SOLIRO Releases ‘Lingering’

Some people spend years learning how to build tension in music. SOLIRO seems to have got the hang of it from the outset.

His new track ‘Lingering’ is an absolutely fantastic piece of electronic music that I had the pleasure of mixing and mastering earlier this year.

SOLIRO has been writing and producing music in Ableton, and had already released an instrumental track called ‘Crusher’ before we started working together. ‘Lingering’ was his first venture into vocal-driven music, and what immediately struck me when I heard it was just how mature and considered the whole production was. There's an understanding of dynamics, arrangement and musical tension here that I'd be impressed by in someone with decades of experience.

The track opens with a wonderfully tender, introspective introduction, with delicate vocals and some beautifully arranged harmonies creating an almost fragile atmosphere. There's a sense of unease underneath it all, but SOLIRO is in no hurry to give the listener any relief. He lets the tension develop before unleashing an absolutely earth-shattering drop into a huge, bass-driven beat. It's a fantastic moment, and a brilliant example of just how effective contrast can be in music. The drop hits so hard precisely because of everything that comes before it.

The sound design throughout is superb too, with some really imaginative synth work and a level of detail that rewards repeated listening. I'm particularly impressed by the vocal harmony arrangements, which are incredibly well crafted and add so much to the emotional weight of the track.

But perhaps the most impressive bit of songwriting comes towards the end. As the final vocal chorus unfolds, the instrumental arrangement begins this enormous crescendo, built around a wonderful harmonic progression that seems determined to deny the listener any sort of resolution. Just when you think the tension is about to break, the progression takes another turn and the release is delayed yet again. It's almost unbearable by the end, and I mean that as the highest possible compliment. The music captures the inner turmoil of the lyrics perfectly, and the whole thing is quite brilliantly executed.

One thing that became particularly apparent while working with SOLIRO was just how clearly he understood what he wanted from the production. He had very specific ideas about the way the snare builds should develop, how the synths should transition between sections and exactly how much processing he wanted on the vocals. It was a real pleasure working with someone who'd thought so carefully about all these details, and it goes a long way towards explaining why the finished track works as well as it does.

It's tempting to get carried away talking about the technical side of a track like this, but what really matters is how well it all works as a piece of music. The songwriting is ambitious, the production is inventive and, most importantly, SOLIRO seems to have a real instinct for how music can manipulate our emotions.

I had an absolute blast mixing and mastering this one, and I'm genuinely excited to hear where SOLIRO takes his music next. He's got a remarkable amount of talent, and I'll certainly be keeping an ear out for whatever he comes up with next.

Go and give ‘Lingering’ by SOLIRO a listen. Just make sure you've got something capable of reproducing that bass when the drop arrives!