SOLA ROSA RELEASES EIGHTH STUDIO ALBUM IN THE MIDS OUT NOW + TOURING AOTEAROA THIS MAY - JUNE
Today, Aotearoa’s boundary-pushing producer Sola Rosa returns with his eighth studio album In The Mids, marking a bold new chapter in a career spanning more than two decades. To celebrate the release, Sola Rosa is heading out on a nationwide tour this May and June.
At the helm of some of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most forward-thinking fusion projects, Sola Rosa has long carved out a sound that moves fluidly between soul, funk, hip hop and modern dance music. With In The Mids, producer, songwriter and musician Andrew Spraggon shifts gears, stepping away from the live band framework of recent releases and returning to the project’s roots as a studio-led exploration.
“This album began like all my others, I’d make a bunch of beats and see what stuck but at first, I had no clear vision,” Spraggon explains. “I was still thinking in terms of a live band setup, and everything felt a bit rigid, too many rules. Then, during one of the final lockdowns in NZ, I watched a short video of renowned producer Decap saying, ‘just try and make a beat a day without judgement.’ I gave it a go, and it was liberating — it brought real joy back into making music.”
“Suddenly, it was okay to explore ideas that in the past might have felt outside my wheelhouse. After a few days, the music started pouring out in unexpected and fascinating directions. That’s how most of this album came together.”
That sense of creative freedom defines In The Mids, an album shaped by modern dance music, heavy grooves and a renewed focus on production. “Once that approach became my norm, I had a much clearer sense of the sound I wanted: more dancefloor-friendly, heavy grooves, layered synths and arpeggiated textures, programmed beats, and strong vocal contributions,” says Spraggon. “While some key players still feature, this is very much me as a producer exploring new terrain.”
Drawing influence from contemporary club culture alongside soul, funk and global rhythms, In The Mids prioritises mood, movement and restraint over overt gestures, a record designed for late nights and deep listening.
The album follows a string of standout singles including ‘Jupiter’ featuring Iva Lamkum, ‘What You Need’ featuring Blush’ko, and ‘Losing Time’ featuring Muroki, each signalling the project’s evolution toward a more groove-driven, electronic-leaning sound.
With over 65 million streams across his catalogue, Sola Rosa has cultivated a global fanbase through acclaimed releases and performances spanning North America, the UK and Europe. Festival appearances at WOMAD NZ, Secret Garden Party, Kendall Calling, Green Man and Shambala, alongside collaborations with artists such as TALL BLACK GUY, DJ VADIM and HERMITUDE, have cemented his reputation as one of Aotearoa’s most enduring and quietly innovative musical voices.