Four years ago Green was released as a noteworthy debut, even though Lukas himself thought it was nothing more than a demo that got out of hand. Until then, he had always put his talent at the service of others, and the music had therefore mostly been a democratic compromise. Not a bad thing, of course. But with SOLAK, Lukas mainly wanted to prove to himself that he could do it all on his own. To his own surprise, without any outside interference, songs like he had never written before suddenly emerged. Melancholic, indeed. And at the same time extremely melodic. Lukas didn't feel like a singer, but he sang. Almost everything you heard was played by himself, from bass to piano, from guitar to drums and percussion. The result sounded fragile and delicate. Modest and introverted. Very lo-fi, too. In short, this was not music that screamed for attention, but it did lead you into a universe of its own. Somers's ambitions with Green were modest. It was enough that the record existed. And it did.
On Atlas, he continued. In the summer of 2021, with a handful of new songs, he left for the breathtaking Ocean Sound Recording Studios in Norway, where Arcade Fire and Travis had previously recorded classics. Anyone who has been there knows that this place - the studio is surrounded by the sea on three sides - is inspiring. Besides, a recording studio is Lukas' beloved biotope anyway. There he can tinker with sound as long as he likes until he gets exactly the right atmosphere for a specific song. And just like last time, he had the perfect partner in crime at hand in technician/mixer Steven van Gelder.
What is striking: the darker songs have become darker and feel less safe, although there is still beauty smoldering in that darkness. The lighter songs sound lighter and are performed more grandly. That's possible, because SOLAK has now melted into a band. "I still write on my own, and I obviously set some boundaries. But within that framework, the musicians are given the freedom to add their own personality. I enjoy that myself when I'm playing for someone else."
The new songs cut deeper and crawl under your skin from the first listen. There is no point in trying to describe them with all kinds of adjectives. Music shouldn’t need any words to clarify itself. "I don't want to give too much explanation about the songs," says Somers. "The listeners will translate the atmosphere contained in the music to their own experiences."
Of course, you can feel where the passion has its roots. Listen to SOLAK and you'll hear similarities with Feist, Jack Johnson, Elliott Smith and great example Blake Mills. All these artists have in common that they make honest music that is not driven by commercial motives. This purity is also paramount for SOLAK. "I can't fake it, so there's no point in even trying." Don’t be mistaken: Lukas Somers has ambition. A lot of ambition. But not in terms of monster sales or sold-out stadium tours. "I hope that those who listen to my music come closer to themselves. That after an eventful day the stress flows away, and the feeling prevails that everything will be alright."
Those who immerse themselves in Atlas already know the conclusion. It will be alright.
Both with SOLAK, and with the listeners. |
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