Olivier Laurent
Solin Anj
Olivier Laurent is about to release something different. Solin Anj is not only a record but also a book, and both are due this September. The vinyl edition lands today on the 5th, the digital version on the 19th, and the illustrated children’s book comes out on the same day as the vinyl.
The idea behind it is unusual. The story is told from the perspective of a yet to be born child with the focus on what parents feel in those last days before life changes forever. It is not all sweetness and light either, there is fear in there and doubt as well as hope and joy. Laurent has taken that mix of contrasting emotions and turned it into something that is jarring at times but very authentic.
The idea behind it is unusual. The story is told from the perspective of a yet to be born child with the focus on what parents feel in those last days before life changes forever. It is not all sweetness and light either, there is fear in there and doubt as well as hope and joy. Laurent has taken that mix of contrasting emotions and turned it into something that is jarring at times but very authentic.
The songs were written during a difficult time for him personally, which explains the directness in the lyrics, which are less about clever wordplay and more about honesty. You can definitely hear the hip hop influences like Mos Def and Digable Planets, but the tone leans more toward reflection than bravado.
Laurent started making music in his early twenties in New York and is now based in Amityville. Previous projects such as Love & Basketball and Lavi Bon showed his ability to balance confidence with introspection. With Solin Anj, he pushes further into that space, tying sound and storytelling together.
It is not an album made to chase trends. Laurent talks about building slowly, reaching people one by one. This release feels consistent with that approach. Both the record and the book are personal, sometimes vulnerable, and they sit together as one project that marks a new stage in his work.
Laurent started making music in his early twenties in New York and is now based in Amityville. Previous projects such as Love & Basketball and Lavi Bon showed his ability to balance confidence with introspection. With Solin Anj, he pushes further into that space, tying sound and storytelling together.
It is not an album made to chase trends. Laurent talks about building slowly, reaching people one by one. This release feels consistent with that approach. Both the record and the book are personal, sometimes vulnerable, and they sit together as one project that marks a new stage in his work.