Solar Bloom On the Making Of “This Tiny World”
Can you share any interesting or unique stories or perspectives in "This Tiny World?"
“This Tiny World” is about the non-verbal ways people connect with each other and express affection for each other. Around the time I was writing the song, I was sitting with my cat and thought to myself, "Despite not being able to communicate with this little creature I feel like we each understand each other. What's up with that?" This thought evolved into the message of “This Tiny World.” So much expression and affection between people is done non-verbally and those little gestures and subtleties can build into the glue that holds people (or people and their pets) together.
How did you work with the producer or engineers to bring your vision for "This Tiny World?"
After a few trial and error runs, me and my producer buddy, Joey Papa from Sonoma Beach Studios may have finally perfected our recording process. I recorded most of the song at my house and did as much production on it as I could in order to get across the idea of what I wanted it to sound like. I brought that demo to Joey and after a few re-recordings, he masterfully molded the song into something much better than the demo I came up with. He has a special talent of knowing what I want and having better ideas of how to achieve that sound.
What has been one of your favorite memories along the path to making "This Tiny World?"
Both a favorite and one that irks me a bit, I almost didn't push forward with the song. I had a demo idea in the works years ago and decided it wasn't really working at the time and nearly abandoned it. After coming back to it several years later I suddenly knew exactly what I needed to do to achieve what I wanted from it. After coming back to it the whole process of writing and recording this song ran exceptionally smoothly for me. Everything really fell into place.
How has your music evolved since you started as a singer-songwriter? What have been some key milestones in your artistic journey?
Absolutely! My music used to be much more guitar-focused since guitar is my main instrument. In 2017 I got a KingKORG synthesizer and that changed the way I was writing. Now my music has become a mix between my guitar-based influences and some more electronic-leaning artists that I admire, particularly the artist Tycho. This song is probably my most electronically influenced track to date but I did make sure to get in some notable guitar parts.
How do you approach collaborations with other musicians and maintain creative synergy?
That's something I'm still figuring out. I spend so much time writing on my own that I have my own internal understanding of what I want and sometimes that's hard to communicate. I did have the good fortune to collaborate with the band Human Zoo recently in a really exciting 12-hour song-writing experiment where we started with only the vaguest sense of an idea and ended with a fully recorded track. One of the biggest things I learned from that experience was how much of a killer creativity overthinking is. The time constraints forced us to really communicate and commit to ideas and the song (Incognito Eyes by Human Zoo) wound up coming out sounding great! I hope to apply a lot of the techniques I learned from them to songs in the future.
Chloe Mayse Releases "Mad In Love "
Toronto, ON- Hailing from Toronto of half Irish and half Chinese- Trinidadian descent, Chloe Mayse is claiming her space in the queer alt-pop scene.
Chloe is super excited to share her new single "Mad In Love " and the accompanying music video, set to release. Here's what she had to say about it: “I wrote 'Mad in Love' about my first serious relationship. I fell in love with a great friend of mine and we had a beautiful love story that lasted 3 years. I was so infatuated and deeply in love to the point of making her my sole purpose in life. I was switching back and forth between a manic and depressive state, and the only thing that felt stable and secure to me was when we were together". The music video, made with a few of Chloe's friends in her home city of Toronto, features flashbacks to that relationship. "There were certain activities and places we used to go together- that's what I was trying to show in the video" Chloe continues, "Each location has a scene of her and I together, then it cuts to the present day: me alone and reminiscing". The video is almost like a home video, taking us into Chloe's world as she re-experiences it through her memories.
Chloe is a strong advocate for the queer community in Toronto, and for creating and fostering more accessible spaces for queer people everywhere. With her confessional songwriting, she aims to bring awareness to mental illness and open up an honest and vulnerable conversation about the struggles we all face.
ST. NIKLAS “comfy (feat.DØSSI)”
In a beautiful, almost heartbroken duet, St. Niklas brings a sensuous single “Comfy,” along with vocalist DØSS. After taking a three-year hiatus from releasing music and focusing on making the best work possible, St. Niklas is back. “Comfy,” the very first single in the new era of St. Nicklas sonically depicts the concept of a wasteland, whether it’s emotional or mentally. It captures the state of stagnation, unable to break free from the current situation, being in a standstill.
Told through the tale of a relationship between two people, the sounds and words, along with its visual evocation go deeper than that it seems. It comes back to the silent scream behind each mundane routine and the pent-up emotions of compromising.
St. Niklas is the kind of artist who only releases the best of his work. And every time he shares his music with the world, he leaves a long-lasting impact. The world always aches for more. In 2016, his debut EP received rave reviews from outlet and instantly went viral on Spotify. His 2020 EP then received massive radio coverages and became a timeless highlight, being rotated over the years. After three years of working on his new music, “Comfy” introduces listeners to the latest of St. Niklas. Sonically sophisticated and contagious as usual, but his work also seems to further express its timelessness—it gets better the more you listen to it.
