Sola Rosa trades in the shimmer for shadow on his new single: “What You Need”
There’s a certain kind of artist who never really sits still. Not because they are chasing trends, but because the groove itself keeps shifting beneath their feet. This is the story of Sola Rosa: the long-running project of Andrew Spraggon. For over two decades, Spraggon has been out in New Zealand quietly refining a sound that feels both lived-in and exploratory. His sound is a blend of electronic, soul, and chillwave that leans as much on feel as it does on precision.
For his latest single, “What You Need” he takes his sound into the after-hours. The track is stripped-back, hypnotic, and anchored by a steady four-on-the-floor pulse. Spraggon teams up with Macedonian vocalist Blush’ko for the topline of the track.
“Blush’ko really steered the direction early on,” explains Spraggon when talking about the process of creating the track. “He’d already sung on a couple of my beats, and with a spare day up our sleeve he said, “give me a groove around 110-115 BPM.’ That groove became the starting point, and we built everything out from there.“
“He’s a real pleasure to work with,” continues Spraggon. “He’s very instinctive, and clear about where things should go. That kind of certainty can be intimidating for some producers, but I found it refreshing.”
And indeed, Blush’ko’s vocal track is confident… effortless. It gives “What You Need” that touch of swagger it needs to add a little twist.
For Spraggon, I think this track represents a subtle shift… but an intentional one. “What You Need” highlights what he has always done best with Sola Rosa: creating music that understands context. Tracks that don’t just sound good, but feel right depending on where, and when, you hear them. Headphones on a quiet walk. Windows down at 2am. A dancefloor just starting to blur at the edges.
Sola Rosa – What You Need (feat. Blush’ko)
