Getting to Know… Solstice Rider | Interview 🎤

In the Q&A in our 385^th Getting to Know… series, we get the inside scoop from Maryland metal band, Solstice Rider.

“Solstice Rider is this beautiful synergy between the heaviest genres of metal and the lightest genres of music for atmospheric and dynamic diversity.” Rock on, Solstice Rider! Jeremy Bluteau, the founder and keyboardist of the metal band from Maryland, answers our burning questions. He provides the inside scoop on the genesis, goals, musical influences, and current and future musical endeavors. “Our greatest goal is to invoke an emotional experience through catchy songwriting and intrinsic awareness of the music we are playing.” Woo-hoo! So, without further ado, let’s jump right into 🎤 Getting to Know… Solstice Rider: Interview No. 385!

For those who may not be familiar with you, what would you say makes Solstice Rider distinct or unique? How do you rock the audience’s socks off?

Solstice Rider is this beautiful synergy between the heaviest genres of metal and the lightest genres of music for atmospheric and dynamic diversity. Our greatest goal is to invoke an emotional experience through catchy songwriting and intrinsic awareness of the music we are playing.

Okay, let’s explore some juicy backstories. How did Solstice Rider form and what were some of the goals or visions you had early on?

Solstice Rider had its beginnings when I was just 15 years old. Around that time, I met a friend of mine who was playing keyboards, and I was playing guitar. During this time, I wrote my first euro styled power metal album. Things have evolved over time and in 2020, it led to the formation of Solstice Rider which combines the influences I had all those years ago with new ones and led to the formation of the current sound.

Let’s talk more about goals.  Have your goals or your perspectives changed since first starting out? What do your aspirations or goals look like now?

Initially, our goal was to just release an album, but these goals have steadily evolved over time. Now, we’re looking at releasing another album and an EP in 2024, and as our fan base continues to grow we look to be playing live at some point.

Everybody is influenced by somebody else. Whom would you consider some of your biggest musical influences and how are they influential?

My musical influences range from the heaviest metal genres to lightest genres of music. I would probably say that my biggest inspirations are a handful of composers. Some of those composers include: Tuomas Holopainen from Nightwish, and Yuki Kajiura, who does music for games and anime as well as film score music.

Up until this point in your career, what would you describe as your favorite song you’ve recorded or performed live? What makes that song special?

Up ‘til now, my favorite song has been “Stolen Visions” because the song is about the ongoing health issues I’m currently struggling with yet slowly am overcoming. Currently, I’d say my favorite song is “The Wildchild Rides On” because it is some of the freshest sounding of our mixes we’ve done, and it’s a tribute to one of my favorite musicians of all time, Alexi Laiho. The song is special because it is like a eulogy to one of the greatest guitar players and songwriters that have ever lived.

Is there anything else awesome, cool, or left of center the world should know about you? Secret talents or surprising tidbits?

I suppose it’s that I’m an avid gamer who loves playing RPGs and MMOs. I also really like action adventure games. All my life I have wanted to be an adventurer, and this is how I express those desires. I have too many responsibilities to just leave on a journey, but this is one way to express it. Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is my current focus, I love it so much. As far as secret talents…I’m not completely sure except maybe that I’m very good at working with computers and I do programming as part of my day job.

Closing out, what is Solstice Rider currently working on, promoting that you can share with us or want us to know about? We love secrets, but there’s no pressure. 

We are currently working on releasing a new EP and another full length album in 2024. We have already released a single from that upcoming 2024 EP titled “The Wildchild Rides On” which is available on all major platforms. You can view it on here and here.

Thank you so much for sharing and taking the time to answer these questions, and best of luck moving forward. 

Thanks, you too!

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Getting to Know… Solstice Rider: Interview No. 385 [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Solstice Rider; Tumisu via Pixabay]