New Zealand indie singer-songwriter Solomon Crook has been proving himself as one of the names that you definitely have to learn as soon as possible.
It was a few years ago now that Solomon Crook made his first impressions on New Zealand audiences, but only one year ago that we got to hear more of his stunning tunes.
Releasing his debut EP, Abandon Adolescence, last month saw the release of ‘The Day I Thought About Dying’, an introspective track that explores the “uncontrollable feelings of loneliness and isolation that we can all face”.
With an impressive ability to craft gorgeous lyrics and pair the with stunning melodies, it won’t be long before Solomon Crook is an in-demand artist all over the globe.
To celebrate the recent release of his latest track, we caught up with Solomon for a chat to learn more about this stunning artist who has us chucking his amazing tunes on repeat.
Check out ‘The Day I Thought About Dying’ by Solomon Crook:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ8YCfxQato
How did your artist name come about?
I was very fortunate to be given a name by my parents that would seem like it was a made up artist name; Crook is my father’s last name. When I was deciding on what name to use music for I did consider using my mother’s last name, which is Savage, a family of Crooks and Savages… sounds rather scary.
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How would you describe your music to your grandma?
Describing my music to my grandma I would use words such as organic, emotional, expansive and lush. I am unsure whether she would have ever listened to music similar to what I create hence why I feel musical references such as genre could get a lil ‘lost’ in translation.
Tell us about a few of your tracks; their titles and what they’re about?
‘The Day I Thought About Dying’ is the most recent track I’ve released. This track reflects a place where a lot of my music comes from; deep introspection and internal reflection. The ideas in this song explore isolation and loneliness; it was written in a time where I felt overwhelmed by these feelings and writing was a way of processing and understanding these feelings and thoughts.
Rise was the single before my most recent release, this song explores two ideas that aren’t directly linked but both aid a feeling within the song. One of the ideas explored is the lust to do something that you know is wrong, but doing it anyway because any external considerations are overwhelmed by this presence of wanting to break the norms of what is expected.
What do you love about your hometown?
What I love most about my home town Opoutere, on the Coromandel of New Zealand, is its isolation and abundance of nature. Living on an estuary that flows to the sea, wildlife and nature are constant.
Check out Solomon Crook’s ‘Race Car’:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNTk0dB8Jkg
What’s your biggest career highlight so far?
Would be opening for Amy Shark at the PowerStation, one of NZ’s most well-known venues.
Fave non-music hobby?
Watching movies or a good TV series. Avatar – The Last Airbender is going strong at the moment.
What’s on your dream rider?
A freezer of chocolate brownie ice cream will do just fine.
Dream music collaboration?
Would love to collaborate with Bon Iver, I am in awe of his process of collaboration and writing.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Hopefully touring the world playing and writing music if I still love it.
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
Van Morrison’s ‘Brown Eyed Girl’, once tried ‘Breaking Free’ from High School Musical but it went poorly; got to stick to what you know.
What’s on the cards for the future?
I am currently working on my 2nd EP which is set for release next year. Plans may be to relocate somewhere other than New Zealand, but nothing is set in stone.
Check out Solomon Crook’s ‘Rise’:
