Serena Isioma: THE DREAMER

Serena Isioma is a Chicago-based Lo-fi and Alt-RnB artist that has made a name for themselves in little time with some bangers. Easily, their most popular track on Spotify is Sensitive, which garnered a total of over 65 million plays at the time this piece was published.

The artist has also secured 1.4 million monthly listeners on Spotify, indicating that their music is heard and appreciated by several people all over the world. While some songs may be more popular than others, there are several tracks that are well over a million plays, proving that they didn't get a break simply for one piece.

Serena Isioma is a relatively new musician in the scene, starting only in 2019, but their growth has been significant nevertheless. Their gender identity has also been an important part of their music career. Serena identifies themselves as a genderless individual who lives and breathes music. In addition to their identity shaping the style and feel of their music, it also has better representation for people of the LGBTQ+ community around the world. Their testament to putting an emphasis on their community is also evident in their music videos for the tracks Meadows in Japan and Sensitive.

At the same time, their identity has also helped them move beyond fixed categories and genres of music. Therefore, there's no particular expectation one can have about Serena's music in terms of feel, dynamics, and form. Instead, the artist borrows elements from various genres, creating their own unique creative expression. In addition to that, they have also managed to supplement catchy melodies with powerful lyricism, giving their work character, personality, and emotional weight.

The artist has also released quite a significant repertory of music in their relatively short career. Thus, listeners can begin to trace elements from Hip Hop, RnB, Indie Pop, and more in their tracks. It's clear that Serena is focused on their craft and is dedicated to creating art that is true to them, regardless of what genre it may be categorized as. The ability to continuously vary the genre and style and still showcase great earnestness in their music is undeniably a feat, and that also gives us, the listeners, more food for thought about how the idea of genres can be limited to the way we comprehend and experience art.

Perhaps this earnestness also comes through to the listeners because of the love and care that goes into creating their art. Serena Isioma has taken great steps now to take a completely hands-on approach to creating their music. This way, they can ensure that they have as much creative control over their music as possible. Now, while that decision may be more work for the artist, the listeners get to enjoy art that's wholly characteristic of Serena. Therefore, even though the genres and style may not be consistent in their music, the authenticity and heart are always present. That can make for both captivating and entertaining art, and we could all use more of that.