SOL GIANT
Los Angeles, California, United States | SELF
Music
Press
Sol Giant Announce EP
12/04/2009
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Talent continually rises out of the L.A. music scene with the latest offering in the form of Sol Giant, a quartet whose dramatically diverse backgrounds work harmoniously to make their pop-rock sound a complete original.
Now, Sol Giant is ready to digitally release its EP Strangers on December 8, making it available on all major online retail outlets such as Amazon, iTunes and Rhapsody.
Strangers, recorded, mixed, and mastered at Sound Central Recorders and Romulus Studios in Los Angeles, will shake the masses, especially those that have been ready and waiting for something new to come along.
Multi-talented lead singer/writer/guitarist Eric Nicolau offers up some incredible combinations; instrumentals and vocals that are rock-solid and the lyrics full of authentic emotion and crowd-pleasing chorus.
The EP's five tracks work together to create a fresh sound, while songs like "Wide Eyed" speak to the truth of our own self-imposed blinders. Bassist Alana Chirino, raised in Florida by a Grammy-award winning salsa singer father, nurtured by a Latin pop-singer mother, sets a rhythm throughout that at times both leads and drives the listener down the musical path SOL GIANT has lit for them. Joined by Elliot Schwartzman, a funk/blues keyboardist out of N.Y., and longtime percussionist Rob Humphreys, SOL GIANT is ready to shine new light on the pop/rock genre.
Physical copies of the EP Strangers can be purchased at any tour date. New shows to be announce in 2010.
Strangers Track Listing:
1. Wide Eyed
2. Don't You Lie To Me
3. Been To The Mountain
4. Where I'm Supposed To Be
5. Strangers We Call Friends
Click here to read today's full Day in Pop report
Preview and Purchase Sol Giant CDs
Sol Giant Tour Dates/Tickets
Sol Giant MP3 Downloads
- Press
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Review: Sol Giant "Strangers" [EP]
Just what we need...another band out of L.A., right? Well, I'd like to make a case that the world does indeed need Sol Giant. Melodic rock seems to come naturally to the four members comprising this band.
"Sol Giant is Eric Nicolau, an accomplished young vocalist, songwriter and guitarist who graduated Warped Tour before high school, bassist Alana Chirino, a Miami-raised musician born to two Grammy-winning Latin pop stars, Elliot Schwartzman, a keyboardist adept in funk, Americana and blues; and drummer Rob Humphreys, a rocker whose been hearing drumbeats since the womb."
Despite coming from varied musical backgrounds, the four members of Sol Giant have a chemistry that has distilled all the essentials of great pop rock. The unique background each member brings to the stage is used to their advantage: each song has a fresh sound even if it is adhering to a tried and true pop rock formula. Sol Giant sounds very professional, hip, and poised to conquer L.A. and beyond.
My favorite cuts from the EP "Strangers" include the rousing opening track, "Wide Eyed", and its polar opposite, the stripped down acoustic ballad "Been To The Mountain". These two tracks showcase how well the band performs at both ends of the spectrum. The only pet peeve: Eric Nicolau's voice is so warm and soulful, yet in some songs it is overshadowed with unnecessary processing.
"Strangers" Track Listing:
1. WIDE EYED
2. DON'T YOU LIE TO ME
3. BEEN TO THE MOUNTAIN
4. WHERE I'M SUPPOSED TO BE
5. STRANGERS WE CALL FRIENDS
The EP was released on December 8 - time to go check it out today. Or get the digital release from major online retail outlets such as Amazon, iTunes and Rhapsody.
iPOD-worthy: 1, 3, 4
Sol Giant on MySpace.
Posted by Bill's Music Forum at 11:51 AM
Labels: review, Sol Giant
- Bill's Music Forum
Sol Giant -
Pop-rockers Sol Giant are from sunny Southern California, but you could probably tell as much just by listening to their music. With bright guitars, urgent drums and epic, glowing choruses, the tunes they create seem somehow connected to their geographic source, at odds with the snow and cold that has settled outside my window as I write this. Although the band has a bit more 'mainstream' alternative sound than you're probably used to finding here, I've been loving their debut EP, entitled Strangers, which was released in November. Behind big-voiced singer/songwriter Eric Nicolau, the quartet makes alt-rock that's catchy and engaging, with enough of a twist to stay interesting throughout their five-song first effort. The earnest and subtly funky "Don't You Lie to Me" features sharp guitar lines and a sexy bass groove, while the jangly "Where I'm Supposed to Be" is a more Beatlesque pop number, but my personal favorite is the emotive acoustic ballad "Been to the Mountain." Strangers is a great start for this ambitious young band - hopefully they've got more on the way soon. - Press
Detroit Native's New 'Giant' Music Journey In LA
Monday, Nov. 30, 2009
By Brit Moore
Our own Brit Moore, catches up with Detroit-native Eric Nicolau of up and coming band, Sol Giant, while paving his road to success in sunny LA.
One of Detroit’s native sons, Eric Nicolau, with new band Sol Giant, recently released a new record called ‘Strangers’ at the Viper Room in LA. The hometown singer/songwriter headed west earlier this year to continue his musical pursuits in closer proximity to his management.
