artists
Solsten - biography
From his birth in Saskatchewan, childhood in British Columbia, and adulthood in Quebec, Solsten uses his interpretation of the harsh yet beautiful Canadian landscape to create electronic music that defies easy definition. A lifelong music obsessive & creative polymath, the seeds to become an electronic artist were planted in the early 2000's, listening to the legendary Brave New Waves on CBC and a summer-long trip to Japan.
A long-simmering interest in music production was created, distracted only by other interests such as his cooking career, abstract painting, photography, and filmmaking.
After the passing of his mother in 2012, Solsten began to pursue his interest in electronic music with vigor, inspired by his time in the burgeoning dubstep/techno scenes of Vancouver & Montreal.
He eventually travelled to Los Angeles in the winter of 2016 to record his first release, the "1960 EP", which was released in late 2017.
Another tragedy struck in 2022 with the disappearance & eventual passing of his father. The trauma of these events was crucial to the recording process of Solsten's 2nd album, "Ghosts of Uranium City".
Drawing on his cornerstone influences of Sandwell District, Basic Channel, Rrose, and Silent Servant, Solsten sought to make an organic, emotional techno album. An album that not only reflected the great pain that he had experienced, but the natural beauty & optimism we all experience daily should we look for it, whether it's in a pristine forest or the brutalist landscape of urban life.
Recorded at Eightfold Studios, he drew upon a wide range of production styles during the composition & mastering of "Ghosts of Uranium City", leaning on influences that ranged far outside of techno but focusing on technical excellence in clarity of sound.
This mentality of merging seemingly conflicting influences found its continuation in the release of "Cold Concrete, Warm Waters" in March 2025. On this album, Solsten renewed his dedication to not only push the boundaries of what constitutes techno but a desire to express himself fully, revealing the person behind the music in a way that is rarely done in modern techno personas. At the same time, paying homage & respect to all the masters who had come before, in ways that you might not even realize.
As of November 2025, Solsten is working to complete his 4th album.