MANILA, Philippines?Secondhand Serenade has a new album out, titled ?Hear Me Now? (Warner Music). For those who haven?t heard, this pseudonym of singer-songwriter John Vesely is best known for the songs ?Fall For You? and ?Your Call.?

These are the tunes one usually heard on the radio in the wee hours while riding a taxi. Why do DJs like playing them?

Probably it?s the songs? calming acoustic sound and the sad but nearly hysterical voice of the singer that could keep people alert even when they?re drunk. But are these tunes really serenades or actually emo stuff that the youth love to ingest nowadays?

Over the phone the Inquirer clarified things with Vesely, who has expanded the group with other members. Many would surely raise a howl of protest for the comparison, Vesely is to SS what Trent Reznor is to Nine Inch Nails.

Your songs speak of longing, regret, devotion, failed relationships. They would suit the jazz or blues idioms. Ever thought of doing those styles?

Well the influence is there because my father was a professional jazz musician. Growing up, I remember in seventh grade, I played jazz with my dad. I played the saxophone and the bass guitar. It was my father who showed me that it?s possible to follow your dreams and stick to your goals no matter what.

What kind of jazz did your father play? John Coltrane or Earth, Wind and Fire?

More of the Coltrane and Miles Davis stuff. He has lots of stories about them.

How about blues musicians?

Not so much, but I do appreciate their passion in music. They?re completely honest in what they do.

You managed to break into the commercial music scene via the indie route. Was it difficult?

It?s not that difficult. Nowadays it?s easy to connect with the audience even if you?re just starting on your own. The technology is there. With my first album, ?Awake,? I just posted songs in Secondhand Serenade?s MySpace account and got noticed... even got voted No. 1 indie artist of the month. There were invites to play in bars in the [San Francisco] Bay Area. Next thing I knew, I have a manager and a record label. But I did pay my dues. I was a bass player for various bands for eight years before I hit the jackpot.

How does it feel growing up in Menlo Park? Is there something about the place that?s conducive for creative people like, ahem, well you.

(Laughs) It?s a relatively quiet little city. Menlo Park is an ideal place to grow up in. But it?s the San Francisco Bay Area that helped me a lot as a musician. There are so many good clubs there where musicians can play and develop their skills in jazz, blues, heavy metal, rock, punk, grunge, acoustic, they?re all there.

How is ?Hear Me Now? different from the first two albums?

Very different. It?s more about connecting with my fans. (The first album, ?Awake,? had songs about wooing his ladylove who became his wife for three years; the follow-up, ?A Twist In My Story,? was about how they drifted apart as a couple and eventually divorced).

Gin Blossoms played in Manila recently. Was the band an influence, and when are you coming here?

Gin Blossoms is a fantastic band. I listened to a lot of its stuff when I was starting. Its music has an acoustic feel. And that?s what I really wanted to do back then. Hopefully this January we can add the Philippines in our tour because we have shows in Indonesia.

We?re looking forward to that. Any veteran musicians you want to collaborate or share the stage with in the future?

Wow, I think playing with Coldplay would be a dream collaboration. And U2 also. Who knows what will happen? Let?s see. In the following years, all I want to do is come up with more albums.