Zalerno is a dynamic musical duo from New Jersey, formed by Griffin Salerno, just 16 years old, and Joaquin Narucki, 19. What began as a chance meeting and casual jam session quickly blossomed into a deep creative partnership fueled by instinct, trust, and a shared passion for exploring sound. Griffin’s raw, emotive vocals and guitar work blend seamlessly with Joaquin’s thoughtful rhythms and co-writing, reflecting their upbringing in artistic, music-loving households. Their unique chemistry, often described as “sound mates,” pushes boundaries and defies genre, mixing elements of rock, pop, and underground noise to create music that is both honest and fearless. Their latest single, Curious, emerged after months of writer’s block, sparked by a simple riff that captured an elusive feeling Griffin couldn’t shake. The song explores the magnetic, complicated connection between two people, born from Griffin’s personal experience with anxiety and his desire to express the tangled emotions of youth. Zalerno’s music isn’t about following trends or fitting in; it’s about sharing real emotions and sparking new waves of inspiration. With strong family ties to the indie scene—Griffin’s father, James Salerno, is a member of North Jersey’s Cyclone Static—and now joining Mint 400 Records alongside his father, Zalerno is poised to make an authentic and lasting impact. We caught up with the band to talk to them about their debut single:
In your opinion, what are the essential qualities that make a “good songwriter”?
Generally speaking, to me what makes a good songwriter is someone who can capture what they are writing about in such a way, that it connects to other people and really resonates with them. It can’t get more simple than that. People love music. You want to remind them of that. That’s when you know you’ve done a good job.
What is the basis for writing attention-grabbing music in this day and age?
It’s gotta be catchy. That’s it. In other words you need something that grabs someone’s ears and doesn’t let go.
Can you pinpoint some specific songs and songwriters that changed the way you write music?
Many songwriters have inspired me over these past few years. Nirvana was really the band that got me seriously interested in music. I always admired Kurt’s writing and art. Mac DeMarco is a huge one for me. When I got into him it changed everything for me. Not only his music alone, but his music helped me discover a whole new side of the music world, and it branched off in a million directions from there. After I got into Mac’s music, I became a much more versatile listener. I like to call myself a musical chameleon.
Do you find it hard to be inspired by your peers? Can you name any new artists you find inspiring?
Not at all. People inspire me all the time. Even outside of music. I have always been in awe of other people that I looked up to. I listen to a lot of new music currently. I’m really into Dominic Fike. He’s great. Been listening to him for a good while now and he’s basically doing everything I want to do with music.
Do you find that you ruminate over writing songs and hold on to them for a long time before including them on a record? Or do you prefer to write them, release them, and be done with them? Do you ever re-visit old material to do a re-write or once it’s done it’s done?
It really depends on the song. Some of my songs I like and revisit later, and some I lose interest in and don’t do anything with them. Depends on the song.
Were there any lessons you learned in the writing and recording process for your current release that you will take with you into your next project?
Im always recording, I’m always learning. I think the most important thing I have learned is to not be picky about every single detail. The truth is that stuff doesn’t matter when you’re looking at the bigger picture. Get a good recording, and give it to the world.
