About Solarrio
“Solarrio” the self-titled EP from French-born, Berlin-based artist, is all around good endorphin music. It is a radiant mix of synthpop, electronic, hip hop and house that blends warm analog sounds of retro-80’s music and modern electronic sounds. Solarrio, a prolific musician, wrote, produced, sang lyrics, and played almost all instruments on his five-track debut EP. On strings Solarrio is supported by high profile cellist Tim Park and on violin by his brother Michael Barenboim.
The EP guides the audience along the diverse paths and influences of Solarrio’s journey as an artist. On the first single “Drops,” the melancholic lyrics give way to the glow of modern electronic beats. The house-inspired sounds on "Treadmill,” give the listener 120 beats or less to relax the heart and mind. “Hopeless” is layered with all kinds of electricity -- synthesizers, keys, drum machine beats, a protesting guitar and a classical piano crescendo. This track also adds a nod to one of Solarrio’s musical influences, Hall and Oates, when he calls out the girl whose a “man eater.” On the next track, “Head Over Feet,” the uplifting harmony is led by funky rhythm guitar chords, and the catchy chorus you won’t be able to get out of your membrane. The final track "Safety of a Mob" once again shows off Solarrio's ability to deliver a well constructed, layered track that cunningly captures opposing forces and subtext of the lyrics. It begins with tinkly keys reminiscent of a lullaby, for those being cast under the spell of fervor; drum and bass pounding its intensity; and the classical violin to narrate the tragedy that could follow.
Solarrio’s raspy, husky vocals defy his angular physique, and striking appearance. His voice is evocative of a cocktail of 80’s icons like Rick Ocasek of The Cars, Cy Curnin of The Fixx and Philip Oakey of the Human League. His style invites everyone from the throwback to the Gen Z’er, and is influenced by his fondness for 80’s popular music, from such artists as Phil Collins, Prince, Madonna and Billy Joel.
Solarrio was bred to be a musical innovator. He was born David Barenboim in 1983 in Paris, France to world-renowned musician parents, Argentinean-born conductor and pianist Daniel Barenboim and Russian-born Elena Bashkirova, pianist and music director. Solarrio and his family moved around the globe, from France, Germany, and the United States, where he became fluent in French, English and German, and shaped his world view as a global citizen. In the United States, he attended schools in Chicago and Boston, including Berklee College of Music. Solarrio’s work has been heard by a wide range of audiences, from the National Basketball Association television promo, “Wie Kannst Du Nur” for the 2013 NBA Finals, which included a song he produced for German hip hop artist Raf 3.0; a remix of traditional Chinese music for international mega star pianist Lang Lang which was promoted during the 2008 Bejing Olympics; and on albums and live concerts with various German rap artists.
“Solarrio” carries enough brightness and sunshine to burn off the cloudiness of heavy-hearted lyrics about vulnerability, invisibility and escape and generate flow to make you move.
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