10 Questions with J Solomon
J Solomon talks his latest EP ‘KILL THE ROCKSTAR’, crafting bold visuals and even bolder sounds.
By: Spencyr Aronson
June 30th, 2025
Sounds by Spencyr: Hi! Thanks for chatting with me today; let’s get right into it. Just about one month ago today, you released an EP, and the title feels like a statement, almost a challenge. What does KILL THE ROCKSTAR mean to you now that it's out in the world?
J Solomon: The title KILL THE ROCKSTAR is definitely a statement. It marks the end of the way my music has sounded for the past few years and a fresh start for what’s coming next. I guess I wanted to go out with a bang and put together a collection of great indie rock songs as a kind of farewell.
You definitely succeeded in doing so! I genuinely love all the songs on the project.
Let’s briefly switch gears. You have a great eye for aesthetics. From your visuals on your Instagram to your music videos, everything is so well put-together. What inspired the visual direction of KILL THE ROCKSTAR, and how do you balance grit with polish?
JS: Thank you so much! I honestly spent a lot of time pulling references from films, TV, and other artists I think are cool. I compiled a pretty extensive Pinterest board too, haha. I was lucky enough to work with some amazing brands like Pennon, The Hidden Rivet, and ALANZHANG to put the outfits together. Huge props go to Pete Suski, who directed all of the visuals and videos. I guess the balance of grit and polish is just kind of me.
Love it. What’s one lesson you learned about yourself while making this project? What advice would you give your past self on day one?
JS: This EP was super formative for me. I definitely learned more about what I’m good at and what I’m not so good at. One funny thing was how much the project evolved during the recording process. I went in with a blank slate and figured it out in real time. Looking back, maybe I’d put more effort into creating the world and the context before jumping into recording. I’d also tell myself to really think about what you want, how to achieve it, and have the confidence to make the art you want—without thinking of all the barriers first.
Was there a piece of media (whether it’s a song, film, or book) that helped unlock something in the process when you felt stuck?
JS: Visually, I watched the movie Memento and got really inspired by the aesthetic. Sonically, I was actually listening to a lot of folk and singer-songwriter music while recording these songs.
Which song on KILL THE ROCKSTAR changed the most from demo to final cut?
JS: “RUBBER BAND” went through a lot of different versions, we changed that song instrumentally quite a bit. “FISHBOWL” also had some lyric revisions, which I typically never do.
Is there anyone in particular you’d love to collaborate with (musically or visually) that your fans might not expect?
JS: Tim Robinson! I don’t even need to collaborate, I’d just love to hang out. I love that guy.
Back to my earlier question about aesthetics, you reference fashion often. If you could create a signature stage look or clothing line tied to the EP, what would it look like?
JS: I love this question! The KTR look is simple but sturdy, kind of in that crossover space between workwear, tactical, and gorpcore. I like clothes that have one weird feature that stands out, like an extra pocket or a strange zipper, stuff like that.
I totally see the vision there. Back to the EP! Now that it’s been out in the world for a month, what’s surprised you the most about fan response?
JS: One thing that’s been great is seeing how every song has resonated with someone differently. There hasn’t been just one clear favorite, every track on the EP has been someone’s top pick, which is really sick.
You just played a show at Stone Circle Theatre in NYC! I was so happy to be there and see your set, you killed it. Can you fill readers in on the special elements you included in the live show?
JS: Yes! We premiered the full short film (also called KILL THE ROCKSTAR) which used the EP as a soundtrack to tell a story across six music videos.
It was really incredible. On that same note, what’s the one song you were most excited (or nervous) to perform? Also, going forward, do you see yourself playing more live gigs?
JS: “SPARK” is pretty hard to sing, plus I [tried out] out some new gear for live vocal processing, so I was a little nervous. The band and I performed everything live with no backing tracks, so it was a unique experience seeing how we arranged all these songs.
[As for if I’ll play more shows], absolutely! That’s my favorite part of being an artist, and I’m hoping to do a lot more. A dream tour for me would be driving through the country, since I’m a big road trip fan. I’d love to visit towns I’ve never been to before, and get to perform for people who know my music but have never seen me live.