Indie folk artist Noah Solt has finally dropped his highly anticipated debut album, Big Water, released through Starita Records. Solt’s bold experiment began with a breakup – not of the band, but of the album itself. Over the past ten months, each of its six tracks emerged as a soloist, capturing our undivided attention on FM’s pages.
Sunrise ignites the horizon, symbolizing the transition from contrasting perspectives to a unified whole – a concept captured in Big Water. Buried within the album’s textured soundscapes and emotional lyrical candor lies an undeniable intimacy, as if the artist has handed you a velvet-covered journal, emboldening you to confront the shadows and radiance that make you, you.
Photo by Tam Akiko
As Solt’s musical exploration unfolds, each track melds smoothly into the next, crafting a deeply personal narrative. Raised in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, Solt’s musical path began with the guitar and led him to Berklee College of Music in Boston. However, the onset of COVID-19 in 2020 prompted him to trade academics for the life of a professional sailor.
He spent countless mornings awestruck by the rising sun, reflected in the ocean’s rippling mirror. This intimate bond between light and water fermented a fusion of tracks, becoming Big Water, an aural fusion of journey, self-empowerment, and the restless human spirit. The album was meticulously recorded at the historic FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, under the guidance of GRAMMY®-recognized producer Starita. Teaming up with FAME’s in-house musicians, The Slow Burners, Solt weaves a lush sonic tapestry that lets his lyrical paintings breathe.
Spheres: The album’s emotional opus, urging listeners towards authenticity with deep grooves, lush soundscapes, and poetic lyrics.
After All: A pop-infused track praised by Glamglare for its “mesmerizing” melodies and “velvety power vocals.”
The Fold: An energetic, Americana-toned song that Solt completed during his recording session, emphasizing intuition and bravery.
Ever Been: A melancholic yet hopeful folk track that captures the essence of returning to oneself after heartache.
Dawn: An ethereal composition inspired by a sunrise over the Atlantic, reflecting on the duality of human nature.
Big Water: Nature’s splendor is music to our ears in the title track, where rhythms ebb and flow like ocean waves, a soothing soundtrack for our reverence.
Photo by Tam Akiko
With the Rocky Mountains in his rearview mirror, Solt arrived at the coast and crafted an album that’s both broader than the open sea and more intimate than a whisper. In the midst of FAME Studios’ rich creative atmosphere, musicians and producers joined forces to produce something special: a collection of sounds that refuse to be pinned down and reverberate deeply with audiences. Backing the album’s mission are a string of talented industry professionals, including recording and mix engineer Wes Sheffield, producer, mix engineer, and background vocalist Starita, executive producer Toma Ramirez, and an impressive lineup of musicians – Andy Dixon, Brad Kuhn, Justin Holder, Trevor McKay, Andy Mann, Tam Akiko, Caleb Elliot, and Kimi Samson. Cinematography and photography by Tam Akiko and Andy Mann, with creative direction by Tam Akiko.
Within Solt’s carefully crafted aural landscapes, the fragmented rhythms of life start to make sense, as the harmony of emotional chaos comes alive in a soaring fusion of sound and introspection. In one swift motion, Noah Solt surges into the limelight, unfurling a debut that’s at once heart-wrenchingly intimate and disarmingly inclusive, beckoning all who listen to partake in his journey.
