As the weather gets warmer and the days get longer, Niina Soleil has a statement to make with her LP Heliophilia. Niina is celebrating all of her favorite things about summer, and we can practically feel the sun on our skin as we listen. And if you’re looking for more songs to add to your summer playlist, today is your lucky day! Because we’re premiering Heliophilia and her newest single ‘See Red’ right here, right now.
‘See Red’ finds Niina Soleil with an air of confidence that’s impossible to ignore. She’s comfortable in her skin, and she is demanding her audience’s attention. One thing she wants you to know about Heliophilia: it’s dynamic and it’s beautiful. And ‘See Red’ is the definition of summer music. Her bold, straightforward attitude is what we strive to bring into every summer. Even the style leaves no room for confusion: Heliophilia will be the soundtrack of our summer. And we hope you it will be a part of yours too!
We’re so excited that we get to premiere Heliophilia and ‘See Red,’ we just had to talk to her about it! That means you can go to your listening platform of choice right now, listen to Heliophilia, and then come back to read everything Niina has to say about it.
Welcome back to the Honey POP! Can you introduce yourself and your music to our readers?
Hello hello Honey POP readers! I am Niina Soleil- an LA born and based singer-songwriter with a passion for making cinematic songs.
The Song
We’re so excited to premiere your song ‘See Red!’ Can you tell us a bit about the idea behind the song?
‘See Red’ has three musical parents: an argument with my partner (who, for the record, loves the song) the chord progression of ‘Et is je t’aime’ by Marie Laforêt (which I reference in my song ‘Irish Goodbye,’) and Amy Winehouse. The song deals with rage in relationships- the cycles of fighting you can get into and the desperation they can trigger.
Somehow, red seems perfect for the feeling of this song. If you had to pick a color to describe Heliophilia, what would it be?
I love this question. I would say a warm, deep, sunset orange- the color you see behind your eyelids when you’re lying in a spot of sunshine.
The LP
Some of the songs on Heliophilia, especially ‘Beautiful Nowhere’ and ‘See Red’ have a kind of classic, “old-timey” inspiration. How did you blend that with the modern pop genre you’ve been so successful with?
I draw so much of my inspiration from the past. I have playlists of music I use as references to create the sound I want to achieve: French, Italian, British, even Japanese pop from the past few decades have all influenced my sound.
Since you’ve been putting out songs from this album for a while, were there any songs you had to leave off that you loved?
Yes! I left off two of my favorite tunes I’ve written called ‘Light’ and ‘Dream,’ as well as the reprise I wanted to make of ‘Beautiful Nowhere.’ Maybe I’ll release them as singles, or make a deluxe edition of Heliophilia.
Every song you’ve put out sounds so different, and each one seems so sure of what it is. How do you go about finding the right sound for each story you tell?
Thank you! I think that’s just the kind of songwriter I am. I just try to write the song that comes to mind and I can’t seem to make two songs that sound that alike! And now that big artists like Beyoncé are breaking down people’s conceptions of what a genre is, I really feel like I’m writing at the right time.
You talk about your “soul laid bare” in ‘Psychedelic Sunshine.’ Would that describe your writing on this LP? How did that feel?
The line really does encapsulate what the writing process was like for me… Exposed in a way, but sort of tastefully nude, like Lady Godiva: still a little hidden behind the mystique and the hair. It feels free.
The Season
You mentioned that you separate your music by seasons, and Heliophilia is your summer music. What makes a song sound like summer to you, and how do you manage to capture that feeling in your own songs?
It’s difficult to describe with words. Summer music captures a mood- a certain brightness, a carefree feeling. It can be ambient, or it can be cheeky, but it’s never too dour or serious.
‘Make It Summer’ very clearly captures the feeling of summer that you’re going for. It’s the epitome of adventure and sun. Since that song came out two years ago, how has your songwriting changed since then?
I’ve been focusing on growing. I think I’ve learned how to keep things simple- to not try to force anything. When the songs come easy, I don’t try to make things more complicated, which I’ve done in the past as if I had something to prove. Writing should be fun!
‘Irish Goodbye’ describes the feeling of being young, dumb, and carefree. How does that theme fit into the album, especially considering songs like ‘Whiskey Valentine’ show an incredible maturity?
We contain multitudes, and so do summers. Summers have always been. Throughout my life, these distinct periods of growth- I used to grow a lot during summer breaks, and whenever I’ve moved to new cities or towns it was in the summer. I feel like I’ve become wiser over some summers and dumber over others. C’est la vie, n’est pas?
The Extras
You’re from California, and we can only imagine some of that California sun made its way into your summer tracks. How has your hometown influenced your songs?
Everywhere I go, I feel like I bring California with me. I feel so strongly that I’m writing from the perspective of this dreamy kid from the Valley who drew in chalk on sidewalks, learned to drive on the 101, went to college on the East Coast and romanticized the West Coast so hard she practically ran home straight after graduation.
We love your concepts for music videos. They all perfectly capture the feeling of each song. Does the vision for a music video come to you while you’re writing a song?
Little movies play out in my head every time I write a new song. I’ve been lick enough to have worked with directors and music video producers (Carla Dauden, Tony Richards, Caitlyn Phu, John Geronilla, and Sherman Chen) who’ve melded their interpretations of my music with mine into the visuals. It’s a huge privilege and I’m so grateful.
So what do you think? Did you just become Niina Soleil’s biggest fan? We certainly hope so! If you have a favorite song on Heliophilia, let us know in the comments or on social media. Find us at @thehoneypop on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, where we’re ready to talk about all things Niina Soleil!
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