Solarrio’s modern beats will hit you with that future nostalgia while catching you moving off-guard. This multi-talented musician and producer, based in Berlin, born David Barenboim, carries through a flow and musical tapestry that weaves a funk-pop sound, with an unmistakable "big Rick James energy". In this exclusive interview, Solarrio invites us into the bouncy groove of his latest release, “NLF”, a collaboration he made with fellow record producer/ artist and friend, Holland Izz, shedding light on the song’s organic genesis and the compelling fusion of 80s R&B/Funk legends' homage with their individual creative flair.
Miriam Boulos: Solarrio, your musical journey has been diverse, growing up with classical influences at home to hip-hop production. How did this wide range of experiences shape what came into being the energy and flow that “NLF” holds?
Solarrio: Throughout my life, I liked a lot of different genres of music. Through my productions I got to experiment with different genres of music, but this is the kind of music I personally love to listen to in my spare time. This is also why I got Holland involved cause me and Holland are good friends and whenever we hang out, we listen to oldies, we listen to 70’s and 80’s records a lot of the time. We listen to a lot of new music as well, but we connected over that, I think. So, when I was making this record, there was nobody else I could think of that could fit this record the same as Holland could and did.
MB: I know you mentioned that “NLF” is an homage to 80’s R&B/Funk legends like Prince and Rick James. How did you balance paying tribute to these icons while also infusing your own creative flair into the song?
S: Honestly, we didn’t really think about it too much. When I was working on my album, which is coming out early next year, this is the vibe I was going for, I’m trying to bring back that kinda sound. Obviously modernize it a bit but keep the essence, keep the vibe of all the classics. So, when I was creating the album, I have a playlist to get into the zone, so I usually just sit back and listen to music and get into the vibe. That song was truly vibe inspired. I was here with my co-producer that day, we had a session, we knocked out the instrumental, I immediately started writing my verse and, in my verse, I said something about “nasty little freak” and we were missing a line in the chorus and I remembered I did a song with Holland where he says “she's a nasty little freak” where he repeats it like three times. So, I was like “hey why don’t we sample that’ and we did, and it fit perfectly”. I sent it to him a few days later and he sent me back his verse and that’s how it happened you know!
MB: Did that sample influence the overall vibe of the track and the creative process behind integrating it?
S: It was taken out of one of Holland’s songs that I co-produced called “Do it on the Concrete”. So, it was kind of like subconsciously, the seed was already planted before I even knew it. It all kinda came together perfectly. It was a combination. Because the beat was funky, you know when you make a funky beat you make a stank face like “‘Ooh that’s a funky beat!” I wish I could tell you more about that, but it just happened the way it did. We didn't sit down and say we want to make this type of song, but it happened organically which is how the best songs come together honestly. Nowadays a lot of music is being created in boardrooms and not in recording studios. People are sitting down like: “we need that kind of song; we need to target this audience.” I wanted to free myself from all of that when I was making my project and I wanted to go for stuff that I am enthusiastic about and that I want to hear myself.
MB: Holland, being from Compton, California, a place with a rich hip-hop history, how has your background influenced your approach to music, especially in collaborations like “NLF”?
Holland Izz: My upbringing influenced me by everyday living. Being around, being from there and knowing people from there has shaped my sound and energy as an artist. Because I love to have an edgy sound to me to be exciting, to be crisp but also to get people to change their minds about certain sounds and get into more retro sounds, 80s sounds.
MB: Can you guys share some memorable moments while producing this song from the studio that encapsulates the creative synergy between both of you during the making of?
HI: When we were making the record, one fun thing was Louis, Solarrio’s dog. He's always around and he always gives me inspiration. Seeing him hump his toys around the room that definitely put the “nasty lil freak” in my head *laughs*.
MB: Solarrio, your upcoming album, All The Wrong Places is highly anticipated. Can you share any specific themes or concepts that listeners can expect from the album, based on the creative direction of “NLF”?
S: Sound-wise, they can expect more stuff like “NLF”, a lot of funk, pop-funk, up-tempo, paying tribute to the 80s a lot. Thematically, the long title would be Looking for Love in all the Wrong Places, and this is basically what the album is about. Songs about situations unnecessarily romantic love but any kind of love and looking for it in the wrong places which is what people in our generation are doing.
MB: Any release date for it?
S: I’m gonna release a few more songs, I am looking at an early spring release date for the album if everything goes as planned!
MB: I heard you had a release party in Berlin, how was the release party for “NLF”?
HI: Bonkers, it was fun! We put on a good show. Dave, he did his thing for sure!
S: I got to bring Holland out for that so that was definitely a highlight! It was great cause I was happy to be able to play the song and other songs for a live audience.
HI: And we had a live band which made it ten times better!
MB: This goes to both of you, how do you maintain your authenticity in a genre that often sees evolving trends and moves in different directions?
S: Well, me personally, being a producer as well, I can easily kinda branch out and try different things with my production. But as far as my own music it’s important to know what it’s supposed to sound like, it has to stand for something and has to have a musical identity. I can’t just try different genres and styles. I feel like Holland makes different kinda music than I do, but we both do not want to change trends necessarily. We have a clear sense of what we want to sound like and what we want to bring to the game. This is the only way to make yourself stand apart from the billions of artists out there. It’s not easy because you deal with a lot of rejection and self-doubt, it’s all part of the came but you gotta be confident and comfortable enough with your own music and push through it.
HI: For me, most importantly it’s the fun first. Working with Dave, it doesn’t feel like work, you know it’s high energy, anticipating, laugh, a good time, fun and individuality. We’re both original, we know what we want to do and the type of music we want to put out. To mix those both together and make it happen through friendship and a partnership, it’s a dope experience.
S: This record is so special to me because I got to make it with a friend of mine. It’s different than reaching out for a feature with someone I don't have a personal relationship with. When the song came out, we were together, we had a drink, we celebrated, it's different.
MB: Any other collaborations then with you both?
HI: YEAH!
S: Next up is Holland’s project, I am executive producing that but as us collaborating on a song together there’s definitely gonna be more of that as well.
MB: Can we expect a music video for this record?
S: I would love to shoot a video for it to be honest. The song came out 3 weeks ago. We are just promoting it, working all angles, so we will get to that point. My strategy is to put out a bit of music and I want to see how people react to it and based on that, I’ll shoot a video.
MB: To end this and anticipate readers to go check out “NLF”, if you could describe the track in just two words what would it be?
HI: Funky and bounce!
S: High energy, fun!
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