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Brazilian-born pop artist Germano doesn’t easily get lost in the crowd. The dynamic storyteller and performer is bringing all the theatrics and drama into his craft, making him a standout in any genre. This June, he dropped his sophomore single, “Cool,” and treated Pop Culturalist readers to an exclusive At Home Sessions performance. Check it out below and read our exclusive interview with Germano!

PC: How did you discover your passion for music
Germano: My mother is a pianist, so we’ve always had an upright piano in our house. I remember when I was around five or six, I picked up one of her music books and tried playing, even though I couldn’t read anything. Eventually, I learned to play by ear and with my mother’s help.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Germano: In terms of my music career, I remember seeing Lady Gaga perform “Paparazzi” at the VMAs in 2009 and thinking, “You can do that?” And I’d heard her songs on the radio and all, but that’s when she got my attention. She was weird, theatrical, and wasn’t afraid to go dark with her art and still make it commercial. Also, the connection she has with her fans is something I hope to have with mine.

PC: Tell us about your new single, “Cool.” What was the inspiration behind the song?
Germano: I wrote “Cool” at a time in my life when I was feeling really sad, and so were my friends, and we were stuck on a cycle of trying to numb that feeling by doing things that would give us a rush of excitement. I’ve seen a lot of that while living in Los Angeles. I wanted the song itself to reflect that sweep-under-the-rug mentality, so you might not realize at first that the lyrics are about escapism and self-destructive behavior because they’re disguised as pop melodies.

PC: This is your sophomore single. What was the process like deciding which songs you would release ahead of your debut EP?
Germano: Once I finished writing the EP, I thought I’d release just the title track and then drop the other songs all together. I didn’t plan on shooting a music video for “Cool” or making it a single. I think at one point I revisited the song and started having ideas for a video, and it had been too long since the first single, so it was a mix of timing and unexpected burst of creativity.

PC: Speaking of your debut EP, what can fans expect from The Lost Crowd?
Germano: I think it’s really honest and raw because I didn’t have the intention of putting any music out while I was writing it. And to add to that, my writing process is very subconscious, especially lyrically. I wrote it between 2017 and 2018 when I was going through a weird phase of finding myself as a person and young adult, so this EP captures that part of my life and how I was feeling in a very unpretentious way.

PC: If you had to pick a song off of The Lost Crowd that best encompasses who you are as an artist, what would it be and why?
Germano: At the moment, I’d say “Cool” because I was able to come up with a concept and storyline for the music video that is an extension of the song. The video gives you another way to interpret and experience the song, and I love it when music videos do that. I’m proud of the message behind the track itself, but the visual aspect is also something very important to me as an artist.

At Home Sessions: Germano

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Germano: The Smiths or Elvis Presley.

PC: First album you bought?
Germano: Born This Way by Lady Gaga.

PC: First concert you attended?
Germano: Black Eyed Peas in 2010 in São Paulo.

PC: An album that changed your life and why?
Germano: It’s hard to pick just one because so many different artists have inspired me, but I’d have to say The Fame Monster by Lady Gaga. It’s one of the best pop albums ever, in my opinion. Lady Gaga was unbeatable at the time and so different from everyone else, and it was when I realized I could succeed by being who I am, even if that is weird or unconventional.

PC: A venue on your bucket list to perform at?
Germano: Madison Square Garden

PC: A must-have on the road?
Germano: My laptop and good internet connection.

To keep up with Germano, follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and Spotify. Pick up or stream “Cool” today.