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Solo (band)
Encyclopedia
Solo is the musical outfit of Dutch musicians Michiel Flamman and Simon Gitsels. The duo released two albums, of which the latest Solopeople was the biggest success. The album released on label Excelsior Recordings
spawned a Dutch top 20 hit with Come Back To Me.
A year later the duo signs with Excelsior Recordings
. On this label Solo releases its debut album Songs ‘n Sounds on August 16. The record is produced by Martijn Groeneveld and contains contributions from Minco Eggersman (at the close of every day), Rowin Tettero (Mindmeners) and Marg van Eenbergen (Seedling). The latter two also support Flamman and Gitsels during live shows. In November Solo receives an Essent award.
on his Lotus Europa tour, playing throughout the Netherlands. At the end of April Solo enters the studio to record the tracks of their second album. The recording sessions finish in November. In radio show 2 Meter Sessies the band previews a number of tracks. At the end of the year Solo also records a cover version of de Pingpongsong for a tribute album for Dutch singer Herman van Veen.
Solopeople, the band’s second album, is released in January 2006. The Dutch press receives the record well and the band makes appearances in popular Dutch TV shows such as Barend & Van Dorp and De Wereld Draait Door. The band manages to sell out the rock club Ekko in Utrecht
three times within a month. In the summer of 2006 the band manages to play at one of Europe’s biggest festivals Lowlands
twice. Solopeople's second single Opportunities follows in September.
. With befriended musicians they play songs written by Dutch composer Harry Bannink
for the seventies television show De Stratemakeropzeeshow. In October Solo head for the studio. The recordings are only finished in April 2008 after working with Scott Solter
and Aaron Prellwitz at Tiny Telephone studios in San Francisco, CA.
When the record is released in November, Solo is down to one man; Michiel Flamman. The album title refers to the breakup of the band. Flamman states in interviews that though Gitsels left the band Solo will continue and a new record is due to be released in April 2009. Meanwhile the album is hailed as another piece of perfect songwriting.
Excelsior Recordings
Excelsior Recordings is an independent record label located in Utrecht, Netherlands, born out of a love - for 7" vinyl, and anger - over almost-famous Dutch band’s Daryll-Ann's luck. First up was a single release; Nothing sucks like Electrolux...
spawned a Dutch top 20 hit with Come Back To Me.
Songs ’n Sounds (2003-2005)
In 2003 Flamman and Gitsels team up under the name Solo. By then both have already paid their dues in the music industry. Flamman performed under the name J. Perkin and wrote songs for other artists. Gitsels worked as sessions musician for Mathilde Santing and Birgit.A year later the duo signs with Excelsior Recordings
Excelsior Recordings
Excelsior Recordings is an independent record label located in Utrecht, Netherlands, born out of a love - for 7" vinyl, and anger - over almost-famous Dutch band’s Daryll-Ann's luck. First up was a single release; Nothing sucks like Electrolux...
. On this label Solo releases its debut album Songs ‘n Sounds on August 16. The record is produced by Martijn Groeneveld and contains contributions from Minco Eggersman (at the close of every day), Rowin Tettero (Mindmeners) and Marg van Eenbergen (Seedling). The latter two also support Flamman and Gitsels during live shows. In November Solo receives an Essent award.
Solopeople (2005-2006)
In January 2005 Solo performs at Noorderslag. In February the band supports SpinvisSpinvis
Spinvis is a Dutch one-man project centred around Erik de Jong . Using experimental, lo-fi music, Spinvis became an instant success in his home country, earning two gold records in the process and performing sold-out tours in both the Netherlands and Belgium.-Spinvis:In 2001, Erik de Jong, or...
on his Lotus Europa tour, playing throughout the Netherlands. At the end of April Solo enters the studio to record the tracks of their second album. The recording sessions finish in November. In radio show 2 Meter Sessies the band previews a number of tracks. At the end of the year Solo also records a cover version of de Pingpongsong for a tribute album for Dutch singer Herman van Veen.
Solopeople, the band’s second album, is released in January 2006. The Dutch press receives the record well and the band makes appearances in popular Dutch TV shows such as Barend & Van Dorp and De Wereld Draait Door. The band manages to sell out the rock club Ekko in Utrecht
Utrecht (city)
Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands with a population of 312,634 on 1 Jan 2011.Utrecht's ancient city centre features...
three times within a month. In the summer of 2006 the band manages to play at one of Europe’s biggest festivals Lowlands
Lowlands
- Geographic regions :* Scottish Lowlands, all of mainland Scotland that isn't the Highlands** see also Central Lowlands* Northern European Lowlands, a region of Europe between the Central Highlands and the North Sea...
twice. Solopeople's second single Opportunities follows in September.
Before we part (2007-2008)
In 2007 Solo works on new material and played at Touring Theater Festival De ParadeParade
A parade is a procession of people, usually organized along a street, often in costume, and often accompanied by marching bands, floats or sometimes large balloons. Parades are held for a wide range of reasons, but are usually celebrations of some kind...
. With befriended musicians they play songs written by Dutch composer Harry Bannink
Harry Bannink
Harry Bannink was a Dutch composer, arranger and pianist. He wrote over 3,000 songs....
for the seventies television show De Stratemakeropzeeshow. In October Solo head for the studio. The recordings are only finished in April 2008 after working with Scott Solter
Scott Solter
Scott Solter is a recording engineer, record producer, mixer, remixer and musician. As a producer and mixer, Solter has worked with numerous indie rock artists, including John Vanderslice, Superchunk, Okkervil River, The Mountain Goats, Erik Friedlander, The Balustrade Ensemble, Pattern is...
and Aaron Prellwitz at Tiny Telephone studios in San Francisco, CA.
When the record is released in November, Solo is down to one man; Michiel Flamman. The album title refers to the breakup of the band. Flamman states in interviews that though Gitsels left the band Solo will continue and a new record is due to be released in April 2009. Meanwhile the album is hailed as another piece of perfect songwriting.