We bring you a new music producer with a peculiar quality and originality. He is Sol Glissant and he has just released on the famous American label Whiskey Pickle.

Who is Sol Glissant?

I created Sol Glissant to express my funky side. I’ve made music for quite a while now and I began to feel like I had cornered myself musically. There was a part of my personality that wasn’t being expressed and I was starting to feel a bit stifled. With Sol Glissant, I am able to extend my range, get out of the genre box and explore a broader range of tempos. Most importantly, I want to have fun with it and make some music that doesn’t take itself so seriously.

Tell about your new release on Whiskey Pickle?

First of all, thank you to Whiskey Pickle! They have been fantastic to work with and it’s an honor to have joined their musical family. Also, big gratitude to my old friend and super talented artist, Indoor Man, for his banging remix of “Song of Solitude.” I’ve known him since I first began working on electronic music and we’ve collaborated on and off for over two decades. Sick stuff, man!

Appropriately, the title track, “Song of Solitude” was created during the lockdown and was birthed from a sample I cut from the 80’s track “Big in Japan” by Alphaville. The sample became the filtered melody that you can hear floating around in the background of the song. If you haven’t seen the video for “Big in Japan”, do yourself a favor and search it on Youtube. It’s the definition of 80’s kitsch. I created “Neon Stream” after I went through a phase of binge-watching videos of British Acid House parties from the 80’s, which I also certainly recommend doing. “Space Paint” was inspired by Italo Disco in some ways, but it took on a life of its own one day when I started turning the tempo down and it morphed into its current form.

What was the first thing that attracted you to the world of electronic music?

When I was growing up, my step-father was a keyboard player and had a room full of synthesizers and recording equipment, so I was exposed to electronic music production at a young age. Also, as a child of the 80’s, I grew up listening to electronic music infused into much of the music of the time, but I really didn’t get into underground dance music until I went to my first rave in San Francisco in 1997. I was a bit of a hippie back then (maybe a lot of a hippie), and I remember sitting on top of the speaker stacks watching thousands of people dance to a set by DJ Dan and thinking, “Wow..this is really tribal!” I fell in love with the music right then and never looked back.

Who are your greatest influences?

I suppose my step-father would be my biggest influence since it was with him that music production was ingrained into my bones. I pull musical influences from many sources and genres…and other art forms as well. Most of all, I seek out music that is fresh and original. A few of my favorite albums are “Vespertine” by Bjork, “OK Computer” by Radiohead, “Opiate” by Tool and, of course, “Dark Side of the Moon” by Pink Floyd. Dance music is so experiential…I think I am most influenced when I’m on the dance floor grooving to music that really moves me. I’ve been blessed to be around amazing musicians, artists and dj’s throughout my career, and I wouldn’t be where I am musically without them. Also, I’ve been able to travel and hear dance music in many different places. Finally, I love to read and nerd out on sci-fi, so I think that works its way into my music as well.

How would you define your sound?

With Sol Glissant, I’m on a journey of discovery…I really don’t know yet. It’s definitely dance music. In a way, I think not defining it would be ideal, but some words that come to mind are funky, fuzzy, frisky and fun.

How has your sound evolved so far?

Oh man. It’s been quite a ride since I started producing way back in the olden days. I’ve run the gamut of styles and have ridden on and off the wave of trends over the last twenty five years. I’ve dabbled in just about everything at one time or another, for better or worse. At the least, I hope I can say that I’m improving at my craft and expressing myself more truly as time goes on. Sol Glissant as a project is still a baby. We’ll have to check back in a few years and see where I’m at.

What is the scene like in Florida?

There are certainly great areas for dance music in Florida. Of course, Miami comes to mind, but also Orlando and Tampa. I live in Jacksonville, FL now, and here there’s a small, but vibrant, scene with a lot of dedicated and talented artists, musicians, djs and promoters. I’m constantly impressed and inspired by my peers here. We could use more dance music venues with proper sound, and maybe some more dancers to go with them (If you build it, they will come??). I can say that on any given weekend, I can go hear good music if I want to, and that’s enough for me right now. If I feel the need to go big, I can just take a little trip.

What else can we expect from you over the next year?

Most of this next year will be spent in the studio writing new music. I’ve decided that I want to approach this next season of my musical journey as a beginner. I want to really dive into my process, to explore, learn my tools, and most importantly, have FUN! I want to get back to music being my best friend, therapist and lover. What will be produced out of this approach? I have no idea. Good music I hope.