The Six-String Sol Strumming Musician
Sol Stringer was born Solly Mosetle on November 1st 1983 in Krugersdorp, South Africa. He is the sixth of seven children which ties into his love for the six-string instrument i.e., the guitar. In addition to guitarist, his talent titles encompass vocalist, songwriter, actor, producer, and voiceover artist, he had provincial colours for hockey, in High School too. He describes his music as his mouthpiece for the love language between himself and God. Writing the lyrics to popular songs in his 5th-grade notebook, preceded his love for rock music in high school. As a teen, he listened to ‘Lenny Kravitz’, ‘Aerosmith’ & ‘Jimmy Hendricks’ who inspired him to pursue the guitar. Immediately after high school he decided to study music and desired to be in the entertainment industry.
Power with instruments and exposure
It was at Southwest Gauteng College where Sol first experienced his power with instruments. He learned to play the bass, followed by the guitar and the piano was an addition to understanding musical notes. He transferred to Parktown College for his second year. A highlight from his time there was being a part of ‘Malice’ a heavy metal band that performed for a 2-year term at various venues, and then split up. Thereafter he rejoined a church band and to his advantage, the director introduced him to other “musicians and artists” from different provinces. Then he joined ‘Muzart’ a soulful, jazz-funk group and received nominations for SAMA Awards and Metro Fm Awards. The band is internationally acclaimed in magazines such as ‘Blues and Soul’ in the UK. The group separated and he saw it fit to pursue his solo career as an artist.
String Out Loud Media
“Initially I wanted my sound to be electro and have different artists ‘jump’ on the sound. However, while playing in studio, ‘DJ Clap’ encouraged me to sing my own songs”, said Sol. Although pressurized, he worked up the courage and sang. With a pile of written songs, he headed to studio and worked with the producer ‘Vuyo Manyike’ who’s worked with various artists. Sol Stringer‘s first single was “Lerato”, a soothing tribute to Madiba in Sesotho, and Setswana. In this, he is very versatile in his sound having studied the mother of Pop music i.e., Jazz. There are songs like “Far away” with ‘Black Myst’ and “Happy” with ‘DJ Clock’. Sol’s live performances are evidence of his love for rock music. He is signed to his own record label “String out Loud Media” a sub-company to the consortium “String out Loud Group”.
Experience and versatility
I asked whether his versatility allows him to explore different areas of his arts (i.e., the acting, producing etc…). To which he answered that acting was his first love. “Since childhood I dreamt of being an actor and had the passion for it. I wanted to be a presenter but found myself without support.” said Sol. Vuyo Manyike prompted him to participate in ‘She is king’ which was his screen debut. In 2017 he shot some advertisements, but some weren’t screened. This did not deter him from music, his primary focus. He performed at The Miss Soweto Beauty Pageant in 2019 and 2020.
Believe
In 2021 he released “Believe”, a very inspirational song, and it tells us the listeners not to lose hope. Sol said, “I had organised a producer to get to my studio and hoped the producer would have something for me in his archives, but to my amazement, he told me to create a personal song. I started playing 3 specific chords which are now the hook, and I thought about the lyrics to a Jekalyn Carr song where she says believe. ‘Khumo Leff’ a great song writer was there, and we started writing. It was more of believing in it and seeing it before it happened. And the Holy Spirit was there with us. That experience cannot be replicated nor reproduced.”
It’s gonna happen
He had to hold on and believe it’s going to happen despite the tough times, he was experiencing. After all, he “was once a part of a band that did great things”. They were on another level. He’d given his all to the band, there was a breach of trust and having to start on his own, getting to studio to record. In hindsight, he thanks God that everything happened the way that it did. There’s a possibility that it may have happened another way but he’s grateful that it happened the way it did. It pushed him outside of his comfort zone. “I believe in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. “Most of the time, I am inspired by the Holy Spirit.” He believes his music will be the springboard for more screen time and voiceovers. So, he journeys on.
The Business: Pros & Cons
It is important for artists to write or compose their music because they’ll receive the royalties. This happens when radio stations play this music, or other artists sing or play this music. The singer gets little to nothing from singing music they do not own. Another advantage of writing and producing your own music is that you’re able to birth your vision. He adds publishing your own music as an added advantage because it becomes another income stream. As a musician in his own record label, it was a challenge to obtain the money for the recording facilities, music video, photoshoot and graphic designer, to mix the song, then master it.
Record labels and producers often own the songs, and are primarily responsible for paying production costs, so they dictate the budget allocated to their artists as well as the payment the artists receive. The contract stipulates this as a percentage which is often small. In his career, there were times when favours came into play and people within his circle, were helping each other. Unfortunately, there are those who did not follow through. He gets things done by God’s grace. Although the music video he shot for “Believe” was challenging, he now has the experience. The ultimate is to become a bigger brand. Sol Stringer sells his apparel through his accounts, details listed below.
Music on digital platforms
For the single “Believe”, Sol Stringer has a distribution contract with Ziiki Media who put him on iTunes, Spotify, and other platforms. With his upcoming album, he’ll be broadcasting/publishing the music himself. He acknowledges that distribution companies have the knowledge of where to broadcast the music and how to distribute it. They have renewable contracts that last for specified durations and there are mediums such as CD baby and Songtradr which distribute music. There’s composite sampling for radio and Capasso for composers to license their music.
Strumming out
Musicians have many experiences which they share with their listeners. The journey for him, included sleeping on a friend’s couch, and sleeping on the floor somewhere. Music helped him establish who he is. “It’s nontangible, unseen & it is indescribable”. The guitar takes him to another world. Sol Stringer quoted an unknown author who said: “Musicians are people that are close to really experiencing who God is.” His passion empowered him to stick these experiences through. He describes music as a calling from which he cannot be separated. Sol Stringer keeps his head above the water, and he’s got it going on with a new single we should look out for, and a tour sometime this year. It’s worth believing because we see it happening!
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I am discovering me. Figuring out who it is that I want to be. Flowetic at times, poetic though my lines won't always rhyme. Beyond a star, although never a mime. I am kind, I'm ambitious, self-driven and free-spirited shoo-in. I have followed, flipped heads from tails, now I'm ready to lead. Ready to heed to my calling.
Inspired to explore my creative nature, through interacting and learning about the different forms of art. Living in the present and excited for the future. My focus right now is void of credentials, I choose potential~Kinetically, it's what makes us influential.
