By: Staff
Solomon’s Seal releases new track "Circles," blending heartfelt lyrics with captivating acoustic melodies
Immersing ourselves in "Circles" by Solomon’s Seal, we were instantly captivated by the soft, gentle, and beautiful guitars. The introduction is breathtaking with its swirling acoustic melodies paired perfectly with the sweet, emotionally rich vocal delivery. Solomon's Seal sounds as if they are dreaming out loud, with a deep vulnerability in every note. This isn’t just a song; it feels like a heartfelt declaration, one you can’t help but lean in to hear.
As the song builds, the messaging becomes more direct, as if the artist is looking you straight in the eye, asking you to not only listen but to feel the weight of each word. When the acoustic guitars drop out momentarily, it adds a realness to the recording that feels like a live performance. You can almost imagine being right there in the room, sharing in the intimacy of the moment.
Midway through, "Circles" takes a shift, transitioning from its simple acoustic beginning to a full orchestral build. The vocals soar, delivering a powerful, immersive performance that completely overwhelms you—in the best way possible. The lyrics hit hard, with lines like, "Keep holding your own garden, keep hold of what you grow, finish what you started, be mindful what you sow." It makes you stop and reflect on your own intentions and the seeds you’re planting in life.
By the time the song reaches its peak, the crescendo is both emotionally and musically overpowering. But just as it feels like everything has been laid bare, the song gracefully returns to the original delicate guitar work, leaving you with a sense of closure yet longing for more.
The artwork for "Circles" features an infinity symbol, and a circle, and much like the song, it embodies a sense of endlessness. There’s no clear beginning or end, it’s a journey that loops beautifully, much like life itself. This imagery perfectly ties into the song's structure, revealing its deeper meaning only after you've truly listened.
Solomon's Seal delivers a beautiful, stylistically rich vocal performance, and we’re not going to spoil how it all ends, but trust us, it’s absolutely worth the listen.
You can find this release on any major platform, see below for links to take you straight to some of the profiles. Make sure to playlist, stream, and share "Circles" by Solomon's Seal!
Wait… there's more!
We had the chance to catch up with this exciting artist for an exclusive interview in "The Cage" Music Blog, where we discussed their music and got to know them better.
Here’s how it went:
BEGIN INTERVIEW:
Hello Solomon's Seal, we’re thrilled to have you for this interview! We've thoroughly enjoyed diving into your music and exploring your work, and now we’re even more eager to discover more about you, both personally and professionally.
Is there a story behind how you chose your artist name, Solomon’s Seal?I was walking along with my mother and talking about finding a name for my solo material and we saw the plant called Solomon’s Seal, so she suggested it as a name.
What are the main challenges you face as a solo artist, and how do the benefits of working independently compare?I suppose it’s both a blessing and a curse. I can write a lot of songs on my own, but sometimes the catalyst of collaboration is a little further at hand. Collaboration is always needed, especially to get things over the line, so I’m not sure it’s that different to being in a band. I’m hoping that solo touring will be a little easier though, with the ability to just pick up with my guitar and travel about without any other practical worries.
How did recording “Circles” in a church setting through different seasons affect the atmosphere and feeling of the track?Being in that building, and singing from a seat at the very centre of the space changed the songs. Most of them were written in a bedroom, and having the space in front of you to project into really helps the voice grow. There was also the pilgrimage aspect of the process. Taking the equipment to the cold stone building through the snow on one visit really showed some commitment to the body of work. I was lucky to find a producer in Iain Berryman who was committed to the idea, and open to recording in a field nearby and generally sitting in layers of wool with hats and gloves to record in a room where we could see our breath. When the spring came it felt like we were in the process of circles, coming around through the cycle of seasons to end the journey.
What role did producer Iain Berryman play in helping you find the right “take” for “Circles,” and how did his influence shape the overall sound?We were quite far into the recording when I asked Iain if there were any of the brand new lyrics that he wasn’t sure about. There were one or two. This helped me go back to the simple original inspiration rather than trying to make them too gilded or veiled, he definitely helped me bare my soul and was the one who specifically asked me to write a fresh song at the church, and this was it.
