Pol Sembrano Gifts Fans With Contagious Optimism On Self-Titled Synth Pop Album
Synth Pop visionary Pol Sembrano celebrates mindfulness, gratitude, contagious optimism and personal growth through new wave and 80’s inspired earworm melodies on his new self-titled album, making for a truly addictive listen. “Pol Sembrano” inspires listeners to embrace who they are without fear of judgement and serves as a reminder that radical acceptance is wise and cultivates inner joy. Retro-inspired, yet grounded in the current zeitgeist, ample club-ready hooks pervade this highly focused collection of songs that connect on a vulnerable human level. Pol’s art exudes passion for his musical lineage, depth of pop sensibility, hard-won life experience and sensitivity to the creative process. Fans of artists like the Pet Shop Boys, Depeche Mode, Blondie, New Order, Future Utopia, The New Pornographers, CHVRCHES, Erasure, Poolside and even Madonna will find inspiration in this brilliant and wide open creative mind.
“My self-titled debut album is lyrically written from personal experience. Themes include the joy of escapism, isolation, unrequited love, death and hope. Musically, the songs are melodic, hook driven, danceable and thought-provoking. Listeners may be able to connect with the music and apply it to their personal lives.”
Pol Sembrano is a Filipino-American composer and classically trained pianist from Seattle who has now established his own sonic and spiritual imprint on emotionally charged and immersive synth pop, new wave and electronic music. The album is impeccably produced by Canadian heavyweight musician (Belvedere, Vixin) and producer, Casey Lewis of Echo Base Studios. The music is danceable and experimental at the same time. A thought-provoking party vibe the likes of which hasn’t been seen since the late 00s or even the 80s.
Lead single “Anywhere” is a perfect example of his contagious optimism and a sense of adventure. Pol’s music and writing is informed by real life experience, a deep love for adventurous travel (he has visited 57 countries) as well as unique situations such surviving the South East Asian tsunami disaster of 2004. Pol is grateful for the life he has after witnessing this overwhelming catastrophe.
“I wrote the song “Anywhere” as a homage to world travel as I have been visiting different nations regularly for the past few decades. Setting foot in a new country and experiencing its culture, sights, cuisine and people is, for me, an unforgettable experience. My father, before he passed, mentioned that traveling is the best education and one should not limit oneself to a predictable comfort zone or personal confines. It is especially worthwhile to travel with someone whom you love since both are creating long lasting memories to be shared. Life, in my world, is more about experiences and less about routines of day to day living.
I am fortunate to have visited fifty-seven countries during my lifetime, Taiwan being the most recent. Other countries I’ve explored include Ecuador, Morocco, Croatia, Sweden (since I am a huge ABBA fan) and Malta. I anticipate many more destinations in my future since the world is a huge place, then again, it isn’t.
My most unforgettable travel moment was visiting Thailand on December 26, 2004. I was at West Railay Beach in the southern part of the country when the southeast tsunami occurred (due to a massive 9.2-9.3 earthquake in the Indian Ocean). As I saw the wall of water approaching the beach I ended up gathering my belongings and headed inland, hoping to escape the enormous wave. Unfortunately, I was engulfed by the water and was completely submerged amidst rocks and other debris. When the wave made its way back to sea I was completely disoriented and was trying to make sense of it all. I was incredibly fortunate to have lived to tell this story.
This unforgettable episode in my life will surely not hinder me from traveling. It will, however, remind me that life is precious and I need to make the most of my time to experience new things and most of all – express myself through my music”
Watch the official music video for “Anywhere”.
The second single “Open Mind” weaves Pol Sembrano’s powerful message and true life experience around pulsating beats and multi-layered orchestration to deeply inspired effect. “Open Mind” explores human relationship and fearless rick-taking with a message of acceptance and spirituality
Lyrically it provides support and encouragement to those who are being oppressed and/or persecuted. The narrator may have experienced being in this situation but was successful in overcoming his personal hardship and adversity.
“Open Mind” is about accepting people for who they are and supporting them if they are suffering from any sort of persecution.”
Watch the official music video for “Open Mind”.
About his signature sound, Pol adds “I have always been confident in myself as a musician and by writing, producing, arranging and performing on my own. I am a classically trained pianist, but I am also inspired by other genres of music, in this case electronic/dance music. This provides a whole new dimension in my music persona as I do not wish to be categorized as “this or that type of artist”. The music is hook-driven with melodies that intertwine, especially at the end. This enables the listener to hear subtle nuances which make for an interesting listening experience.”
