Sol Nation
Take a large melting pot, fill it half way with Reggae, add a dash of East Timorese folk song, a punch of Cuban Salsa, a sprinkle of Latin dance, 3 parts Afro-Beat, 2 parts tropical rhythm, a sprinkle of Brazilian Samba, fill with funk and stir. Let it settle and taste...Sol Nation!
SOL NATION is more than a band, it's a meeting of nations and cultures - East Timorese, Indigenous and Australian. Drawing some of it's members from the Dili Allstars , Sol Nation embodies Melbourne's multiculturalism and is a living testament to what can be achieved through music - bridging cultures, languages and borders.
East Timorese vocalist Paulo Almeida is the voice of Sol Nation, soaring and weaving through the music in a mixture of languages, a product of his life experience living in several different countries during his homeland's occupation by Indonesia. Languages include English, Portuguese and his mother tongue Tetum. Paulo is supported by the very gifted Indigenous songstress Deline Briscoe, whose rich voice and deep musicality magnify the stories and messages told through Sol Nation's music.
To perform their music live, Sol Nation have brought together a seven piece mixing superb musicianship with a charismatic stage presence that creates an exuberant, colourful and exciting live show. Stylistically the music draws its influences from Indigenous and Jamaican reggae, traditional East Timorese folksong, and African dance music. The band has used music to highlight the problems faced by the people of East Timor, and to push for International justice on their behalf. With a strong global conscience and a commitment to presenting high energy and infectious music to audiences around the world, Sol Nation is a unique Australian musical experience.
