Pol Sembrano is a Filipino-American composer and classically trained pianist from Seattle who has recently decided to step out of his comfort zone into electronic music with his upcoming self-titled album. To get fans in the swing of his new synth-heavy pop style, he’s releasing a teaser EP called Anywhere with four tracks on the album which Sembrano feels reflect this new direction he’s taking.
With a focus on vintage synths inspired by experimental artists of the 80s and 90s, Sembrano also puts an emphasis on his existential lyrics. It’s a bit of artistry he likely wasn’t able to explore much as a classical pianist, not to mention programming.
I have always been confident in myself as a musician and by writing, producing, arranging and performing on my own. I am a classically trained pianist, but I am also inspired by other genres of music, in this case electronic/dance music. This provides a whole new dimension in my music persona as I do not wish to be categorized as “this or that type of artist”.
The music is hook-driven with melodies that intertwine, especially at the end. This enables the listener to hear subtle nuances which make for an interesting listening experience.
In terms of style, Sembrano seems to take inspiration from almost everything, and not just music. “any songs that have a strong melody or hook, a great bass line and lyrics that speak to the heart, as well as understated (visual) masterpieces that are open to interpretation and musicians’ autobiographies.”
In the first four years, audiences will hear lashings of Depeche Mode, Blondie, New Order and even early Kylie Minogue in Sembrano’s clean and well-produced synth work, whilst his vocals are more indie and almost progressive in nature. This combination, as Sembrano says, makes the work danceable but experimental at the same time. A thought-provoking party vibe the likes of which hasn’t been seen since the late 00s or even the 80s.
With the first four teaser tracks whetting fans’ appetites, Pol Semrano is likely to gain a fair few new fans before his debut album even drops.