With a focus on vintage synths inspired by experimental artists of the 80s and 90s, Sembrano also puts an emphasis on his existential lyrics. It’s a form of artistry he likely wasn’t able to explore much as a classical pianist, not to mention programming. But he has embraced this expression wholeheartedly.
We Rave You calls his sound “A Sonic Odyssey of Love, Loss, and Liberation”, and Big Takeover Magazine describes it as “danceable yet thought-provoking, nostalgic and fresh” while likening the sound to Depeche Mode and New Order. Grungecake commented that Pol “combines intricate melodies, existential lyrics, and a polished production style reminiscent of icons like Depeche Mode, New Order, and Blondie.”
The debut album is filled with hooks, introspective lyrics and moody chord progressions. The eclectic, yet unified collection of songs dives into the realm of alternative pop, dance music, retro pop and warm, acoustic ballads. These various genres classify Pol as an honest, straightforward and diverse musician and artist. Those seeking fun and release from self-judgement when embracing pop and electronic music will find much to love here. Look out for this synth pop gem starting February 20th on digital platforms.
Listen to “Pol Sembrano” in full and pre-order through Bandcamp.
Listen to “Anywhere” on Spotify.
Listen to “Open Mind” (Radio Edit) on Spotify.
Artist Information:
Artist Name: Pol Sembrano
Location: Seattle, Washington
Release Title: Self-Titled (Album
Label: Independent
Musician Names/Instruments:
Pol Sembrano (Vocals, Keyboards, Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Programming)
Producer Name(s): Casey Lewis/Echo Base Studio, mixing, mastering
Pol Sembrano – recording, pre-production
Similar/RIYL: Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys, New Order, Erasure, Cause & Effect, The Beloved, Camouflage, Everything But The Girl, Blondie, CHVRCHES, Future Utopia, The Japanese House, Niki
Genre(s): Synth Pop, New Wave, Electronic, Dance, Indie Pop
Tracklisting:
Open Mind
Anywhere
Pedestal
On That Day
Number
Nothing To Say
Why On Earth
Meet Me There
Fall
Websites:
Official Website: https://polsembranomusic.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pol.sembrano
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/polsembranomusic/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5n6eyDpDiKTKxG9BTPAC00
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mJjYhHNpJWbbyCk2o2GhVGSHfQrekmxBk
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/search?term=Pol%20Sembrano
Artist Contact Email: polfs@hotmail.com
Artist Bio:
Pol Sembrano is a Filipino-American artist/musician who undertakes multiple roles when crafting introspective, poignant and reflective songs, as often heard in the lyrics. He is a singer, songwriter, instrumentalist and producer who recorded his self-titled debut album without the assistance of a formal band or other songwriters.
“Although I am open to working with other collaborators, I want to prove to myself I can musically survive on my own, especially at the very beginning stages of this artistic journey. My goal is to share my music with those who will hopefully connect with it. Whatever happens afterwards is not up to me but the universe.”
The debut album is filled with hooks, introspective lyrics and moody chord progressions. The eclectic collection of songs dives into the realm of alternative pop, dance music and warm, acoustic ballads. These various genres classify Pol as an honest, straightforward and diverse musician and artist.
The “Anywhere” EP release received widespread critical acclaim from major outlets such as We Rave You, who called it a “A Sonic Odyssey of Love, Loss, and Liberation”, and Big Takeover Magazine, who called Pol’s music “danceable yet thought-provoking, nostalgic and fresh” while likening the sound to Depeche Mode and New Order. Grungecake commented that Pol “combines intricate melodies, existential lyrics, and a polished production style reminiscent of icons like Depeche Mode, New Order, and Blondie.” Music Times UK describes Sembrano as “a talented and innovative artist who is not afraid to push boundaries and explore new sounds.”
Pol’s music and writing is informed by real life experience, a deep love for adventurous travel (he has visited 57 countries) as well as unique situations such surviving the South East Asian tsunami disaster of 2004. Pol is grateful for the life he has after witnessing this overwhelming catastrophe.
Pol Sembrano’s self-titled full-length album is due for release in early 2026 and being mixed and mastered by Casey Lewis (Belvedere, The Failure, etc) at Echo Base Studios.