RIYADH: Because the music scene diversifies in Saudi Arabia, from psychedelic rock to digital dance, younger artist SOVL is bringing a brand new taste to the combination.
SOVL is a self-taught impartial musician who was on a quest to create a top-notch, industry-standard album on his personal that mirrored his private artistry and carried a significant narrative. He platformed a definite mix of different, fashionable, and indie rock, all rooted within the DNA of guitar music.
“As an impartial musician, it’s a more durable course of than somebody, say, signed to a label. However I attempt to reap the benefits of what I’ve,” he stated.
The Saudi rockstar, 22, debuted his first album “Too A lot Is Not Sufficient” final December. The album represented a daring creative leap as SOVL, a producer, songwriter, and singer, ventured into the charming realm of full-length storytelling by his music.
The ten-track work is an emotional odyssey. Open to interpretation, the songs turn out to be a canvas upon which the listener’s personal emotions are painted.
In a world the place the pursuit of “an excessive amount of” typically takes middle stage, “Too A lot Is Not Sufficient” presents a message that resonates with all: Within the pursuit of every thing, we should not neglect to protect probably the most important a part of our being — ourselves.
I firmly imagine that you would be able to write and document music proper from your individual bed room and doing so could make the ultimate product extra real, presenting your artwork precisely as you envision it.
SOVL, Saudi music artist
However earlier than the complete physique of labor got here alongside, his journey was nothing however relentless.
“After I laid my arms on my first electrical guitar in 2019, I used to be taking a distinct strategy in studying the instrument,” he stated. His approach was extra makeshift than something: inserting his fingers wherever they landed or strumming no matter sounded proper till he started studying some fundamentals of guitar chord idea.
He later started recording his music on the beginner-friendly GarageBand earlier than transferring on to utilizing the Logic Professional software program and experimenting with totally different sounds.
SOVL launched his single “What’s Going On?” in 2021, his first official launch into the native music scene as an indie different artist. The refreshing sound brings listeners again to the rock gems of the 70s like The Who and The Conflict, who impressed a lot of his music.
He additionally tries to infuse a little bit of Arabic spirit into his music; the oud instrument makes an look in a few of his songs, together with “Ana.”
Whereas making music is the simple half, another facets of the {industry} like advertising and distribution will be tough to sort out.
A document label, for instance, would deal with cowl artwork, music video manufacturing, and music distribution. “It (would have) been a lot simpler to signal with a document label so they might get all that sorted,” he stated.
Whatever the challenges, SOVL expressed his pleasure in having the liberty of inventive course: “I’m a robust advocate for the do-it-yourself strategy. I firmly imagine that you would be able to write and document music proper from your individual bed room and doing so could make the ultimate product extra real, presenting your artwork precisely as you envision it.
“Don’t get me improper; there’s completely nothing improper with signing to a significant label,” he famous. “It’s a improbable alternative for individuals who have it. Nonetheless, in a world flooded with an excessive amount of music content material, it may be difficult to face out and get your distinctive sound heard.”
For his first album’s cowl artwork, he enlisted the assistance of his associates. They took an impromptu one-day journey to the Jap Province for the makeshift photoshoot and ended up filming considered one of his music movies there as properly.
“It takes an entire lot of perception, and my associates have had my again because the get-go,” he stated concerning the expertise.
Many impartial artists now are using social media platforms like TikTok to advertise their music, however SOVL says their strategy is a bit “cliche” for his persona.
Personifying a moderately mysterious picture, therefore the nameless stage identify, and presenting a method that’s way more nuanced than generic pop, he permits his sound and lyrics to talk for themselves.
His album, though area of interest in style, presents an exploration of a moderately common expertise. He narrates the battle inside to accept what we have already got. The theme is encapsulated within the album cowl, which options the artist pouring water into an already plentiful and huge sea.
What distinguishes SOVL is his steady pursuit to diversify not simply genres however the very composition of albums within the novel Saudi music {industry}. Idea albums, which may inform a bigger story than what could possibly be contained in a single observe, improve the listeners’ expertise of varied notions.
SOVL is adamant about making and releasing music that’s authenticated by real and soulful emotions, and his identify serves as a reminder of that.
He stated: “The album is tremendous centered lyrically, on the theme, the sound, and among the listeners criticized me on that time. As a result of it was my first album, (they imagine) it needs to be a showcase of what you’re able to, however on a broader side.
“With the Prolonged Version, going ahead, I’m going to broaden the sound, experiment a bit, however nonetheless with the identical themes … It’s additionally to compel the story.”
Whereas the writing and producing course of is private and self-centric, the product is probably not everybody’s cup of tea, he stated. Pop sensibility is just not the artist’s objective, however he understands that broadening the scope of his work, even barely, will create a extra palatable expertise for listeners to get into extra psychedelic and grunge different rock.
“What I’m making an attempt to do right here is get folks fascinated about totally different colours of music,” he stated. “That is one which hasn’t been focused but right here (in Saudi Arabia), however I’m actually glad to attempt to begin it.
“The scene right here and the abilities are nonetheless creating their musical identities … If you happen to’re fascinated about music, simply go for it. When you begin and discover it’s actually attention-grabbing, you’re perhaps gifted, so attempt to make investments extra time on that,” he added.
SOVL’s objective is to show, not solely to himself but in addition to his associates and aspiring musicians, that artists can take an indie strategy and nonetheless obtain their desires on the planet of music.
His album is out now on all widespread streaming platforms.
