SOLA ROSA
SOLA ROSA is the on-going, ever-evolving project of Andrew Spraggon, Aotearoa New Zealand's foremost, critically acclaimed and successful beat-maker, songwriter and producer.
An alchemist in the studio who amalgamates elements of soul, R'n'B, funk, jazz, hip-hop, pop and more, Spraggon is an intuitive collaborator who places emerging talent alongside established artists to create music which is warm, distinctive and polished.
After a short period as singer/guitarist in the rock band Cicada in the mid 90s, Spraggon escaped the constraints of indie.rock to explore the wider palette and colours of the studio.
“In the 80s I grew up with synth pop, then a lot of post-punk. Things took a turn in the 90s when my influences changed and I started to dig artists like Funkadelic, James Brown and Public Enemy. Shortly after this I discovered labels such as Ninja Tune, Mo Wax, Guidance and a series of compilations called Dope On Plastic. I was also heavily influenced by producers like David Holmes, DJ Shadow and Howie B.
“Prior to that I was just a total indie rock kid, however I did scratch that rock itch in the early Rosa days playing bass guitar in Shayne P. Carter's Dimmer for four years.”
And so Sola Rosa was born: his debut album Solarized picking up Best Electronica album at the 2001 New Zealand Music Awards and the start of a remarkable musical journey.
His 20 year-plus Sola Rosa project has seen Spraggon working with international artists like Tom Bailey (Thompson Twins/International Observer) as well as locals such as Fat Freddy's Drop, signing to global distributors and touring internationally playing at huge festivals (Secret Garden Party, Green Man, Kendal Calling among many others).
“Moves On, my third album, was a very conscious jump from being a solo studio project to a more collaborative and touring collective. Sola Rosa had been my response to being in bands for many years and wanting to go it alone, however I eventually realised my limitations as a musician and the importance of collaboration.”
Del Ray from his fourth album Get It Together garnered more than 11 million streams, his 2015 album Magnetics featured singers who all lived outside of Aotearoa New Zealand, his seventh album Chasing the Sun picked up enthusiastic reviews at home and in international publications, such as Britain's Mojo which awarded it four stars noting, “Spraggon has always had a finely tuned pop-groove ear but Chasing the Sun lifts him to a whole new level of excellence”.
“I don't consider myself a front man or a songwriter, more a beat-maker, though those beats end up becoming songs. My method of writing usually starts with an idea inspired by a sample. I then add layers and eventually collaborate with other musicians and featured artists.
"I look at albums as a body of work, something tangible that represents a period in an artist's life. An album is much more difficult to make than a single and that alone makes you work harder to ensure each track matters."
Sola Rosa's latest album 'Chasing The Sun' released in 2020, has been followed by the instrumental and deluxe edition albums released in 2021, which have been absolute hits.
An alchemist in the studio who amalgamates elements of soul, R'n'B, funk, jazz, hip-hop, pop and more, Spraggon is an intuitive collaborator who places emerging talent alongside established artists to create music which is warm, distinctive and polished.
After a short period as singer/guitarist in the rock band Cicada in the mid 90s, Spraggon escaped the constraints of indie.rock to explore the wider palette and colours of the studio.
“In the 80s I grew up with synth pop, then a lot of post-punk. Things took a turn in the 90s when my influences changed and I started to dig artists like Funkadelic, James Brown and Public Enemy. Shortly after this I discovered labels such as Ninja Tune, Mo Wax, Guidance and a series of compilations called Dope On Plastic. I was also heavily influenced by producers like David Holmes, DJ Shadow and Howie B.
“Prior to that I was just a total indie rock kid, however I did scratch that rock itch in the early Rosa days playing bass guitar in Shayne P. Carter's Dimmer for four years.”
And so Sola Rosa was born: his debut album Solarized picking up Best Electronica album at the 2001 New Zealand Music Awards and the start of a remarkable musical journey.
His 20 year-plus Sola Rosa project has seen Spraggon working with international artists like Tom Bailey (Thompson Twins/International Observer) as well as locals such as Fat Freddy's Drop, signing to global distributors and touring internationally playing at huge festivals (Secret Garden Party, Green Man, Kendal Calling among many others).
“Moves On, my third album, was a very conscious jump from being a solo studio project to a more collaborative and touring collective. Sola Rosa had been my response to being in bands for many years and wanting to go it alone, however I eventually realised my limitations as a musician and the importance of collaboration.”
