Davey and Sol’s new video for “Not Me” is a dystopian trip — an Orwellian adventure over waves of deconstructed industrial and electronic sounds. Sol rides over this eclectic hip-hop beat with the grace of someone that has been in the game for over 20 years. He drips experience while he’s surfing over a chaotic beat straight from Davey’s news-addled mind. This collaboration from two Seattle-born artists is sure to be one of the trippiest and unique projects to hit the airwaves this year.
Sol + Davey Connection
Sol and Davey are both Seattle-born artists but they didn’t link up until they were both in New York City. Legendary Seattle producer Budo originally connected the two, but the collaborative magic occurred on the opposite side of the country. Both artists are experienced travelers and Davey has lived outside of the country and in New York City before settling down in Los Angeles.
Sol’s home-base has always been Seattle, but the humanity he experienced during his travels is infectious and some of the most formative experiences of his life. Anything that impactful inevitably bleeds into the art. Maybe that’s why the entire project came together effortlessly after 45 minutes at a coffee shop and two takes in the studio — two Seattle-born nomads feeding off the big city energy while simultaneously being reminded of the Pacific Northwest. “The whole thing came super easy,” Davey said.
Inspirational Chaos
The “Not Me” visual has a real, Blade Runner, futuristic-propaganda vibe. Davey remarks that this project was a direct result of the types of influences he let in and asks “what does that say about the times we’re living in?” The entire EP has sampled radio broadcasts and reflects the frenzied media chaos we all experience when we log online. From the news to the gentrification on his block, turbulent times created a turbulent sound.
Davey has an infinitely loose creative process that involves deconstructing beats and playing with sounds. He follows his gut until everything feels like it’s in the right place. Once Davey created the structure of the beat that would become the final version of “Not Me” he instantly thought of Sol and hoped the MC saw a place for himself on the track.
Sol always starts with a loose scaffolding that eventually becomes a song. Sometimes it’s a full beat, other times it’s as simple as tapping a high-hat, but the writing process always starts with being inspired by music and sound. Sol heard what Davey sent him and it was evident the collaboration was going to work out.
Student of The Music
“Not Me” is far removed from Sol and Davey’s typical musical endeavors. Sol is known for creating classic Northwest sounds that rely heavily on conscious lyrics and instrumental-laden beats. Davey’s other band Vallis Alps is a synth-pop electronic duo that features joyful tones and beautiful vocals from David’s bandmate Parissa Tosif.
This collaboration is a destructured hip-hop song that’s as timely as it is unique. Something like that only comes from approaching music as a student — from diving into the fundamentals of the art and mastering the basics. “I’ve been leaning further into the music,” Sol said when asked how he recharges during a time where it’s considered socially irresponsible to be around people.
Sol has been learning to play instruments like the piano, bass, and guitar — he’s even been making his own beats with dreams of releasing a self-produced album one day. Davey agreed with Sol and said his creative-mind is fueled by knowledge and further learning about sound and music. You can’t break the rules until you master the basics first.
