With Saro’s stark warning on SoundCloud “do not fall in love,” it’s clear that his Boy Afraid EP has an awful lot to do with falling in and out of love. The title-track from his new release is where Saro gets real - “little boy afraid, slip away, I don’t see you in my future” - a declaration ignited by the Californian’s faultless falsetto and luscious tenor; these different vocal approaches backed by his consistent new-R&B production. ‘Boy Afraid’ is an elegant piece of soulful noir-pop, one that isn’t dragged down by melancholy, but uplifted by the liberation of allowing the truth to speak. Striking the balance between heartfelt ballad, mid-tempo pop anthem and new era R&B, Saro aims to pique the listener’s interest just ahead of the full EP release on December 15th. -HT