Open spent the afternoon talking with Solum UK about music, emotion, and the journey behind the sound. What started as a simple conversation quickly became something much deeper, an honest look into why music became such an important part of their life. Click me to hear Solum's work , or scroll to find out more about why he makes.
Q: What first inspired you to start making music, and how did it all begin?
A: “I was inspired by a friend when I was about 12 years old. I remember watching him produce drum and bass and dubstep, and I just thought, that’s what I want to do. I completely fell in love with it from that moment.
After that, it became this whole journey of finding my sound and figuring out what Solum truly meant. That eventually led me into writing, producing, and singing around 2018.”
As they spoke about those early years, it was obvious music wasn’t just a hobby — it became part of who they were.
Q: Why do you make music now? What keeps you doing it?
A: “It honestly started as therapy for me, and it still is in a lot of ways. Music helped me get my thoughts and feelings out when I didn’t really know how else to deal with them.
But now it’s more than that. I genuinely can’t not do music anymore. It’s like breathing now, I need it.”
There was something really raw in the way they said it. Not dramatic, just real.
Q: What’s your favourite song you’ve made so far?
A: “It has to be either One More Time or Belief. Both of those songs came from really powerful moments in my life.”
When we spoke about One More Time, the atmosphere shifted slightly. You could tell the song carried weight.
Q: What’s One More Time about?
A: “I wrote it after my nan passed away from Alzheimer’s. I had this regret from being scared to see her sometimes because of what the illness had done, and I kept feeling like I hadn’t spent enough time with her.
But I loved her a lot. Whenever I did see her, I always made sure I told her I loved her. That song holds a really special place for me.”
The honesty in that answer stayed with me for a while after, we then moved onto Belief, another deeply personal track.
Q: And what about Belief? What does that song mean to you?
A: “I was in an emotionally abusive relationship, and writing Belief felt like waking up from it all. Realising how badly someone treated you is such a weird feeling.
The song sounds like I’m talking to another person, but really I’m talking to myself. I’m asking myself questions like, ‘How do I fall in love with myself again? And now, honestly, I feel like I’ve finally figured that out.”
By the end of the afternoon, one thing was completely clear, Solum UK makes music that comes from lived experiences. Every song feels personal because it is. Whether it’s grief, healing, regret, or self-discovery, nothing about the music feels forced.
And maybe that’s why it connects with people so strongly.