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Sery Morales on Muck Rack

Sery Morales

(She/Her)
Oakland
As seen in: NewsBreak, RIFF Magazine
Covers:  Music: new tracks, album reviews, musician interviews, festival coverage
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Sery Morales’s Journalist Portfolio

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REVIEW: ‘Everybody Scream’ is most personal work yet for Florence and the Machine

REVIEW: ‘Everybody Scream’ is most personal work yet for Florence and the Machine

RIFF Magazine — Florence Welch has clawed her way back, and she’s brought an album from the other side. After undergoing life-saving surgery during her 2023 Dance Fever Tour, Welch recorded her sixth album, Everybody Scream. Across 12 tracks, she explores healing, mortality and the body’s limits through the lens of spiritual mysticism, witchcraft and folk horror.
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Tuesday Tracks: St. Lucia, Clover County, Ripe, Yam Haus

Tuesday Tracks: St. Lucia, Clover County, Ripe, Yam Haus

RIFF Magazine — We’ve got shoegaze-slanted country from Clover County, funky pop from Ripe, hazy rock by Yam Haus, piano-driven rebellion from Anderson Rocio, shimmery synth-pop by St. Lucia and jazz-infused, nostalgic pop from Taz.
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ALBUM REVIEW: Jon Batiste brings many voices to ‘Big Money’

ALBUM REVIEW: Jon Batiste brings many voices to ‘Big Money’

RIFF Magazine — What could the coexistence of sounds — an orchestra, in other words — reveal about life as told by an American artist? On Big Money, Jon Batiste integrates diverse American musical traditions to create an intimate yet communal work. Greater truths are revealed, discarded, then reiterated. The melodies weave into your head, each voice layering with another.
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Hozier delivers a stirring Outside Lands finale on third day

Hozier delivers a stirring Outside Lands finale on third day

RIFF Magazine — SAN FRANCISCO — The final act of Outside Lands’ 2025 edition opened with a slow build into one of the weekend’s most anticipated sets. Hozier stepped onstage to “So Sweet,” gliding straight into “Rhythm and Blues” as festivalgoers streamed toward the stage.
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Doja Cat and Doechii reign, Beck charms with the Berkeley Symphony at Outside Lands

Doja Cat and Doechii reign, Beck charms with the Berkeley Symphony at Outside Lands

RIFF Magazine — SAN FRANCISCO — The opening day of Outside Lands 2025 was mostly about the ladies; specifically, headliner Doja Cat and her lead-in, rising rapper and singer Doechii. Striding onto Land’s End stage in head-to-toe zebra print, Doja Cat — who’s steadily grown from opening a pop show at Slim’s to opening for Lizzo at the Fillmore, to now headlining Outside Lands — was dynamic, feral and utterly in command.
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Tuesday Tracks: Bird Streets, Pool Kids, Felsmann + Tiley

Tuesday Tracks: Bird Streets, Pool Kids, Felsmann + Tiley

RIFF Magazine — Retro-tinged pop noir by Bird Streets, cinematic synth minimalism from Felsmann + Tiley, warm falsetto soul by Katzù Oso, glam-punk grit from Fiona Grey, glitter-fueled sleaze from Garbagebarbie and cathartic guitar pop by Pool Kids.
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Festival La Onda pushes on despite setbacks on second day | RIFF Magazine

Festival La Onda pushes on despite setbacks on second day | RIFF Magazine

RIFF Magazine — Despite the absence of Grupo Firme and the vocal troubles of headliner Carin León, Festival La Onda was a joyous affair in Napa.
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Stephen Day, Trace Mountains, Sorry My Love: Tuesday Tracks | RIFF

Stephen Day, Trace Mountains, Sorry My Love: Tuesday Tracks | RIFF

RIFF Magazine — Soul from Hajaj and Stephen Day with Allen Stone, folky pop by Trace Mountains, a tender tune by Juan Wauters and more.
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Bad Bunny takes a snapshot of Puerto Rico on his eighth LP | REVIEW

Bad Bunny takes a snapshot of Puerto Rico on his eighth LP | REVIEW

RIFF Magazine — The latest by Bad Bunny feels like a passport to Puerto Rico, brimming with celebratory rhythms, poignant reflections and cultural pride.
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St. Vincent not lost in translation on 'Todos Nacen Gritando' | RIFF

St. Vincent not lost in translation on 'Todos Nacen Gritando' | RIFF

RIFF Magazine — With "Todos Nacen Gritando," St. Vincent offers Spanish-speaking fans an album that feels simultaneously familiar and fresh.
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Outside Lands: Sabrina Carpenter plays silver screen star in 'forest fairyland'

Outside Lands: Sabrina Carpenter plays silver screen star in 'forest fairyland'

RIFF Magazine — At Outside Lands, Sabrina Carpenter introduced a new song and included a surprise duet with Kacey Musgraves that left festivalgoers buzzing.
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Outside Lands: Grace Jones stuns with her wardrobe at Land's End

Outside Lands: Grace Jones stuns with her wardrobe at Land's End

RIFF Magazine — From her striking outfits to her hula-hooping, Grace Jones' performance at Outside Lands was high-energy and full of surprises.
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The Bug Club, Macgray, Tones And I: Tuesday Tracks | RIFF

The Bug Club, Macgray, Tones And I: Tuesday Tracks | RIFF

RIFF Magazine — Neo psych rock by Dream Phases, pop from Breymer, a kaleidoscopic '60s-esque blast by Joy Buzzer and a dance collab by Tones And I, Young Franco and CHAII.
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REVIEW: Fred Again.. brings people together at Frost | RIFF

REVIEW: Fred Again.. brings people together at Frost | RIFF

RIFF Magazine — Following a massive gig in San Francisco with Skrillex, Londoner Fred Again.. kicked off a three-night stand at Frost Amphitheater on Tuesday.
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Amos Lee, Leyla McCalla, IAMTHELIVING: Tuesday Tracks | RIFF

Amos Lee, Leyla McCalla, IAMTHELIVING: Tuesday Tracks | RIFF

RIFF Magazine — Southern rock from Robert Jon & The Wreck, Afro-beats by Leyla McCalla, pop tunes by Jordan Suaste and Courtney Farren and R&B from IAMTHELIVING.
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Inaugural Festival La Onda a kaleidoscope of Latin culture in Napa

Inaugural Festival La Onda a kaleidoscope of Latin culture in Napa

RIFF Magazine — NAPA — The Napa Valley Expo, the same site where tens of thousands watched some of the country’s best known rock and hip-hop acts a week earlier, was transformed on Saturday for Festival La Onda, celebrating Latin culture and music.
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Christmas with Brandy - Wikipedia

Christmas with Brandy - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org — Christmas with Brandy is the eighth studio album by American singer Brandy Norwood. It was released on November 10, 2023, through her own label Brand Nu, Inc. and Motown. A follow-up to her 2020 album , it marked her first Christmas album as well as her debut release with Motown.
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Tuesday Tracks

Tuesday Tracks

RIFF Magazine — For this week’s Tuesday Tracks, we bring retro symphonic soul by Jordan Rakei, euphoric alt-rock by Good Neighbours, melancholic slice of life portraits by Pedro the Lion and Phosphorescent, moody guitar pop by Victoria Bigelow and electronic soul by Tim Atlas.
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Shannon and the Clams ruminate on grief on new LP | REVIEW

Shannon and the Clams ruminate on grief on new LP | REVIEW

RIFF Magazine — Oakland's Shannon and the Clams deliver profound reflections about life's impermanence on "The Moon is in the Wrong Place."
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ALBUM REVIEW: Norah Jones' 'Visions' is a ray of light | RIFF

ALBUM REVIEW: Norah Jones' 'Visions' is a ray of light | RIFF

RIFF Magazine — Norah Jones' "Visions" swings the pendulum from darkness to light. You can feel the sun beaming through as she ends one chapter and starts a new one.
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Brainstory, AG Club, Winona Oak and Natalie Jane | Tuesday Tracks

Brainstory, AG Club, Winona Oak and Natalie Jane | Tuesday Tracks

RIFF Magazine — A dance tune by Mahmut Orhan, blues from Mia Dyson, '70s-inspired Chicano rock by Brainstory, the alt-pop of Natalie Jane and more.
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New Tracks: Feb 13

New Tracks: Feb 13

RIFF Magazine — This week’s selections span smooth soul from East Bay hip-hop collective AG Club, a dance tune by Mahmut Orhan, blues from Mia Dyson, electro-pop by Winona Oak, ’70s-inspired Chicano rock by Brainstory and the alt-pop of Natalie Jane.
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The many facets of Kali Uchis' 'Orquídeas' | ALBUM REVIEW

The many facets of Kali Uchis' 'Orquídeas' | ALBUM REVIEW

RIFF Magazine — Revered across the world in its many colors and permeations, orchids are an apt symbol for the multicultural sounds that comprise Kali Uchis' new album.
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Interview: Oakland’s Super Cassette finds the right tech for its message

Interview: Oakland’s Super Cassette finds the right tech for its message

RIFF Magazine — OAKLAND — Pop outfit Super Cassette sings about moving through darkness rather than dwelling in it. “Even in the more depressive songs, there’s a sense of pushing through difficulties and a desire to exist and be happy,” says Max Gerlock, one half of the Oakland duo. Gerlock, the singer, songwriter and guitarist, is sitting on one of the couches and sipping from a water bottle at the back of a dimly lit Lake-Merritt-adjacent bar Room 389 a couple of days before Christmas, as jazzy music plays through the speakers. Gerlock is wearing Super Cassette merch.
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