Ears Wide Open: Saro

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Saro (Photo by Angelo Kritikos)
Saro (Photo by Angelo Kritikos)

This is not a test … except it is. “Test” is the strong new single from L.A. singer-songwriter Saro, a soulful and bittersweet paean to a lover he sees “drowning from the inside.” Highlighted by springy, warm synths and his emotionally weary falsetto, “Test” features co-writing and production from Robin Hannibal (Rhye) as well as the L.A. native’s junior high buddy David Burris, who worked with Saro — real name: Evan Windom — when he made music under the name Evan Mellows. A couple years ago, Evan Mellows had made an impression around town supporting the likes of Gallant, Jarell Perry and James David — as well collaborating with artists like Mad Decent’s Daktyl and releasing a killer duet cover (now sadly vanished from the internet) of Justin Timberlake’s “Blue Ocean Floor” with singer Emily Gold. Here, as Saro, he’s dialed in his childhood R&B influences with production that sounds organic enough to give you the real feels. Did we just write “real feels?” Yes. Saro’s debut EP is on the way later this fall.

||| Stream: “Test”

||| Also: Stream “Two Suns”