Solace is a Middle Eastern electronic music producer from Sacramento. The project is centred on Jeremiah Soto, who has composed music since 1986 and works across industrial, gothic, electronic, contemporary world and Middle Eastern dance music.

Background and style

Soto develops Solace from a foundation in Arabic percussion and related rhythmic traditions. He studies with dumbek player Souhail Kaspar, and also learns African polyrhythms and frame drum technique from Ronnie Engel. The music combines modern electronics with traditional Middle Eastern percussion and European classical arrangements. Rhythm is one of its main elements, and Soto treats the instruments as if they are characters interacting within a story, with song structures designed to move through variation and resolution.

Related projects

Before starting Solace, Soto performs in Kokuein, Eventide and Still. He later forms a live band called Sounds of Solace in 2005 to take the project on tour. His wife, Rachel Lazarus Soto, founds the bellydance troupe Blue Damsel.

Other artists using the name

The name Solace is also used by several other acts, including an American heavy rock and metal band with roots in Godspeed and later releases such as Further, 13 and Hammerhead; a Toronto hip hop artist who also works as a graphic designer; a Karl Schubach side project; an American rock band from Menchalville, Wisconsin; a Houston singer-songwriter and producer; a New York screamo band; and a New York-based hip hop producer.