Q: One reviewer described your last album, Moves On, as "music for the body and soul". How would you define your music?
A: Very complimentary, but it's hard for me to comment on that. If that's what he gets from it, that's great! We certainly put 100% into the tracks both during the recording process and in performing live.
My definition is that Sola Rosa is a mix of funk, hip-hop, reggae, Latin and anything that is beats orientated.
Q: I understand you've been working on a new album. Any new directions? Are there any major themes you've been exploring (eg, a jazz or lounge vibe)? Is it even funkier than Moves On?
A: The new album is about a month away from completion. The inspiration is constantly changing.
The basic idea behind the new album was to make it heavier on the beats, more assertive and faster tempos; essentially, a slightly heavier album than anything before. It still sounds like a Sola Rosa record, just with less samples and programming, more musicianship.
There has been a lot of work and love poured into this album and, as a band, we are really proud of the outcome. We'll be playing quite a few of the new tracks live when we play in Queenstown.
Q: Moves On featured some notable collaborations, including Nathan Haines, Spikey Tee and Deva Mahal. Does the new album also feature some strong outside influences? How strong a role do vocals play? Or is it all instrumental?
A: Yes, we once again have some top-notch local and international vocalists alongside our regular touring singer, Spikey Tee.
The vocals play a stronger role the more we tour as it really lifts the show to another level. We still play approximately half the set as instrumentals.
I can't see this changing anytime soon as we still love recording and performing instrumentals.
Albums can get a bit boring for me when they are filled with vocals. Sometimes I just want to hear the music speak for itself.
Q: Is that part of the fun/buzz - giving others the chance to influence your tracks? Does it sometimes take your music down unforeseen paths? Or are you a control freak who tells people exactly what to play?
A: To a certain degree, I'm definitely a control freak, but I'm letting go more with the current material.
I certainly have a set idea of what I want from each track. However, I'm willing to take a detour if someone has a better idea.
The band have definitely brought their own flavour to the table, as has every other musician that has guested.
Q: Clearly, production values play a key part in your music: eg, the gritty tone of a drum sample, or a nice bright keyboard "tinkle". Are you a perfectionist? Or does there come a time when you have to say "enough is enough" and stop fiddling, lest the instinctive quality of the music be lost?
A: I wouldn't say I'm a perfectionist as I don't really believe in perfection, but I'm definitely extremely particular about what sound I'm going for with each instrument or sound, though this is the job of a decent producer.
Say I'm recording a nice grand piano, which may sound really beautiful. However, the track may require a beaten-up piano to suit the rawness of the track, or whatever.
You have to let go of the beauty and squash that piano, dirty things up. Whatever it takes to create the vibe of the overall track.
Keep fiddling with things until you get to a point where it sounds natural. Things are working in symbiosis and nothing feels out of place.
Unless, of course, the instrument in question needs to sound out of place.
You have to attempt to make the music sound honest, give it a personality.
Q: How much does live performance influence your studio work? Is there a jamming quality to your recordings? And vice-versa: how does what you do in the studio come across in a live context?
A: We jam when we play live. The program Ableton Live allows us to do this, which is great.
I find there nothing more boring than a band that gets up on stage and plays the songs track for track exactly as they are recorded on the album.
You've got to give the people more than that, surely; even for our sake, to keep things interesting live.
There has definitely been more thought put into the new material since with an increase in touring and gigging.
We found that our live sets were often too mellow.
Things always felt a bit too downbeat, hence the new album being faster and heavier in the beats department.
This allows us to have more options in taking the live shows to another level.
Q: Are you taking a full band on tour? Who will be playing? What can the Queenstown audiences expect?
A: We will have the full band, yeah! This consists of myself (gadgets, keys, percussion), Matt Short (bass), Ben White (guitar), Will Scott (drums), Spikey Tee (vocals) and, of course, Greg Davis (soundman).
We generally start things off a bit more laid back . . . then pick things up as we go. By the end we are rockin', eh bro.
Sola Rosa plays at Revolver, Queenstown, on Thursday, August 21, and at Coronet Peak on Friday, August 22.
