Inventive and genre defying music is so pervasive that it’s less shocking when you actually come across it. That being said, Hugo Ronen has created a piece of vibey, genreless gold with his newest collection of songs. Formerly known as Sol, the formerly New York-based artist is no stranger to defying conventions and tinkering with sonic expectations and exemplifies it on this collection of demos.
The Sol Demos functions as an end to a chapter of Ronen’s life as he uprooted from his home in New York to now living in Los Angeles. A collection of his three previously released singles as well as a new live rendition of “Things End as They Begin”, there might not be much to unpack for dedicated listeners of Ronen; but for new listeners, the EP release functions as a perfect way to acquaint oneself with the off-center stylings of the west coast transplant. Each song features swaying and angelic harmonics layered over up-tempo drums and sweepingly captivating instrumentals. In many ways, a cinematic experience that more than lends itself to a coming-of-age drama, Ronen’s topics frequently explore the unsavory and less than satisfactory parts of pop music in a way that still maintains its genre direction.
Taking inspiration from fellow unconventional pioneers such as Jack Antonoff, Billie Eilish, Kanye West, and Tyler, The Creator; Ronen is more than the sum of his influences. With his collected work so far, he has demonstrated himself to be a thoroughly interesting and unique artist that has the skillset to even further branch out into new sonic dimensions. With an upcoming full-length project in the not-so-distant future, watching the development of Ronen’s young career will be as engaging as listening to his music.
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