Sean Solomon has revealed a new track, 'Finish Line' from forthcoming debut album
The track addresses career disillusionment ahead of his solo debut record.
Musician and animator Sean Solomon has released 'Finish Line', a new track lifted from 'The World Is Not Good Enough', his forthcoming debut solo record. An accompanying video, animated by Solomon, has also been shared.
Previously known for his role in LA underground-rock outfit Moaning, who went on indefinite hiatus in 2023, Solomon spent the better part of two years crafting the contemplative eight-track record. Producer Jarvis Taveniere handled production duties while contributing bass and percussion, and fellow Sub Pop veteran Shannon Lay provided backing vocals and guitar.
The album's hand-drawn cover art, created by Solomon in the style of children's author and illustrator Richard Scarry, reflects a recurring thread throughout the project. "These songs are almost coming from a place of childlike expectations," Solomon says.
On the subject of 'Finish Line', which explores the disillusionment surrounding so-called dream jobs, Solomon offers some personal context: "I work in animation and I've had tons of development deals where I think I'm going to create my own animated series. If they greenlight your show, suddenly you're rich and have this awesome creative job. But every time I've almost had my dream job, there's some corporate merger or layoffs and suddenly everyone I work with is fired and my dreams are squashed. That's when I wrote the opening line 'I thought I saw the finish line but I was on a treadmill the whole time.'"
He continued: "The song evolved into being about something more universal. How I expected more from the world. Not just for me but the people in my life that I love and see struggling. Everyone was going through some sort of rejection, and it felt unfair that you could work just as hard or harder than anyone else and still get the short end of the stick."
Taveniere reflected on their collaborative dynamic: "Working with Sean felt brotherly. We're similar people; we can both lean into being neurotic or anxious, so it was fun to balance each other out ... He was somebody who had a tight vision but let me be playful while also staying sensitive to the material."
Solomon's creative practice extends well beyond songwriting. He has produced comics featuring his lyrics in word balloons and hand-illustrated his own stage plot and tech rider. "All the stuff that's annoying about being a musician, I'm like, 'How can I do this in a creative way so that it doesn't feel like work, and it feels like something that's inspired?'" he explains.
His live setup involves a vintage TV set with a VHS input, through which his self-made animations play alongside backing tracks — the only accompaniment he brings onstage. Solomon is set to tour with Unknown Mortal Orchestra across the West Coast of the US from 1st May, with a preceding UK run alongside UMO also confirmed.
Previously known for his role in LA underground-rock outfit Moaning, who went on indefinite hiatus in 2023, Solomon spent the better part of two years crafting the contemplative eight-track record. Producer Jarvis Taveniere handled production duties while contributing bass and percussion, and fellow Sub Pop veteran Shannon Lay provided backing vocals and guitar.
The album's hand-drawn cover art, created by Solomon in the style of children's author and illustrator Richard Scarry, reflects a recurring thread throughout the project. "These songs are almost coming from a place of childlike expectations," Solomon says.
On the subject of 'Finish Line', which explores the disillusionment surrounding so-called dream jobs, Solomon offers some personal context: "I work in animation and I've had tons of development deals where I think I'm going to create my own animated series. If they greenlight your show, suddenly you're rich and have this awesome creative job. But every time I've almost had my dream job, there's some corporate merger or layoffs and suddenly everyone I work with is fired and my dreams are squashed. That's when I wrote the opening line 'I thought I saw the finish line but I was on a treadmill the whole time.'"
He continued: "The song evolved into being about something more universal. How I expected more from the world. Not just for me but the people in my life that I love and see struggling. Everyone was going through some sort of rejection, and it felt unfair that you could work just as hard or harder than anyone else and still get the short end of the stick."
Taveniere reflected on their collaborative dynamic: "Working with Sean felt brotherly. We're similar people; we can both lean into being neurotic or anxious, so it was fun to balance each other out ... He was somebody who had a tight vision but let me be playful while also staying sensitive to the material."
Solomon's creative practice extends well beyond songwriting. He has produced comics featuring his lyrics in word balloons and hand-illustrated his own stage plot and tech rider. "All the stuff that's annoying about being a musician, I'm like, 'How can I do this in a creative way so that it doesn't feel like work, and it feels like something that's inspired?'" he explains.
His live setup involves a vintage TV set with a VHS input, through which his self-made animations play alongside backing tracks — the only accompaniment he brings onstage. Solomon is set to tour with Unknown Mortal Orchestra across the West Coast of the US from 1st May, with a preceding UK run alongside UMO also confirmed.
Related Articles
LIKE THAT? READ THESE✦LIKE THAT? READ THESE✦LIKE THAT? READ THESE✦LIKE THAT? READ THESE✦
LIKE THAT? READ THESE✦LIKE THAT? READ THESE✦LIKE THAT? READ THESE✦LIKE THAT? READ THESE✦
