The Song of Sol – The Sol Edler interview

Written By: Raven Ekundayo

This brother has been down with the Misfits of Ravolution and ETM from the very start. He was one of our first interviews as well as one of the artist featured at the launch party for ETM. He's featured at all of Ravolutions shows as well. It was only fitting that Sol would help us to close out this chapter as well. In this interview we see what he's been up to since his last interview with us, his willingness to help out other artists as well as when we'll FINALLY hear that second album. Enjoy my convo with Sol Edler….

Raven – What's happened in your career since your last interview with ETM?

Sol - I can't remember how long it's been. How long ago was the last one? Lol. I'd probably answer by saying that I've been doin A LOT of singing lol. I haven't been up front as much as I was when I released my debut cd, but I've certainly not stopped or slowed down singing. I've sang with everyone from music veterans like D-Train, Jonathan Butler, and Bobby Caldwell, to instrumentalists like Kim Waters and Fred Yonnet. Gospel artists like Tre Thomas and Alex Williams, jazz artists like Maysa and Phil Perry as well as with Kindred The Family Soul. It's always something. In the midst of all of that, folks have still been very receptive of my solo music. I still get radio play from stations like WHUR in DC and I've recently filmed a music video for my single, "The One, Pt.II".

Raven - You've performed with a lot of great artists. How has that helped you as a singer?

Sol - It's helped tremendously, more so as an artist in general than just a vocalist. I'm always paying attention to see how different artists handle different situations, scenarios, demands. As far as singing, it's definitely great to work with different people with different styles to help keep me "vocally versatile". Working with more independent artists and artist friends like Rona Rawls and Shaun H. Mykals is fun too, cuz I get to really help build their sound and I get to see their journey from the ground up.

Raven - You're always willing to give background support to all of your artist friends. Some people reach a point in their career where they believe they're too good for that. Why not you?

Sol - Well, I've never really looked at it as artists thinking they're "too good" to do it. I've learned firsthand, that it's just not for everyone, whether because of attitude, skill level, personal desire, etc. For me, I just love to sing, and I always have, and I most enjoy being a part of the music. At the end of the day, that's what's most important to me. Today, I'll be up front, tomorrow, I'll be in the background...as long as I'm part of the sound that's being made, and making a positive and noticeable contribution, I'm usually cool. I think I'll always want some time in both positions, never completely in one or the other. Sometimes I want people to see, hear, and experience ME...just me, and express myself, and have them see what I'm about musically. Other times, I don't want that pressure, that spotlight...just gimme a harmony part and let me tag along for the ride lol.

Raven - What has it been like singing with Reverb? How did this come to be?

Sol - Singing with Reverb is always interesting. It's just another dimension of what i do, and after almost 10 years, a very consistent one. Reverb has been the most consistent contribution to my musical career. Around the time when I was really looking to do more music seriously, my best friend, Lorenzo Johnston came across an add in the paper where Reverb was auditioning for new reserve vocalists. At the time they were nowhere near as busy as we are now, but they'd already made a name for themselves in the area and out of the country. I auditioned and was invited to join. Initially I was only supposed to be a reserve vocalist, but as other members relocated or took leave, I wound up being a full member and now I'm a part of the business leadership of the group. singing with Reverb is great because we're an a capella group so we're constantly focusing on the full range of performing with mainly our voices- Making them produce the sound we want, and making them work together with each others' voices. Its the type of challenge any real singer appreciates. Plus, I love those guys like brothers. We get together and harmonize, but we're like any other family. We're 8 grown men, from our early 20's to our early 50's and we have different styles and backgrounds, so we fuss, we have differences of opinion constantly, but at the end of the day, we all love each other and the group, so we make it all work out in the end...and great music comes out of it all.

Raven - Where are you in the process of creating your second studio album?

Sol - The beginning lol. Folks underestimate the complexity of the process of making a quality album, or an album in general. Don't get me wrong- I could definitely be more proactive, but when you allow yourself to get busy with other stuff like I do, it's hard to buckle down and focus on an album. Since my first album, I've literally committed myself to vocally supporting dozens of other artists. It wasn't something anyone twisted my arm to do- just something I found I was good at, but doing that; however left little room to still do ME. I am getting back to that, though. I've written a lot of material and still have old material that's yearning to make the album. Right now, im in and out of the studio with some new producers- Dennis Turner, Richie Skye, Damon Bennett, Rick White...It's just a matter of matching up schedules and stuff like that. once i have the majority of the music recorded, I'll have a better idea of when I can release it to the folks who've patiently been waiting on me lol.

Raven - What would you like for your legacy to be?

Sol - When I do anything artistically, I always endeavor to be a part of something bigger than myself. The way someone inspired me to do what I do, I want to in turn inspire someone else that same way. "Pay it forward", if you will. That's the greatest sense of accomplishment I experience...when someone shares with me how my music has moved them, inspired them, taught them or shown them something. I want my legacy to simply be that I inspired someone else the way I've been inspired and I want to be remembered as being a selfless musician. I might not always have the spotlight, the sales, the recognition...but if you look in the background, you can always say I was always doing what I loved and helping others do it too.

 

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