Seratones

“I'll tell you what freedom is to me: no fear. I mean really, no fear!” - Nina Simone

Today’s episode is with an old friend of mine who inspires me by simply existing in her truth. AJ Haynes is a queer black woman from Shreveport, Louisiana who fronts a soul-rock band called Seratones. Throughout the past decade, the band has garnered respect from critics and music fans alike by deliberately pushing the envelope of what a band can be in 2022; both sonically and lyrically. Their latest offering, Love & Algorhythms, is sonically emblematic of the multitude of feelings we experience in our modern age; such as joy, loss, frustration, pleasure, and more. Lyrically, the songs are strikingly intimate in regards to the human condition, and I have to say, after having this conversation with AJ; that aspect of the album made all the sense in the world to me.

This episode is deeply personal and a great example of the very purpose of this podcast; where we can talk about life in a way that’s deep and uninhibited. Most of our talk centers outside of music, but eventually rebounds to the craft of songwriting. Along with being an artist, AJ is also the President of the Board of the New Orleans Abortion Fund, a non-profit organization that’s fighting for a woman’s right to choose, especially in the face of the recent Roe v. Wade decision. Another thing to note, this episode was recorded while AJ was sat in her garden, so if you hear bird noises in your ears, don’t worry, you’re not losing the plot; those are indeed intentionally part of the talk haha.

Please consider making a donation to the New Orleans Abortion Fund, you can learn more about the organization by visiting their website here.

After you hear the episode, be sure to check out Seratones track Good Day on the official New Exchange Playlist. Also, be sure to follow Seratones on Spotify, Bandcamp, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.