In conversation with Solmai on her debut EP “Sad Girl Era”

Berlin is a metropolis for aspiring musicians. Though, if you think the city being a hub for electronic music leaves little space for other genres, you’re wrong. The city is hosting a bustling scene of aspiring musicians from all backgrounds and sounds, such as the Danish singer Solmai. With the release of her debut EP “Sad Girl Era”, the singer fuses classic R&B-sounds with Hyperpop, accompanied by her smooth, soothing voice. 

KALTBLUT caught up with her ahead of the release to discuss the EP, why she writes about heartbreak and TikTok.

KALTBLUT: Tell me about the single you released just before your EP.

Solmai: The single is called “Mature”, and has been the last of the string of singles that have been released before the EP. The song is about thinking that you’re mature but in reality, you’re actually the opposite – very immature. You don’t want to hear about the ex-girlfriend and the things they did together. You realise you’re much more jealous than you thought you’d be.

KALTBLUT: What made you want to confront this theme? Is it something you thought about before?

Solmai: Honestly, not. I’ve been in a relationship now for a bit over a year, and I never thought I was a jealous person until I came into a relationship. Now, I’m like, oh shit, what are these emotions? This feels weird. I thought I was a chill girl. It came out of nowhere.

I thought I was a chill girl.

KALTBLUT: Jealousy is also a theme of the EP, right?

Solmai: Jealousy and maybe also dealing with a broken relationship in many senses and all the stages of going through a relationship and it being broken.

KALTBLUT: Does writing help you deal with those emotions, or does it keep bringing those feelings up?

Solmai: When I’ve written a song and I perform it, the emotions don’t come back to me in the same way when I then perform it. I can still relate to them. I wrote it, so I will always be able to relate to the emotions. But besides that, it’s a done deal.

KALTBLUT: Do you wish you could get those emotions back when you perform?

Solmai: It’s not that I don’t feel anything when I perform because I’m living in the moment. I don’t even know how to describe it. These emotions are not the same. I don’t feel heartbroken on stage, but I can remember the feeling of being heartbroken. That was a shitty time, so let me tune into that for a moment.

I think that’s healthy, to be honest. You can’t relive those emotions all the time.
KALTBLUT: Your songs are really personal. Do you feel like you’re letting people read your diary?

Solmai: I write so much about relationships and feeling sad, you’d think that was my most vulnerable point. I find it harder writing about hardships and the things I go through as a woman. I can’t seem to put the words down on paper without it being too personal. When I write relationship or heartbreak songs, it feels easier because everybody’s going through it and can relate to it.

When I write relationship or heartbreak songs, it feels easier because everybody’s going through it and can relate to it.

KALTBLUT: I think when it comes to the struggles women go through, there’s no simple solution. Whereas when you’re getting over a heartbreak, you know it’s going to be over at some point. Would you ever try writing a song about those themes? It’d probably be very powerful.

Solmai: It 100% would. I think I’d get stuck writing the song because it’d be so important to write the right thing.

KALTBLUT: What do you mean in terms of the right thing: The right thing for yourself or the right thing for other people to understand?

Solmai: Both. For me and for other people. It’s such a complex topic. With a heartbreak song, you can sing about sadness, but this subject is so crucial and essential – especially in today’s times. Whenever I try to put something down, I feel it doesn’t explain it properly, or it sounds too cheesy.

KALTBLUT: As a musician now, does it feel daunting releasing music into an industry that’s so focused on TikTok? If you look at some of the most successful songs at the moment, most have gone viral and are additionally super short. Do you think about that while writing?

Solmai: When I write my music, I don’t think about it. Which is maybe also why I don’t have that many listeners yet. I don’t play into the TikTok thing. I have no intention of making every cent and dime from my EP, which gives me more creative freedom – even sound wise. My EP is a blend of many genres and sounds. I can mainly do that because I’m independent.

KALTBLUT: How did you approach this fusion of sounds? Did it come organically?

Solmai: It comes organically. I’ve had a lot of struggles before moving to Berlin with finding a producer, Tilmann Jarmer, who understands me and what I’m saying. I’m not a trained musician, so I would just make certain sounds. I’ve had all these ideas of what I wanted to do: I wanted to use a vocalizer, this certain beat – all these things. That’s all come together in this EP that I’ve walked around with for 3 or 4 years.

Maybe that why the sounds are so blended, as well as those Hyperpop sounds I love. It’s a fun sound.

KALTBLUT: What’s your favourite song from the EP?

Solmai: I think it’s “Mature”. Obviously, I love them all. But I think “Mature” because it has some nerve, and tricks that like. It’s a fun track. I like the theme, even though it’s a little off brand for what I usually write.

Stream Solmai’s debut EP “Sad Girl Era” here and follow her on Instagram at @solmaii to keep up with upcoming releases and shows.

If you’re in Berlin, you can catch her debut show at Berlin’s Tennis Bar on the 18th of May starting at 7:30 PM.