Artist Interview: 1-on-1 with SERAh

There’s something captivating about SERAh’s music. It’s not just the melodies, basslines, or production. It’s the feeling she creates. Before her performance at Expedition EDM Festival in Indio, California, I had the chance to spend a few seconds with her backstage, and it was immediately clear that the authenticity and emotion woven throughout her music are a reflection of who she is as an artist.

Watching her perform was a highlight of the festival. Her set blended deep melodic textures, euphoric moments, and cinematic storytelling that pulled the crowd into her world. At times, it felt almost hypnotic, the kind of music you put on late at night and let play on repeat as you slowly drift off into a trance. Every transition felt intentional, every moment part of a larger story.

It was a pleasure meeting SERAh, seeing her perform live, and spending time with her for this feature. She is a rising star with a clear artistic vision and a sound that feels both powerful and deeply emotional. I have a feeling this is only the beginning, and I can’t wait to see where her journey takes her next.

In the meantime, it is my absolute pleasure to introduce you to SERAh.

Yesterday was my first time seeing you perform live, and it was great meeting you in person as well. What was your experience like playing at the Expedition EDM Festival in Indio, California, and how did the crowd’s energy compare to what you expected coming into the event?
It was definitely one of the hottest festivals I’ve played, in more ways than one! DJing in 104° heat in long sleeves was a new experience for me, but it was a lot of fun and I could tell the early arrivers were enjoying the music.

Now that the festival has wrapped up, what were some of your favorite moments or memories from your set at Expedition EDM Festival?
Favorite moments were the three or so times I had an especially impactful build or transition, and the crowd would just rush out from under the shade for the drops, despite the scorching heat!

Festivals create a completely different energy compared to clubs or smaller venues. Looking back on your performance yesterday, how did you approach your set differently for the festival environment?
This was the fourth festival I’ve played, and I’ve found that compared to clubs and warehouse raves, festivals are more open to and appreciative of melodic and/or vocal elements in sets. So I definitely mixed it up here, with plenty of high-energy bangers as well as more emotional moments in between to keep things euphoric.

Expedition EDM Festival brought together a mix of rising talent and established artists. Were there any DJs or producers on the lineup that you were especially excited to watch or connect with backstage?
I didn’t know anyone! I actually moved to LA just a few months ago, so it’s been fun playing shows and meeting a ton of new people. One thing I liked about the festival was that it featured all local artists rather than outsourced talent. I was really a fan of how it promoted and supported the local community.

Your latest release, “I Just Wanna (Lie With You),” carries such an emotional and uplifting vibe. Did that emotional storytelling influence the direction or mood of your live set yesterday?
Absolutely. That song is about being stuck in something you know isn’t healthy but choosing it anyway, and there’s a kind of release in the second half that I wanted the whole set to mirror. I think about a live set the same way I think about a track — it needs an arc. You want people to feel like they went somewhere by the end.

In a recent Muse Chronicle feature, you talked about continuing your musical storytelling. How important is storytelling when you’re building a live festival set from beginning to end?
It’s everything for me. Even if the audience doesn’t consciously register it, they feel whether a set has intention or not. I’m not just playing songs I like in an order that makes sense technically — I’m thinking about what emotional state I want to move people through. That comes directly from how I approach making music. Every song I put out is a chapter in a larger story, and a live set is the same thing compressed into an hour.

Your music blends melodic emotion with high-energy electronic elements really naturally. For people in Indio who may have been hearing SERAh for the first time yesterday, how would you describe your sound and style?
Dark but euphoric. Melodic bass with a cinematic quality — it hits hard but it’s always emotional underneath. I make music for people who feel things deeply, but maybe don’t always express it. If you’ve ever heard a song that made you feel unexpected catharsis while dancing, that’s pretty much I strive to create.

It was nice meeting you too, by the way, and what a great set. After getting off stage, what kind of feedback or reactions from fans stood out to you the most?
People always notice that my sets take them on a journey from start to finish. Just to get technical for a minute, I attribute this experience to the fact that I first learned how to DJ progressive house at the Tulum DJ Academy, and I still apply that heavy layering style of DJing to my sets. It’s extremely unusual in the melodic bass/melodic dubstep world, but I think it works!

Live electronic performances are about more than just playing tracks. When you’re on stage at a festival like Expedition EDM, what do you focus on most to create a memorable experience for the crowd?
Connection. Everything else is secondary. The technical stuff — transitions, levels, reading the crowd — all of that is in service of making people feel like something real is happening, not just a playlist. I want people to feel like I’m experiencing the music with them, not just performing at them.

Southern California has one of the strongest EDM communities in the world. How has being part of that scene influenced your growth and evolution as both a producer and DJ?
I may be biased since my genre is popular here, but I think SoCal has some of the most discerning electronic EDM fans in the world, which forces you to be good. The Insomniac ecosystem especially — there’s a standard there. Being around that has pushed me to close the gap between where I am and where I want to be faster than I think I would have otherwise. I’ve only been here a few months, but I’ve already been getting booked like crazy.

A lot of preparation goes into a festival performance behind the scenes. Now that the show is over, did everything go according to plan, or were there any unexpected moments during your set?
It’s rare for me to say this, but to be honest everything has been going according to plan, and if anything it’s been above and beyond what I expected to accomplish my first few months in LA. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunities I’ve had and the amazing people I’ve had the privilege of meeting.

For fans who discovered your music yesterday at the Expedition EDM Festival, what do you hope they took away from your performance and your music overall?
That there’s a whole world behind the music. I’m not just making tracks — I’m writing stories; if you listen closely to the lyrics in my sets, you may notice that everything is cohesive from beginning to end. If even a few people walked away curious enough to go dig into Lyra’s World (my musical world building project), or felt something they didn’t expect to feel, that’s the whole point.

Thanks again for taking the time to do this. Before we wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share about the Expedition EDM Festival, your latest music, or what’s next for SERAh?
The next chapter is already in motion. More music, more visuals, more story. I’ve been building this thing piece by piece and it’s starting to feel like it’s becoming what I always imagined it could be. Stay close.

Thanks for doing this. In all of my interviews, I always give the artist the last word. Go.
Find beauty in the darkness.

About the author

Ricky L. Potts, Jr., CCM, CCAM, CML, CMP

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