5 Q&A With Solamente
What was the initial spark or idea that led to the creation of "Storm Corrosion (Radio Edit)?"
I collect guitar riffs and other song ideas all the time, and the basic clean guitar chord progression had been floating around in my head for quite some time. I didn't settle on the vibe and feel of the song from a rhythm perspective until well into production for the album on which this track appears. Actually, if I remember correctly, it was one of the last songs finished - but all the better, because I think it turned out great in the end.
Can you talk about the recording and production process for "Storm Corrosion (Radio Edit)?"
"Storm Corrosion" was one of the oldest riff ideas - clean guitar with loud, driving drums - but there were certainly gaps in that the various riff ideas hadn't been pieced together yet. Every song is essentially a puzzle, and each little riff idea or musical concept is a piece of that puzzle. Except, usually one has no idea whether that riff/puzzle piece will fit in with the final product. It's nuts, but that's art! So, it was one of the final songs I completed for the album, but the various riffs, etc., had been simmering in my head for quite some time.
In terms of recording, as I've done with the previous 2 albums, the music comes first, and then once the collection of songs is about 90% fleshed out, I'll work on lyrical ideas and themes. It was clear early on that there would be 5 epic, 8-10 minute tracks, and I settled on the concept of "the five stages of grief" with each song representing one of the stages--denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and lastly acceptance. "Storm Corrosion" felt like an opener, so the lyrics center on the 'denial' stage.
Can you describe the emotions or feelings you hope "Storm Corrosion (Radio Edit)" evokes in listeners?
With "storm corrosion," I wanted to relay a sense of being lost at sea, looking up at the sky and observing storm clouds, fog--the elements--and not fully comprehending the gravity of how fucked you are. So there's a sense of confusion, an awareness of trouble, complication, and things going wrong, but also feeling crippled and unable to do anything about it. So, at least for a while, you refuse to change course or take any action to address the situation. You're in denial. I hope all that came across sonically (LOL)!
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got started in music?
Not sure if I've really started, to be honest! I consider myself a drummer first--started off in local high school bands, loving the rhythm aspect in heavy metal. I cut my teeth on all the old classic 90s metal: Metallica, Pantera, Alice in Chains, Type O Negative. But growing up in eclectic South Florida, I also absorbed other influences: everything from Tom Petty, Pink Floyd, no doubt, garbage, Rush, to 90s hip-hop like Snoop, Dr. Dre, NWA, Ice Cube, Lauren Hill, etc.
Eventually, I picked up a guitar and the creative juices just started to flow. I realized that drums were fun, but too loud for the college dorm environment, and it was impossible to create (produce) music--which was what I truly started to enjoy. With technology coming of age around 2010 or so, I started to think about releasing my own album and unloading all of the years of music that had been simmering in my head.
My debut album under the solamente moniker 'savor the dissonance' was released in 2016, and a few years later 'mere nal' followed.
Are there any upcoming projects or releases that you're particularly excited about?
Beyond elated to release solamente's third full-length album 'requiem: grief in five stages' this Halloween, October 31, 2025. I think listeners will get a kick out of it--the concept, the lyrics, the immersive music--it's dark, moody, and demands a lot from the listener given the track length and complexity of each song. It's been cathartic, rewarding, and I believe that the concept--processing sadness after a significant life-changing event--will resonate.