Can you describe the creative process behind recording 30 to 40 takes to find the perfect emotional delivery for “Circles”?I wanted to have all three parts of the song be from the same take. I’m probably a bit less principled about it now, but as this was a new song forming in the recording of being captured there were lines that changed from being sung to being spoken, as well as some takes where I was tearing up. This was just a take or so before the final one you hear on the recording now. I’ve never sung about emotions that were so current in the studio before, usually the voice note has that original moment in it and you try to find that months, years later in the studio when a whole body of work is being put together.
"Circles" has been described as cyclical with no traditional verse-chorus structure. What drew you to this kind of composition, and what were you hoping to achieve emotionally with it?One of my all time favourite composers and singers is Joanna Newsom. I’d been listening to her record ‘Ys’ a lot. Some of the songs on there stretch to 16 minutes in length and bear little resemblance to popular music structure. By no means did I go out that far, and I couldn’t compare myself to her, but it gave me permission to feel that a structure of A-B-A wasn’t as weird as all that, and that there really are no rules but the ones imposed by us.
What was the most cathartic moment during the writing or recording of “Circles”?Probably writing it, sitting in the graveyard in the sun. It was a matter of pulling together a few ideas that I’d been playing around with. It was a good feeling to just sit down and try and manifest something because the producer had asked, and find that it was possible on command (at least this time).
The lyrics of “Circles” are deeply personal and vulnerable. How did it feel to put such intimate emotions into the song?It felt exposing, and I didn’t want the person who I wrote the song about to hear it. I don’t know if I have actually admitted to myself how much I wanted to hold releasing it back because of this reason.
How do you hope listeners will connect with the themes of endings and renewal found in “Circles”?It’s up to them. I gave what I had and what’s wonderful is to hear the different ways in which any song is received. The person listening to it adds so much of themself to the song. I’d love it if it could transfer a feeling of strength and hope; that any challenges can be met with hope.
The song builds with swells of strings and electric guitars. Can you explain how you approached this arrangement to match the song's emotional arc?I suppose it’s like a breakup itself. There’s the general sadness, and then there’s the fight and then it goes back to the sadness beneath the anger, and into whatever is next…
How does “Circles” fit into the broader theme of your upcoming LP? Are there other songs on the record that explore similar ideas of renewal and closure?This is the song that became the name for the LP. You’ll see a theme of circles through the other singles so far ‘round’ ‘O, my god’. At the time of writing and recording I became pretty obsessed with the shape, and that it was everywhere in nature and had as many meanings as you like. There wasn’t a conscious theme to write around this so much, but it was more that it emerged from that time. The songs are generally all so close to my real-time real-life feelings that the continuity of theme naturally exposed itself.
How has the environment where you recorded “Circles,” particularly the church setting, influenced your sound overall?We made a rule not to use digital reverb on the record, and set up microphones at various distances away, throughout the church. We’d re-amplify the vocals through a guitar amp to get the reverb of the church going. People in the village could probably hear the boom of my quiet vocal take turned up to the max. But it became important, the setting for the songs. And towards the end of the LP there are a couple of songs which then move out into outdoor spaces, where equally we kept the noise of the wind and the surroundings as part of the take (this is very apparent in ‘Round’ which is the last track on the LP, and signals a closing of this body of work, this state and a movement geographically helped signify that.)
Do you feel that recording in an unconventional space like a church helped you emotionally connect with the music in ways a regular studio might not?Yes, there’s something about a building that’s been built specifically for worship and community. After years and even centuries of people going to that space to have an interval between their normal working and family lives felt very special. The process of recording there felt like an extended interval, the perfect space in which to reflect and be held by the atmosphere created therein.
What message or takeaway do you want listeners to get after hearing “Circles”?To subscribe to all my socials ;)
Can you describe the type of music that you play and the genre(s) you represent? Are there different styles within your genre?I play with a band too, so have felt that this project is specifically the space for the simple guitar songs that fall out of me without much forcing. It’s informed by anti-folk I suppose, more than traditional folk. But that may change. I think that rhythmically inspiration from other palettes comes through but in the guise of acoustic singer-songwriter music.
Which instrument serves as the foundational starting point for your musical creations, and how does it influence the direction and overall sound of your compositions?My Spanish Martin. It’s the same guitar Bill Callahan plays. It’s pretty perfect.
What instruments do you play, and which is your favorite?I have steel string guitars too. The Gibson ES-125T was very formative in the sound for ‘O, My God’ with the utilisation of heavy tremolo. I’d love to be able to play harp and piano but that’ll have to be for future records.