KYOTI “Dance Like Everybody's Watching”
Disco makes a special comeback for the introverts and those with heightened social anxiety after lockdown in KYOTI’s “Dance Like Everybody’s Watching.” Nostalgic and bombastic. The track sees a mixture of familiarity and liberation at its highest. With a uniquely charismatic palette, this eclectic new track from KYOTI is here for you to forget about the rest of the world and just have some fun.
“Dance Like Everybody’s Watching” is the kind of song that you can just lose yourself in. Everything is tuned to perfection and even better. Your whole body just vibrates with its infectious beat, flying higher in rich, cloud-like soundscapes. In the post pandemic depression, a song that’s warm and fuzzy like “Dance Like Everybody’s Watching” is just what you need to get through each day with a smile.
There’s literally nothing KYOTI isn’t good at in the world of music, but they intend to treat each piece of music with heart. Every song they release is meant to have a strong message. No matter what musical language they choose to speak, thought-provoking would always be its highlight.. In 2020, Project Twelve sees them taking listeners on a year-long expedition in the vibes and influences of music from soulful ballads to instrumental electronica, releasing a song each month.
The Pink Nostalgia “Space & Time”
The Pink Nostalgia draws you into an introspective, emotive space with “Space & Time.” Setting its scene in an indie pop soundscape, haunting melodies meet mesmerizing atmosphere that leaves an unshakable aftertaste that lingers in your ears. It’s hard to forget the mood and aroma in “Space & Time.” And the length of the song is barely enough for the conversations and thoughts that it evoked—How something so deeply immersive can also be so refreshing? The answer is obvious: you need to put this song on repeat.
The Pink Nostalgia has a gift in songwriting. It appears to be something simple, but luscious and deep to the point it’s almost intoxicating. Taking cues from The 1975, The Japanese House & Christine, the Queen and such like, Joseph James, the brain and heart behind The Pink Nostalgic has already earned the support of many. He’s been featured on BBC Introducing and UK Indie Artists and will be heading out on his headline show with a band at Strongroom Shoreditch in April.
“Space & Time” marks the first single released from The Pink Nostalgia’s upcoming EP YOUTH & OBSERVATION, offering fans a teaser preview of what has yet to come. The EP is scheduled to be released on May 19.
Solari “Everyone Is Your Friend”
“Everyone is Your Friend” surrounds listeners with swirling, dazzling synthscape. Flamboyant, illusive as if being in the balloon of an urban dream, while the pulsing desire to connect more profoundly with another sink-floats amongst the dreamful colours. “Everyone is Your Friend” perfectly captures the fleeting feeling of loneliness and isolation that people often feel being in a big city—surrounded by people, everyone is your friend, but somehow, no one is really listening to your voice.
Featuring many original analog synthesizers, the silky, cloud-liked sound pads breath with emotions as if they are telling a story on their own. On top of that, the vocals trace the character Solari dancing under the neon-coloured sky, surrounded by eye-dazzling skyscrapers. It’s easy to drift away, to go with the flow, to lose yourself in the voices, but the search, as if a primal instinct, continues on its own. Solari consists renowned producer/composer David Baron and drummer/beat maker Renée Hikari. “Everyone is Your Friend” marks only the beginning of their collaborative journey. The two has teased more brilliant singles and a full length EP coming in the near future.
Read our interview with Solari and learn about this unique collaboration.
Punk Head: I love how imaginative the soundscapes in ‘Everyone Is Your Friend’ is. Who are some of your influences?
Solari: Kraftwerk, Pet Shop Boys, Daft Punk, Depeche Mode, Duran Duran. The George Kaplan Conspiracy, Com Truise, Castlebeat. We love synthesizer soundtracks too: Drive, Tron, Blade Runner.
PH: What did you enjoy most about making this track?
Solari: This song was added last to a collection of songs we had created for our debut EP. The EP felt unfinished - like it was missing something - and ‘Everyone Is Your Friend’ has everything that was missing. It was like making a perfect meal but and then realizing you have to make the dessert. The production was super fun because it used a ton of original analog synthesizers including a Modular Moog from 1967.
PH: Can you tell us more about you as an artist?
Solari: Solari work together in record production. David is a producer/engineer/musician and the first gig they did together was for Shania Twain at Sun Mountain Studios. Renée was somewhat new to the recording studio - having mostly been a live drummer - and hired as an assistant originally. The studio is her true home. The pair spend a lot of time working. Solari is the result of what the duo likes and the gear around them. Solari is a studio creation. We have a lot more to say and want to make many songs.
The pair has now worked with artists from Beth Gibbons, Greg Gonzales (Cigarettes After Sex) to The Lumineers.
PH: What is coming up next for you?
Solari: We have a lot of music coming out. We will release a few more singles then our first EP. We have a great music video coming out that was shot last summer in Brooklyn. Stay tuned!
PH: What would you like to say to your fans out there?
Solari: Thank you! We appreciate you listening. Please add/follow/like us if you like our music. It makes all the difference as the algorithm loves interaction. It’s the Matrix. We are happy to be part of it. Plug us in.