Nicolau was a player in the metro-Detroit music scene starting at the ripe age of 15 with his band, 'Which Way Is Home.' In 2005, at 19, he signed with Romulus Music Group and thus set the trajectory that would send him west. But not before he put out two albums under the Which Way Is Home moniker and built a solid fan base playing shows at all our favorite Detroit spots including landing a slot at Warped Tour in 2008. Now stationed on the sun soaked sands of LA, the new band consists of bassist, Alana Chirino, daughter of Grammy-Award winning Latin music artist Willy Chirino, piano-man, Elliot Schwartzman, an east coast transplant with a love of jazz and Rob Humphreys the spirited drummer hailing from the land of the paranormal, Roswell, New Mexico. The band has been living the dream in a rehearsal space in downtown LA much like Detroit’s own Russell Industrial Center. But, before we continue with the rest of the details on the new disc, we absolutely must pause for an account of the most recent ruckus raised at the LA practice space.
One night in late October the band gathered for a jam session (I got to tag along, one of the many perks of being in LA for the next nine months) in preparation for a show at The Mint. Upon arriving, half the band started carrying equipment upstairs and shortly after, an old chick bassist of the downtown LA variety runs out of the building, bass in hand, informing everyone that there is a fire on the 2nd floor. She takes off. As the band continues to unload and investigate said fire, a strange white ‘smoke’ comes billowing down their hallway and into the elevator shaft. Eric, at the encouragement of drummer Rob, breaks into the fire extinguisher case and makes a mad dash down the hall to their studio, fighting the alleged fire with the extinguisher the whole way there. No one can identify what exactly this white ‘smoke’ is and why it’s present. (The entire time, burying my face in my scarf I’m thinking, please, please don’t let this be asbestos). Someone finally called the fire department and come to find out, another band in the building was setting the mood with their fog machine and triggered the smoke alarms, subsequently causing the buildings fire fighting systems to engage. Who knew baking soda put out fires?
Hilarious.
Getting right back to Sol Giant’s CD release show... we got to sit down with front-man, Eric Nicolau, and ask a few questions about the Viper Room gig and his journey to the Pacific...
What inspired the move to LA?
In general, I was ready to make a change with what I was doing with music. I needed to challenge myself and grow. I loved what was happening in Michigan, but I knew I had to get out of my comfort zone and get myself into a position where I was totally submerged and couldn't turn back. Moving to Los Angeles was the place I had pre-meditated I would go if I was ever going to start new.
What were you doing in Detroit before you left?
Playing with my band Which Way Is Home and juggling studies at EMU (Eastern Michigan University). I would be in class prepping everything for the tour I was lining up for the band (it became pretty obvious what I was more concerned about). Since I was 17, I was determined to put us out on the road every spring & summer. I did well in school, but I had to put it on hold for the LA move.
We know you’ve traveled a lot and have written a lot of your songs abroad, where did most of the writing for this album take place?
Well some of the ideas for the songs I had been tooling around with for a while back in Michigan; like "Strangers We Call Friends" & "Where Im Supposed To Be". But the rest of it came within the first 3 months of living in LA. We couldn't get enough of you guys at the Viper Room- it was packed out and the energy was thick, how did it feel from the stage? It felt like the most receptive, lively bunch I've ever played for in LA so far- lots of new faces, lots of familiar ones too. That’s what is cool, to see people catching onto the music and seeing your local core support come to life. I could sense their commitment and excitement for the band intensify at the release show. It was a thrill for sure.
And for all those curious Michigan fans, if you had a weekend back home- what would you do?
Hang with my fam, go sledding on Hines Drive if there’s snow, go disc golfing on Hines if there’s not snow. Definitely go check out a local show (Javelins or Zoos - Brit Moore
kelleemack pr
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
POP-ROCKERS SOL GIANT INTRODUCE NEW EP “STRANGERS”
Digital Release Set for December 8
Los Angeles, CA, December 1, 2009 – Talent continually rises out of the L.A. music scene and its latest offering is SOL GIANT, a quartet whose dramatically diverse backgrounds work harmoniously to make their pop-rock sound a complete original. Now, SOL GIANT is ready to digitally release its EP Strangers on December 8, making it available on all major online retail outlets such as Amazon, iTunes and Rhapsody.
Strangers, recorded, mixed, and mastered at Sound Central Recorders and Romulus Studios in Los Angeles, will shake the masses, especially those that have been ready and waiting for something new to come along. Multi-talented lead singer/writer/guitarist Eric Nicolau offers up some incredible combinations; instrumentals and vocals that are rock-solid and the lyrics full of authentic emotion and crowd-pleasing chorus. The EP’s five tracks work together to create a fresh sound, while songs like “Wide Eyed” speak to the truth of our own self-imposed blinders. Bassist Alana Chirino, raised in Florida by a Grammy-award winning salsa singer father, nurtured by a Latin pop-singer mother, sets a rhythm throughout that at times both leads and drives the listener down the musical path SOL GIANT has lit for them. Joined by Elliot Schwartzman, a funk/blues keyboardist out of N.Y., and longtime percussionist Rob Humphreys, SOL GIANT is ready to shine new light on the pop/rock genre.
