The Producers cut with Solfloe
UK-based hip-hop producer, Solfloe, is a young up-and-comer who has recently been giving YouTube ‘type-beaters’ a run for their money with his unique style and sound. Very few ‘type-beat’ producers are capable of making the transition from YouTube to an industry producer, but I believe if there is one, it will be Solfloe. His ability to create complex rhythms, combine otherwise contrasting samples to assemble evolving and at times avant-garde medleys, and layer it all over the top of effortlessly sounding drums and percussion is genuinely remarkable to me. That is why I was excited to sit down and talk to him about his musical roots, influences, favorite artists, as well as how he makes his beats sound so good.
What is the origin of the stage name, Solfloe? Was it the first name you landed on? I used to go by Declan Beats, but I didn’t think it resembled the art I make. It felt too basic, and I wanted something that looked and sounded interesting. When you break down the name solfloe, you get sol, which is "sun" in Spanish, and floe, which means floating pieces of ice. Both halves of solfloe are so contrasting, you have the heat of the sun and the cold of the ice, and I think that suits the music I make.
What first got you into producing beats? Was there a specific moment or influence that sparked your interest? Definitely when I discovered Steve Lacy’s SoundCloud back in 2016/2017, and I fell in love with his sound. When I finished high school and got my apprenticeship, I saved up for a laptop so I could start making beats. I could already play a bit of guitar, so it was a crazy experience when I could add drum breaks and create full songs. Looking back, I was just ripping Steve Lacy’s sound.
How long have you been actively making music, and how has your journey evolved? I made my first ever song back in 2018, it was an indie soul song, and it was awful! I made about 10 of them, but quickly realised I wouldn’t ever be able to sing, so I started uploading them as Steve Lacy type beats at the beginning of 2020. Then I took a break and started making house music in the style of Kaytranada. This taught me how to sample and chop, and I also started layering rap vocals over them. I did this for like two years without really releasing anything, and I had no consistency at all. Then in 2023, I fell in love with the group Sault, Cleo Sol, Little Simz, and their producer Inflo. This inspired me to start making type beats again, and I released Tension, which is one of my biggest beats on YouTube. From there, I just kept making beats, and I finally learnt how to make rap beats, which took me ages to do. Then in 2024, I started making Kendrick Lamar-type beats, which I still do today. I’ll probably continue to evolve my style.
Who were some of your biggest artistic influences growing up? Growing up, my dad had a huge influence on my music taste. It was heavily influenced by Arctic Monkeys, The Cribs, The Strokes, and The Libertines. I was obsessed with indie music, which has an amazing scene in the UK. My dad also used to manage a band called New York Tourists, and this got me into going to gigs from the age of 11. I fell in love with live music, I think that’s why I’ve ended up loving soul and jazz, because of their live elements.
Can you walk us through your creative process when making a beat? This is probably such a hard question for any producer, but recently I just go with the flow. I think if you’re into music, you know what sounds good and what doesn’t. I always start with drums, whether that’s creating my loops with one-shots or chopping up a drum break.
I think sound selection is such a massive part of my process because I love creating atmospheres and build-ups. At the moment, I’m heavily into samples and chopping them up, but I’m learning piano and hopefully drums one day, so I can bring more live elements into my production. Even when I use samples, I always try to use live sounds.
Has that process changed since you first started, or has it stayed pretty consistent over the years? It’s massively changed over the years, but I think that’s because I understand what I’m trying to do more now. I’m still making everything in my bedroom, so that’s been pretty consistent.
Looking at your early catalog, you posted a lot of Steve Lacy and Cleo Soul-inspired beats on YouTube. More recently, you’ve shifted toward jazz and Kendrick Lamar-style beats. What inspired this pivot in style and direction? I think my catalog changes as I get older and discover new interests. Steve Lacy definitely resembled my late teens, then Cleo Sol inspired me to move into a more soulful and jazzy style as I’ve gotten a little bit older. The Kendrick Lamar stuff is definitely something I’ve always wanted to do, but it wasn’t something I could replicate until recently. Even though the style has changed, I still think the basics are the same, and the basics are the main elements of my production. Even if you go back and listen to stuff from 2022 and 2023, you can still tell they’re solfloe beats.
Out of everything you've made, what’s the piece of work you’re most proud of, and why? It has to be a beat called Whiplash that’s on my YouTube. It was one of the first beats I made where I could imagine an artist using it. Everything in that beat just fell into place perfectly, and it felt so effortless. It’s a heavily jazz-inspired instrumental that has just enough room for someone to rap over it. I exclusively sold that beat last year, but the artist never contacted me, and I don’t think they ever used it, which is a huge shame.
If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be? I need to work with Little Simz. She’s so talented and can turn any instrumental into a classic. Her last four albums have been phenomenal, and she only works with the best producers - Inflo and Miles C. James. If she ever hears one of my beats, I’ve made it.
Where can listeners find your work and support what you do? Is there anything new on the way that fans should be on the lookout for? Just solfloe on Instagram and YouTube. I have a huge catalog, so there’s a lot to look at and even more to come!