ROC SOL RELEASES HIS NEW ALBUM “SOLART” AS A COLORING BOOK
Roc Sol, an independent artist from South Florida, creates an artistic listening experience with his latest studio album “Solart” by launching a coloring book that includes illustrations he designed for each song in the project and a scannable QR code that directs you to the music.
the coloring book
Roc Sol, an independent artist from South Florida, has created an artistically fresh and innovating experience with the release of his latest studio album “Solart” by personally designing a coloring book to pair with the album. He designed illustrations inspired by the concept for each song, using music and art to tell his story to create an immersive experience for listeners as they color in the pages while listening to the album. The coloring book includes a scannable QR code that directs listeners to his album with links to streaming platforms and their own downloadable digital copy of the album. It also includes all the lyrics to each song so listeners can follow along as they hear the music. The coloring book is being sold as a complete bundle set with markers, stickers and the digital album download to allow listeners to enjoy an artistic listening experience.
The Inspiration
While creating “Solart”, he wanted to find a way to merge both his art and music into one project to create an original, unique artistic experience while people listen to his album. He was inspired to create a coloring book when he began reflecting back to his experience as an art teacher teaching music and art therapy to kids in locked down facilities and foster homes. The combination of creating art while writing music altered the moods of his students by reducing anxiety and bringing a much needed artistic release to help them communicate and express their emotions better through art. He wanted other people to feel the same joy his students did and found his inspiration to create a coloring book for his album so listeners can find their own inner artist as they listen to the album. He began listening to the songs as he designed the illustrations for each one, letting himself become inspired by the lyrics and rhythm of each song. He wanted to let his art enhance the story written within his lyrics, bringing his music to life through art.
“As I was working on my new album, I was inspired to create something different where I can combine both my art and music into one project. I began illustrating some ideas I pictured as I was listening to the music and started designing a coloring book to bring my songs to life through art. I named the album ‘Solart’ because I wanted to create a world where you can immerse yourself in the art and music as it takes you through my personal life experiences. I designed a coloring page for each song so you can enter into my world of ideas and inspire you along the way as you flip through the pages, listen to the music, read the lyrics and find the colors to paint as you feel.”
The Music
“Solart” is a Hip Hop album inspired by the idea of creating a conceptual universe where both music and art are one cohesive thought, allowing it’s listeners to enter into Roc Sol’s world of artistic ideas. Released on February 26, 2021, this is Roc Sol’s most creative and artistic album yet. In collaboration with 3x billboard award winning producer and sound engineer Miami Beat Wave, he was able to create an album defining his musical style and artistry through the creative concept of this project. The entire album is a mix of different Hip Hop styles and soul, taking you on a journey from start to finish as the album begins with highly energetic songs leading you to a smooth finish with soulful hooks and motivational messages that leaves you feeling inspired. Narrated through spoken word poetry by Life Is Hectik, he questions whether to take risks in life, bringing together the concept of the entire album. Throughout the album, Roc Sol paints the images of motivation in your mind as he talks about creating will-power out of pure joy while taking losses and failures as life lessons to grow from. Influenced by all the elements of hip hop, he collaborated with DMC Champion DJ Abstru and DJ Frogie to add DJ scratching to songs such as “Prayer Hands” and “Hold You Down”. The album showcased many amazing, talented artists with collaborations such as ¡Mayday! members Wrekonize and Bernz, emmy-nominated songwriter and artist Alexander Star, hip hop artist and producer D.U.Ivan, King Guala and his fiancé Christy Love. He worked with a variety of notable, award winning producers such as Miami Beat Wave, Chris Dean, and Jammah.
The “Solart” Tracklist
1. Intro (feat. Life Is Hectik)
2. No Return (feat. Christy Love) / Produced by Anchor Beat
3. Prayer Hands (feat. DJ Frogie) / Produced by Miami Beat Wave
4. Never Fall (feat. Wrekonize & Bernz from ¡Mayday!) / Produced by Miami Beat Wave & Chris Dean
5. 18K / Produced by Jammah
6. Cuba Libre (feat. D.U.Ivan & King Guala) / Produced by D.U.Ivan
7. Interlude (feat. Life Is Hectik)
8. Down For The Set (feat Christy Love) / Produced by Miami Beat Wave
9. Namaste (feat. Alexander Star & Christy Love) / Produced by Baccyard
10. Hold You Down (feat. D.U.Ivan, Christy Love & DJ Abstru) / Produced by D.U.Ivan
11. Outro (feat. Life Is Hectik)
THE ALBUM ARTWORK
The album cover, photographed by Christine Olivera, also known as Coliv Media, and artistically designed by Roc Sol, reflects the themes of the album by showing how there is an inner artist in all of us. In the cover, Roc Sol wears a business suit as he is consumed by his art, symbolizing how his artistic passion overpowers the safety net of having a regular 9 to 5 job. It represents the risk that it takes to be a full-time artist and walking the path that his art will lead him to.
THE ALBUM RELEASE / LISTENING SESSION EVENT
Roc Sol hosted a private album release listening session event at Roots Miami Kava Bar & Eatery, a local kava bar in the heart of the artistic neighborhood of Wynwood. He created an art gallery experience by transforming the venue with his art to welcome his guests to the world of “Solart”. As DJ Frogie plays the album for the first time, Roc Sol takes the stage wearing his signature painted snapbacks, painted shoes and painted jean jacket. He paints on a huge canvas wall he built as the audience enjoys the music. Once he was done painting, guests were able to get their coloring books signed and take pictures on stage in front of the art piece. As he prepared for his live performance, guests were pleasantly surprised as Roc Sol performs an acoustic version of his songs with his fiancé Christy Love and 12 String Theory guitarist Carlos Gonzalez, who created the music from scratch with a looper. The night ends with an exclusive duo interview with Roc Sol and Christy Love hosted by Shottie from The Human Sushi Podcast.
