When Sezairi sings, it’s an experience that goes beyond vocal prowess. Taking the Singapore Nights stage alongside Reese Lansangan, his voice glides above the crowd as he croons to It’s You, a touching ballad dedicated to his wife. One could attribute this to a combination of things, like his unique range, soulful melodies, or thoughtful lyrics. But one thing’s for sure—Sezairi knows how to command an audience, in a way that feels as organic as breathing.
It’s strange to think, then, how someone with such a natural affinity for music could have done anything but. Before pursuing music full-time, Sezairi had initially applied both to art school and as a full-time police officer. Both applications were accepted, and before he knew it, he found himself choosing between the two. It was then that he realized he wanted to do music for a long time, ultimately spurring his decision. “Music’s like a muscle for me, kinda like how you can still ride a bicycle after ten years of not doing so,” he says. “It’s something that I can come home to and feel safe at—a muscle where I can flex my creative ideas.”
With roughly a decade’s worth of experience under his belt, Sezairi continues to captivate, bringing in tunes equal parts lively and resonant. One has to wonder where he draws enough magic to be to forge such a lasting impact throughout the years. The answer, as it turns out, is quite simple—the desire to forge a deeper sense of connection to whoever’s listening.
“It’s really different when someone really tells you that they feel a connection when they listen to your song,” Sezairi notes. “Songwriting is such a lonely process, just you and your thoughts… so when you realize that these thoughts you’ve thought of alone can connect to other people who have similar thoughts, we suddenly become not alone. For me, what I’m trying to achieve is that you feel less lonely in this world, you know?”
And it’s a sentiment that seems to inform the rest of his process. While he doesn’t particularly draw his inspiration from anywhere, a good chunk of his ideas come from listening to other people talk about their experiences with love. One could say it’s what makes Sezairi’s songs all the more relatable, as they draw from universal experiences. In a way, his process plays out like a harmonious loop—by making music that connects him to other people, this connection feeds into his drive to create more music.
When we think about what drives us, we often see it as fire that burns within, waiting to be let out. But if there’s something Sezairi could teach us, it’s this: passion doesn’t always have to be an individual experience. Sometimes, it takes two to make passion possible.
