Victoria Sol’s work is rooted in the refusal to compress grief into oblivion, to flatten emotion into nothingness, or to give room to doubt. She trained in the humanities at the University of California, Berkeley, and later at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design. That background informs her approach to songwriting, as she builds compositions that feel as though they emerge from another reality. Growing up in a suburb built over the Everglades, on land originally stewarded by the Seminole people, also shaped her artistic perspective. Those formative experiences continue to influence the craft she presents today.
Musically, the Cuban-American singer draws inspiration from female artists such as Joni Mitchell, Kate Bush, Judee Sill, Rosalía, and FKA twigs, while maintaining strong roots in jazz and folk. Her debut EP, simply titled “EP 1,” was recorded independently on her laptop during the pandemic and shaped through experimentation in Ableton. In the aftermath of multiple family losses and a decisive departure from academia, she let music carry what language could not, approaching each song as an evolving structure guided by emotion. The collection of melodies draws the listener into an uncharted emotional terrain shaped by grief, desire, and ambivalence.
The EP features three songs, embracing a quality-over-quantity approach. It opens with “self sabotaging sadness,” which unfolds in an ethereal, almost surreal manner. Ambient textures blend with layered vocals and subtle electronic elements, including touches of techno, house, and downtempo. The experience feels unique. This piece is the featured song, and it receives an equally unconventional visualizer. The imagery evokes a distant past, as though captured on an old camera. Victoria appears dancing across different locations, intercut with seemingly unrelated scenes that add to the disorienting mood. The effect is unusual in a compelling way and complements the song’s atmosphere.
“diggers den” feels like a noir composition filtered through electronic and ambient textures. Her voice carries a haunting quality, evoking a restless presence searching for comfort. Eccentric yet cohesive, it deepens the atmosphere established throughout the record. Closing track, “ascent,” shifts into a broader sonic space while preserving the project’s off-kilter mood. The song gradually builds toward a sense of elevation, guiding the listener into an introspective and uncharted mental landscape. It provides a fitting conclusion to this singular journey.
Grief manifests differently for everyone, and Victoria channels it directly into her craft. The term “unique” is often overused, yet in “EP 1,” it feels warranted. By weaving together disparate influences, she creates music that lingers, inviting reflection long after the final note fades.
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