Is there an instrument you do not play, or play leisurely, but wish you could conquer?As above
What part of the music-making process is the most stressful—for example, the creation, the actual release date, etc.?The release, and the moment before playing shows.
Which of your already released songs, including “Circles,” is the most important to you or had the most impact on your life or career, and why?‘O, My God’ is the song we initially went to the church for. I wanted to record that and knew it wasn’t part of the music I was creating with a band at the time. This seed grew into the entire record.
There is a lot of technology available today. Some artists have described it as “overwhelming” or “too much.” Do you feel this has a positive or negative impact on the end result of music?
I think it’s great that so much is possible for people to produce music at home with. It’s hard to spin too many plates though, and I’m grateful to work with people who’ve spent their lives learning to use the technology and other instruments. We’re so much stronger when we cross streams with others.
If a band (no matter how famous) were scouting for someone with your talents and you had the opportunity to audition, which band would you love to be asked for the chance to work with them?Talking heads circa ‘Stop Making Sense’ video. Or if it’s modern day, then maybe Broadside Hacks.
We were very impressed with the final result of “Circles.” Creating music of this caliber requires immense dedication and skill. Your commitment to your craft is truly admirable. What elements of your dedication do you believe were crucial in bringing this project to fruition?Patience. I have very little patience in normal life, but when it comes to creative projects I seem to be able to go the whole 9 yards even if it takes a very long time. I felt like I was really learning during the process of making this record and have become more flexible and aware of how much help others have put in, as well as honouring what I can bring to the table.
What strengths do you possess that you believe have helped you reach your current level as a musician?I need to process my life through art of some form or another. It helps me stay prolific. I’m curious and changeable and I see that as a strength as long as I can focus long enough to finish a body of work.
Are there any musicians who inspire you? What qualities do you admire about them?I’ll come back to Joanna Newsom here. I heard some leaked recordings of her new songs from a concert a year or so ago. I keep trying to play them to people as I think she’s the greatest composer of our lifetime. I know others are equally as mad about her, but the fact that she’s not on Spotify still keeps so fans from having truly found her yet. She writes so clearly from her life experience, as well as being able to weave allegorical fables. She’s old school like Joni Mitchell or Paul Simon, and I wish there was more emphasis put on what people are saying in their songs, rather than just the production styles or catchiness that can come and go. She makes songs that will forever resonate with people, in 100 years, 1000 years. She’s precious.
Describe your favorite type of venue for performing.For this music, a church.
What is the live music venue scene like where you currently reside?I’m in London. There’s good music every single night going on somewhere. I can’t say that I’m taking quite enough of it in, or playing enough gigs, but here’s to that changing. Broadside Hacks gigs at Moth Club are a highlight. Goblin Band are also ones to look out for, as well as the New Eves.
Which musicians before you have helped shape the music industry and had an impact on your personal development?
Bob Dylan
If there were one thing you could change about the music industry, what would it be?I would call it the music club. But on a serious note, England is without a doubt one of the best places to be for music. But the venues are closing and any profit margins are being squeezed. It’s a wider issue but the arts are the very reason to exist, take away funding and help for that and what is the point in living if you can’t express yourself or gain catharsis from seeing music with groups of people!
Most people love or hate social media—where do you land?I loved it when it was more or less algorithm-less. When posts simply came up in the order they were posted and things weren’t pushed down your feed because of whatever reason the tech giants choose. Let’s start some new ones, or help those that have started, to grow. I think there’s too much attention put on social media that could go into real-life community sometimes.
When you reach the stage where you have the admiration and respect of world-known artists, which band or artist would you love to call and say, “Let’s go on tour together”?Fairhazel, Peter Beatty, Bill Callahan, Sufjan Stevens.
What is the most inspirational thing a fan or anyone has told or shown you about your music?The last gig I did a young man just got a lot from it and was generous enough to really show it. It really means a lot when I see the light in other peoples eyes. It makes it all very worth it.
Solomon's Seal, thank you so much, we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us!
End Interview
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We’re happy to have shared this artist’s exciting journey with you and uncovered such inspiring insights about their creative process.
Now, click the links below to experience their incredible work firsthand!
Check out this latest release and listen to more of Solomon's Seal on Spotify & YouTube.
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