Serena Jost writes and performs songs. A dynamic singer and cellist with a hauntingly beautiful voice, she is a unique performer whose music evokes vivid emotional landscapes. She is currently recording her 4th album at Grammy winning Studio G in Brooklyn. In May 2025 she and her ensemble performed at the esteemed NYC venue Pangea where her performance was described as “magical and a true healing”.
In 2024 Serena conceived BLOOM, a “staged choreography of song”. A full-length piece of songs and improvised music, text, movement and visuals, the work premiered to a sold-out audience at Five Myles Gallery (Hanne Tierney) in BK. In part inspired by a workshop with Meredith Monk, this first presentation of the work will lead to further performances in 2025.
Jost also recorded live to vinyl with her band at Leesta Vall Recordings in 2023, was a featured guest on WFMU (Irene Trudel) and WPKN (Bob Johnson), as well at The Mike Watt Show (Iggy Pop). In 2018 she completed a solo album of songs for voice and cello recorded at St. Peter's Church in Chelsea, NYC. Recorded by Adam Gold and mixed by Chris D. Butler, Up To The Sky received many rave reviews, "one could be persuaded that the church was designed with the eerily predictive intention of helping shepherd this one piece of work into the world." (Stereo Embers) Her previous album, A Bird Will Sing, was produced by the legendary Anton Fier (Golden Palominos) and recorded with her band, Julian Maile, Rob Jost and Robert DiPietro. Brad Albetta (Martha Wainwright) produced her debut, Closer Than Far.
A long time New Yorker who grew up between The Midwest and Switzerland, Serena has walked along the Great Lakes, over mountain passes and loves to take to the streets of NYC. She has performed across Europe, the UK and the US and Canada. She has perfomored at seminal NYC venues such as Joe’s Pub, Rockwood Music Hall, The Owl, Barbès, The Swiss Consulate, The Living Room, Pete’s Candy Store, Tonic, and The Kitchen. She has collaborated with poets Anne Waldman, Eleni Sikelianos and Dan Machlin (Immanent Audio, Ugly Duckling Presse), musician Matt Kanelos and numerous dancers, including Douglas Dunn and Kathryn Sanders (Wally Cardona). Together with composer/cellist Matthew Robinson, she led a 50-cello performance on Governor's Island. She was an original member of Rasputina..
"the Elizabeth Barrett Browning of avant-classical folk" —Stereo Ember Magazine
"It was as if she stepped off a cliff into the musical abyss–and lived to tell." —WUSB-FM Finn Miller, TwirlRadio.com
"Imagine mixing the sound of Mary Hopkin with the haunting sound of Nico, and you might begin to have some idea what the overall vibe is like. This time around, she stands alone with her cello presenting music that is real, personal, and immediately effective. While Jost's previous albums were more commercial, our guess is that Up To The Sky will be one of the high points in her career." —Baby Sue
"a collection of composed and improvised pieces that marry her distinctive playing style with her otherworldly voice." —KMUW, Jedd Beaudoin (Wichita's NPR Station)