonna happen with the next shows that I play.

Soph: okay, what is your favourite country you've travelled for, for a gig, concert, anything?

Sergio: Well, to be honest, I've only ever, I've only played shows in the U.S. and in the Philippines. The

Philippines was cool, but, so I'm just thinking about the tour right now. We had Dublin, Manchester, London, what else did we play? Paris, Cologne, Berlin, Munich, and Amsterdam. Oh, that's a hard one. Sorry, I was naming all the cities, not the countries. I mean, there was just so much, I will tell you right now, where I felt the most excitement for me personally was in, I felt lots of excitement in Manchester. So definitely the U.K. has a special place in my heart. I felt lots of love, nah, that's a hard question, yeah. I don't know, I truly love them all.

Soph: Let me rephrase, ok, top three, but not in order.

Sergio: Okay, perfect, way better. U.K. for sure, Netherlands, and France.

Soph: Ok, because, we're all mainly British, apart from Jess. What’s your favourite British food?

Sergio: I don't know if I had, like, a tradition, like, a British thing, to be honest. I, I had really

good Indian food, and a really good, like, scrambled eggs, biscuit, and bacon.

Soph: Biscuit?! AND bacon?! Biscuit is what you put in your tea.

Sergio: Oh, sorry, not biscuit. Not biscuit, croissant. Why did I say biscuit? A croissant. What’s like, something I gotta try next time?

Soph: Soo.. next time you have to follow through with the, with the spoons (Wetherspoons) plan, I'll say that. You also have to go to Toby Carvery and have a roast dinner. A Sunday roast.

Sergio: A Sunday roast, okay. Noted.

Jessica: How about the Netherlands? What kind of food did you have?

Sergio: I didn't have anything special out there food-wise, but I did have orange wine, I think is what it was. Um, it was a, yeah, literally wine, that was just boring.

Soph: Okay, so, obviously, this month is June.

Surprise, surprise. Um, so, June is, like, you know, two different types of, like, Awareness Month,

so it's Pride Month, and also it's Men's Mental Health Awareness Month, right? So, more to the

mental health side of things, because June is Men's Mental Health Awareness Month, have you

got any advice for anyone struggling in the world with anything? Well, mostly men, boys, you know, people, you know, are forms of that category.

Sergio: Definitely, I think, talk to people that you really trust, but also, like, journal. I think for me, journaling truly changed my life. I got to, just learn so much about what you hold in your head, and half the things that we're worrying about, or have anxiety about, or where all the doubts that we have,, we kind of just got to get them out, because at least for me, I just have to get things out, and once I speak about something, I realise, or write it down, I realise the importance of it, and yeah, it just, it helps you truly just empty your brain out. So,, I would give any advice, for anyone that's going through anything, I'd suggest to start journaling, and I always, I have a couple friends that I've given that advice to, and it's helped them a lot and yeah, just truly giving yourself

some more grace, I think we put a lot of pressure on ourselves, and journaling just teaches

you a lot. It shows what's in your head, and, and it helps you process things, and yeah! everyone has their own experience with it, but I think it's a really, really big one, for sure.

Soph: I think that's amazing, because it's like, I know, we, obviously, we know, and don’t know who's struggling, and who's not struggling in your life. There's so many people out there that, you know, go through so much, it's like it's just so many, especially men, as well, because they're told, you've probably heard as you're a man, you've probably heard the saying ‘to man up.

Sergio: yeah of course! One thousand percent.

Soph: Last one. Your new single, Don't Come Back, comes out on the 6th. What was, so, what was the

writing process like, and can you tell us what, what we can expect to see more from you in the

future?

Sergio: Don't Come Back, I recorded it when I got to Nashville. It was one of the first ones and my friend had a good amount of it done already, so I just went in and just tweaked a couple things that made it more true to me and then it just felt real

special. It was one of those that was just like an instant favourite. On tour, everybody was loving it, and I just, I'm glad that we followed our gut there,

and in the future - you can definitely expect a lot of more music.

Don’t Come Back comes out 06/06 on all major streaming platforms.

You can find Sergio on Instagram here.