Physical CD copies of Strangers can be purchased at various tour stops, with dates and locations TBA.
HYPERLINK "http://www.myspace.com/solgiantofficial" www.myspace.com/solgiantofficial
HYPERLINK "http://www.sonicbids.com/solgiant" www.sonicbids.com/solgiant
HYPERLINK "http://www.twitter.com/solgiant" www.twitter.com/solgiant
# # #
For more information, to request music, cover art, or to set up interviews, please contact:
Kelly MacGaunn
kelleemack pr
p. 818.506.7105
- Kelly Mack
Discography
1. Dead, Awake, & Dreaming E.P
2. Are You Listening ? E.P.
3. Sol Giant E.P.- Out Dec. 8th, 2009!
Photos
Bio
Out of Los Angeles, the land of the sun, rises the pop-rock quartet, SOL GIANT with vocalist, songwriter and guitarist, Eric Nicolau, bassist Alana Chirino, a Miami-raised musician born to two Grammy-winning Latin pop stars, Elliot Schwartzman, a keyboardist in funk, Americana and blues, and lifelong drummer Rob Humphreys, a trained percussionist with working to shine new creative light on the pop-rock genre. Eric has already released two EPs prior to the formation of Sol Giant; first Dead, Awake, & Dreaming, followed by Are You Listening. The latest EP, STRANGERS, was recorded, mixed, and mastered at Sound Central Recorders and Romulus Studios in Los Angeles, and is due for release on December 8. Nicolaus vocals may be familiar to some astute rock fans; he has performed throughout the Midwest with his previous band, Which Way is Home, even rating a stage at the 2007 Warped Tour. With the idea for a new band in mind, he moved to Los Angeles from Detroit, Michigan, and, according to Nicolau, did what any other musical artist seeking other passionate music artists would do, and posted ads within local newspapers and websites. I got lots of responses and ended up with a blend of musicians originally from all over the place. With a little bit of luck on my side, I found a jazz drummer from New Mexico, a Latin-pop prodigy from Miami, and a New York piano man. Somehow its all worked out considering the diverse and varied places we've all come from musically. We are all teaching each other something when we are playing. The songs I start with end up morphing into something I'd never expected. It's exciting.
The work that has gone into the latest release for SOL GIANT makes this EP well worth the listen. The instrumentals and vocals are rock-solid and the lyrics are full of authentic emotion, not the genres typical pap. Tracks like Wide Eyed speak to the truth of our relationships that can remain hidden behind our own self-imposed blinders. Nicolau explains that the lyrics, sum up the reflection on parting ways with people youve found are not the kind you want to have in your life anymore. Other tracks such as Where Im Supposed to Be involve the battle within our own skin, asking where we, as individuals, and especially as musicians, fit in the world around us.
The bass playing of Alana Chirino sets a mood, one that you think you can pinpoint at first listen, but then just as fast, she can change it for you and set a new tone. Alana was raised in Florida by a Grammy-award winning salsa singer father, nurtured by a Latin pop-singer mother, and harmonized with her four siblings as The Chirino Sisters. Yet, with all signs pointing toward Miami for her musical career, she went her own way: west. She states, Even though my parents were in the Miami Latin scene, they always played all kinds of music around the house, which helped expand my musical palette to draw from as a musician. With her mind firmly set on her own music career, and her own life, Chirino made the move to Los Angeles in 07.
Elliot Schwartzman has been playing piano and keyboard since he was five years old. His musical hands found other outlets in violin and guitar as well, but nothing drew his interest as much his fingertips brushing ivory keys (or plastic in the keyboard era). Before SOL GIANT, Schwartzman toured with a funk band and honed other sonic stylings, including country, Americana and Blues. Originally from Rochester, NY, Elliot joined SOL GIANT after moving to L.A. in August 08.
Drummer Rob Humphrey is originally from Roswell, New Mexico, but like the rest, made his way to Los Angeles. His parents often encouraged him to listen to classical music and jazz. I'm not sure why I went with drums and percussion, he says, but it all started in my garage playing along to Beatles and Tom Petty records. However, almost all of Robs experience performing, touring and recording was done either in a symphonic orchestra or a jazz/big band. Later, Rob went to school at New Mexico State University as an electrical engineering major and two years of digesting math and computers only assured him that he was meant to play music. He moved to L.A. in the fall of 2008, found SOL GIANT in August of 2009 and fell in love with the writing and sound of his new band.
Together these four talented artists make up the pop-rock band, SOL GIANT. Arranging for future show dates and promoting the new EP STRANGERS still leaves time for looking even further forward. About growing older in the industry, Bassist Chirino offers up, I hope to have had a very successful musical career and to have contributed something that is still relevant to young aspiring musicians of the future. On the same note, lead singer Nicolau sums up his future in music, I would simply love to be writing, touring and playing at a high
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