My City September 2022

MYMUSIC

“I shot and scored a short film called ‘Memo ries’ with a friend and we were able to show it to a live audience,” he adds. Solis had taken his long awaited first steps. His world was quieting down and he began to listen to his inner self and show vulnerability in his music. Solis took one more chance with 1876 and played some big shows but the band self-de structed, essentially tying off one more loose end and allowing him to go into his singer/songwriter career – leaving metal behind, with no regrets. “Things were becoming more important,” he explains. “I couldn’t use the music to support my daughter and I was finally beginning to under stand. We had been too impatient. As a musician, I have realized that patience is important. I was making music, continuing to be creative and putting it out there … and people were respond ing.” Solis jumped into Americana and played and wrote for a band called Goldblum for a little while, which ended around 2018. “I held some songs back for myself and as Goldblum was end ing, I recorded them with veteran musician Nick Diener (The Swellers) at his studio. During the pandemic, I released a four-song EP and never looked back.” Through all of the ups and downs, failures and success, Solis wouldn’t change a single step of his journey. He has learned about patience, confidence, humility, understanding and most importantly, himself. He remarried in 2019 and now spends his days being of service to people in his full-time job. His recent music is some of the most heartfelt, melodic and relatable of his career and has brought him more success than he dreamed. Every positive word he hears and every show he plays is a gratifying surprise. “I feel like I am finally starting,” he smiles. “I have a whole new perspective and I am grateful for what I still get to do musically.

After all of it, it’s the tenacity that comes from being a part of Flint that has helped me continue creating. It’s a part of everyone here. It’s in our blood. “

” Continued on pg. 91 

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