Del Ray from his fourth album Get It Together garnered more than 11 million streams, his 2015 album Magnetics featured singers who all lived outside of Aotearoa New Zealand, his seventh album Chasing the Sun picked up enthusiastic reviews at home and in international publications, such as Britain's Mojo which awarded it four stars noting, “Spraggon has always had a finely tuned pop-groove ear but Chasing the Sun lifts him to a whole new level of excellence”.
“I don't consider myself a front man or a songwriter, more a beat-maker, though those beats end up becoming songs. My method of writing usually starts with an idea inspired by a sample. I then add layers and eventually collaborate with other musicians and featured artists.
"I look at albums as a body of work, something tangible that represents a period in an artist's life. An album is much more difficult to make than a single and that alone makes you work harder to ensure each track matters."
Sola Rosa's latest album 'Chasing The Sun' released in 2020, has been followed by the instrumental and deluxe edition albums released in 2021, which have been absolute hits.
VIDEOS & LIVE
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MUSIC/MIXES
DISCOGRAPHY
Chasing The Sun (Deluxe Edition Album) - 2021
You Don't Know (Dizz1 Remix) - 2021
For The Might Dollar (RNZ Live Sessions) - 2021
Something Good (High HOOPS Flip Single) - 2021
Chasing The Sun (LP) - 2020
Shine On ft. Thandi Phoenix (Single) - 2020
For The Mighty Dollar ft. Kevin Mark Trail (Single) - 2020
Searching For Love ft. Kiko Bun (Single) - 2020
In Spaces (EP) - 2018
Leave a Light On (Single) - 2018
Back To You (Single) - 2017
So Fly (Single) - 2016
Magnetics (Album) - 2015
Low & Behold, High & Beyond-The Remixes - 2014
Get It Together-The Remixes - 2013
Solarized: Refreshed (Album) - 2013
Low and Behold, High and Beyond (Deluxe Edition Album) - 2013
Get It Together (Remixes EP) - 2012
Low & Behold, High & Beyond (Album) - 2010
Get It Together-the remixes (Instrumentals Album) - 2010
Get It Together - the Remixes (Album) - 2010
Get It Together (Deluxe Edition Album) - 2009
Get It Together (Album) - 2009
Moves On (Album) - 2005
The Ready Now (EP) - 2003
Haunted Out-Takes (Album) - 2003
Solarized (Album) - 2001
Entrance to Skyway (EP) - 2000
You Don't Know (Dizz1 Remix) - 2021
For The Might Dollar (RNZ Live Sessions) - 2021
Something Good (High HOOPS Flip Single) - 2021
Chasing The Sun (LP) - 2020
Shine On ft. Thandi Phoenix (Single) - 2020
For The Mighty Dollar ft. Kevin Mark Trail (Single) - 2020
Searching For Love ft. Kiko Bun (Single) - 2020
In Spaces (EP) - 2018
Leave a Light On (Single) - 2018
Back To You (Single) - 2017
So Fly (Single) - 2016
Magnetics (Album) - 2015
Low & Behold, High & Beyond-The Remixes - 2014
Get It Together-The Remixes - 2013
Solarized: Refreshed (Album) - 2013
Low and Behold, High and Beyond (Deluxe Edition Album) - 2013
Get It Together (Remixes EP) - 2012
Low & Behold, High & Beyond (Album) - 2010
Get It Together-the remixes (Instrumentals Album) - 2010
Get It Together - the Remixes (Album) - 2010
Get It Together (Deluxe Edition Album) - 2009
Get It Together (Album) - 2009
Moves On (Album) - 2005
The Ready Now (EP) - 2003
Haunted Out-Takes (Album) - 2003
Solarized (Album) - 2001
Entrance to Skyway (EP) - 2000
PRESS
Radio New Zealand - 2020
NZ Music Month - 2018
13th Floor - 2018
Under The Radar - 2018
Base FM - 2016
NZ Herald - 2014
NZ Musician - 2014
Stuff - 2014
NZ Music Month - 2018
13th Floor - 2018
Under The Radar - 2018
Base FM - 2016
NZ Herald - 2014
NZ Musician - 2014
Stuff - 2014
BOOKINGS/MORE INFO
JAZ KAPOW / FENELLA STRATTON
E: [email protected] / [email protected]
P: +64 21 128 7475 / +64 21 054 0699
JAZ KAPOW / FENELLA STRATTON
E: [email protected] / [email protected]
P: +64 21 128 7475 / +64 21 054 0699