Stephen Sol considers himself a DC artist at his core. “I was fortunate to land in an incredible community through the studios I work with, Manor Time Studios and Back House” smiles the musician, whose relaxed style evokes a sundrenched summer Sunday afternoon. “They host these epic jam sessions where some of the best musicians in the DC area come together. I appreciate the sense of camaraderie between artists in the DMV. And the talent! I feel especially lucky to be working with my producer, Leif.” You won’t find cutthroat industry shenanigans here. “It feels like a family, especially with the band that I’ve co-headlined several shows with, The Wrizzards. We’re more than just collaborators—I go to all their shows, their birthday parties, their EP release events. We’ve built deep friendships, and a lot of the musicians I’ve met in DC have become some of my closest friends. It’s cool to share this journey, supporting each other both as artists and as people.”
Performances have a magical quality for Stephen and his bandmates, fueled by raw energy. “Our band played at Union Stage in January 2025 and the crowd was electric. There were around 300 people in the audience, and the sound quality was fantastic. That show built a lot of momentum for us. Then in February, we played to a sold-out audience at Galactic Panther in Alexandria, Virginia, and the band was on fire that night. We like to incorporate comedy into our live show–it’s fun to keep the audience guessing. Performing improv comedy has been a big part of my life for the past 11 years, and Washington, D.C. has a thriving comedy scene. Blending comedy with my music feels natural–I love to make my bandmates laugh.”
In keeping with the humorous theme, Stephen isn’t afraid to poke fun at himself. “I wrote a song called ‘Fifth Best Singer in the Band’ as a bit of a joke. I’m the lead singer, but I’d rank myself fifth in vocal ability because the other members are such talented singers. Many of them have their own solo projects and are incredible vocalists in their own right. The song has been a crowd favorite in our live performances. When I first wrote it, I felt like I was the fifth-best singer in the band. Since then, we’ve added a trumpet player who happens to be a phenomenal wedding singer—so that bumped me down to sixth. Then we brought in another vocalist, Bema Tadey, who has a mesmerising voice. At this point, I might actually be the seventh-best singer in the band, but ‘Seventh Best Singer in the Band’ doesn’t quite have the same ring to it, so I stuck with ‘Fifth.’”
Regardless of ranking, the ensemble has hit a triple home run and sold out their last three shows. “It’s exciting. We have fans! It makes sense because we have so much fun on stage and that energy is contagious. The musical quality is there, and more than anything, it’s a fun live experience. My goal this year is to play a bigger venue in DC, and then hopefully we’ll take the show on the road for a mini tour. Honestly, I’d love to do a full tour. We’ve been talking about playing in New York, Philadelphia, and other East Coast cities, plus some festivals. Right now, I’m staying patient and letting things unfold naturally, but we’re getting excited. I brought up the idea of touring with the band, and they’re down, so that’s the next step.”
Stephen’s approach to releasing music is just as ambitious. “I have two projects coming up. One is an EP called Live at Manor Time, recorded as a live session with video. A live rendition of my latest single, ‘Eternal Peace’ will be on that EP. I’m planning to release my fifth single, ‘Forever Changed’ in April, and I’ll release a full studio album later this year, in the fall. It feels great to be so passionate and focused. I love making music, I love performing live with the band, and right now, my main goal is to keep leveling up.”
Stephen’s creative output has been in overdrive lately. Every step feels like a leap! “I feel fortunate to have a lot of strong material already written. My short-term focus is to record what’s already in my catalog because I still have almost two albums’ worth of unreleased songs. It’s a long process to get them recorded at the quality I want, but I love being in the studio with Leif. He’s not only my producer but also our bassist and one of my best buds. My plan is to release new material, promote it, and tour. Right now, I’m embracing the excitement of it all—sharing my music with people after years of work is so satisfying.” And he doesn’t take any of it for granted. “I’m grateful for anyone who’s listening and connecting with my music and so appreciative of my band. This has been my dream since I was a kid—playing in front of crowds, recording and releasing my own music. And now it’s happening. It’s surreal to be experiencing it all here in the present.”
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Stephen Sol Sings Along with Success. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Stephen Sol and Tina Carzon.
