LEGENDARY PRODUCER SOLA ROSA TEAMS UP WITH IVA LAMKUM FOR NEW SINGLE ‘JUPITER’
Andrew Spraggon, better known as Sola Rosa, has returned with the first teaser for his upcoming eighth studio album, set for release in early 2026. The first cut is titled‘Jupiter’; a confident statement of intent — with a shuffling rhythm, gleaming synths and the effortless cool of long-time collaborator Iva Lamkum.
‘Jupiter’ finds Sola Rosa stepping into a slick new orbit. There’s a nod to the glossy funk of Oliver and the hazy shimmer of Tame Impala, but Jupiter stands firmly in its own lane; polished, propulsive and full of that rare quality: genuine uplift without the clichés. Spraggon’s production feels spacious and assured, the kind that rewards both a packed dancefloor and a solo drive with the windows down. Jupiter is a reminder that confidence isn’t always loud; sometimes it’s just knowing exactly what you’re doing, and trusting your own rhythm.’
“This track started like most of my songs, with a sample flip. I chopped up some chords from a Splice loop, layered them up, and initially aimed for a 120 BPM four-on-the-floor beat. But it naturally evolved into more of a shuffling groove.. still funky, just with a looser, rolling feel.
Around that time, I was listening to a lot of Tame Impala, so maybe a bit of that sound slipped in subconsciously. I’m often influenced by whatever I’ve got on rotation, but never with the intention of copying, more just letting it filter through naturally. The track probably sits somewhere between Oliver’s futuristic funk and that hazy, melodic vibe of modern psych-pop. - Sola Rosa
As expected, the personnel on ‘Jupiter’ is an all star cast, with Simon Gooding (Pink, TEEKS, Neil Finn, Dua Lipa, Ladi6, Fazerdaze, Balu Brigada) mixing the track, as well as additional guitar/bass work from Yoka-Zuna’s Kenji Iwamitsu-Holdaway (who has also worked with CHAII & SIX60 in the past). ‘Jupiter’ also features the return of Iva Lamkum’s vocals to Sola Rosa’s expansive beats - a partnership that was last seen around 15 years ago on the hit ‘Turn Around’.
“I wrote all the music, then Kenji added his trademark bass pops and atmospheric guitar textures. It had been over ten years since I worked with Iva Lamkum on Turn Around (a bit of an underground hit in 2009). We reconnected online, I sent her a few beats, and she came back with the idea for Jupiter. When I was in Melbourne for some In The Mids session work, we met up - mostly catching up, but by the end of the day the song was done. I wrapped up the production back home and sent it to Simon Gooding for mixing.”
SOLA ROSA
Commenting on her approach to the track lyrically, Lamkum describes ‘Jupiter’ as “a strong, confident track with real “I’m in my era” energy. It’s about celebrating yourself, whether you’re already feeling it or need a little lift. The lyrics are empowering and self-assured, striking a balance between sleek sophistication and fun, night-out energy.”
Sola Rosa has proven himself time and time again as one of New Zealand's most inventive musical exports, over a career that now spans two decades. Since winning the Best Electronic Release award for his debut album Solarized at the 2001 New Zealand Music Awards, Spraggon has gone on to play stages at Secret Garden Party (UK), Green Man (UK), Shambala (UK), Kendall Calling (UK), Nostock (UK), Womad (NZ), Big Day Out (NZ), Splore (NZ) and many others. His unique blend of R&B, Funk, Jazz, Hip-hop and Pop has earned a global following, attracting top-tier collaborators such as Tall Black Guy, Hermitude and DJ Vadim and racking up over 65 million combined DSP streams across his catalogue in the process