Today on the podcast we are featuring the Toronto-based artist SOHLO. Learn more about him and listen to his track “After Love.”
Show Notes and Full Show Transcript
Hey everyone welcome to the Eat Sleep Breathe Music podcast. I am your host Jeanette Kimszal. For those of you just joining us, this is the podcast where I talk about different musicians and how their music affects me and then play their tracks for you to listen to.
So you can check it out and form your own opinion as well. And if you are so interested in sharing your thoughts on this track and artist I’ll have details at the end of the show where you can leave your comments.
So today I’m chatting about the Toronto-based artist SOHLO. His name is spelled S-O-H-L-O and I think it’s pronounced “solo” and I couldn’t find anything online showing the exact pronunciation.
But I am hoping that is how you pronounce it and forgive me if I am pronouncing it wrong.
SOHLO is a singer-songwriter and producer born and raised in Toronto, Ontario.
While he has just been creating music since 2015, his love of music started as a child when his musician and frontman father would play demo tapes for him while they cruised around together in his old beat-up bandwagon.
From these moments his passion for music began to grow. He took the inspiration and started playing music with his friends in high school.
It was at this time that he discovered his voice as an artist.
The song I’m going to be playing today is the title track off his latest 5 song EP “After Love” out now on streaming platforms.’
SOHLO is an independent artist who writes, records, and produces his own music in his basement studio that he builds with his father.
His music has been described as a time capsule with each song evoking memory and experience in his life.
This brings authenticity and excitement to the music. In this song in particular you can feel that pain and fear that he has.
It’s a dark song but also has a light and hopeful message.
When it comes to his sound SOHLO draws on a variety of genres and artists. His music incorporates elements of pop, electronica, hip-hop, and rock.
He has been said to appeal to fans of Michael Jackson, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Drake, and The Weeknd.
So as you can see it’s kind of like a very eclectic mix of music.
In my opinion, his EP also shows his versatility as an artist because he can do slow electronica jams as well as upbeat electro-pop numbers.
I was listening to some of his other music I noticed a real kind of versatility and just kind of like a very wide breadth of musical genres and a high level of technicality in his songs.
This song “After Love” in particular which I will be playing in a little bit is as I said the title track on his EP.
The song and EP have a theme of finding hope after a darkened heartbreak.
Breakups can be terrible especially if you feel like you are the one who is getting left behind.
However, you know, you have to fight to get back to feeling good about yourself. Basically because according to SOHLO there is only so much you can do as an individual in the relationship.
And you shouldn’t beat yourself up about it and what happens because it is sometimes out of your hands.
Just going back to the song. The thing I like about it is that it has a lot of complexity to it. There is so much going on with this song. I was really excited when I listened to it.
And I feel like as you listen more and more you get more and more from it. There were guitar riffs that I didn’t notice on my first listen really complimented the piano and electronic melodies.
He has a seamless way of moving from one genre to another all the while making it sound so smooth and well placed together.
I would say that this song features a little bit of something for everyone. I like how it shifts from incorporating different sounds and genres
The luscious and large guitar riffs make it part rock but then there are also these elements of piano pop melodies and hip-hop electronic beats that also create an endearing groove.
It is astounding how these sounds are all forged together so effortlessly and it creates a real intricate song that calls to the listener.
In addition to his music, SOHLO’s lyrics also speak about emotional issues, relationship heartbreak, and being hopeful.
Paired with these impressionable lyrics it is a tight track that takes the listener on a journey of heartbreak and hope.
Then there is the heart-wrenching chorus that asks “Is This Love?/Are you still mine?” It complements the music so well.
Another thing I like about this track is that at parts it strips down the music to just one melody and the vocals.
It does this in the beginning and then at the end which gives you a focus on the heartache and later the hope.
His vocals are honest and effortlessly draw you in to just understand the pain and hope that is being emitted.
The song starts out with these smooth piano keys then cuts to sweet sincere vocals and just two of these two pairings together create this intriguing vibe that gets you really interested in the track.
Then outpours this emotional chorus
And then It shifts back and forth so effortlessly with limited music. And then you know incorporating lots of different instruments.
If feels very clean and emotional. You can just, just understand the heartache, especially at the end part of the song because the music moves to just focus on the electronica and his vocals.
Then at like 2 minutes and 18 seconds, you are hit with this crescendo, and you are hit with this bassline beat and these sexy guitar riffs.
And it all comes together just so great. To me, this signifies a heartbeat. It seems to be the culmination of the song.
Then the music gets stripped down to just the vocals and electronica creating a harmonious sound that ends on the lyrics Are you still mine/Are You still…”
And it just ends and it’s with that question hanging in the air for a hopeful future.
These shifts will impress and keeps the listener’s attention.
Another thing I wanted to mention is that it features this bassline that is reminiscent of a heartbeat which is another element used to create sentimental feelings around the track.
The combination of the music and lyrics of this track conjures up many thoughts and feelings that make “After Love” quite an impressive song.
With his music, SOHLO hopes to inspire people to keep moving forward and work towards their passions. He wants his music to give the inspiration to help people make dreams a reality
SOHLO’s sound has been getting the love of the internet with over 5,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and features in outlets including Stereo Saints, Canadian Beats, Starry Mag, Imprint, and We Write About Music.
I will have links to these in the show notes if you want to check them out.
Well I think I’ve gushed enough about SOHLO so without further ado here is his track “After Love”
We would love to know what you think about SOHLO and his track “After Love.”
You can tell us in a comment on the podcast webpage. You can also leave an audio comment at the link in the episode summary.
If you’re looking for more information on SOHLO check out his official website www.SohloOfficial.com. That is S-O-H-L-O-F-F-I-C-I-A-L dot com.
You can also like and follow him on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter at the handle SohloOfficial. That is S-O-H-L-O-F-F-I-C-I-A-L dot com.
If you’re looking for more new music be sure to subscribe to our podcast so you will get the latest updates on our artist features. You can also find more music features on our website at www.EatSleepBreatheMusic.com. That is E-a-t-S-l-e-e-p-B-r-e-a-t-h-e-M-u-s-i-c dot com.
Thanks for listening and see you in the next episode!
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