RNZ Music is proud to present the new single and video from Auckland musician and producer Sola Rosa. For The Mighty Dollar is the second single from his upcoming album Chasing The Sun.
Auckland musician and producer Andrew Spraggon has been releasing music under the name Sola Rosa for 20 years, starting with his debut EP Entrance To Skyway.
Since then he’s released six albums and been nominated for multiple NZ Music Awards.
Andrew Spraggon aka Sola Rosa Photo: Steve Dykes
For The Mighty Dollar is the second single from his new album, following the June release of Searching For Love, his first new music in five years.
The track is a collaboration with UK singer, songwriter, and producer Kevin Mark Trail, known for his guest appearances on The Streets’ debut album Original Pirate Material. One of the UK’s top soul singers and long-time Basement Jaxx collaborator, Sharlene Hector is on BVs.
The song’s video documents the impact of the Covid-19 lockdown on Spraggon’s hometown of Auckland. It’s directed and edited by Elliot O’Donnell/Askew One, and shot by Gareth Moon.
The aim of the song,” says Spraggon, “Is to get people to think about the life we are living. The Covid-19 pandemic has given us time to question our values and direction, personally and globally, but what do we want? Who are we? What do we need? Where is the love? Could we be living better with each other and the planet as a whole?”
Musically, For The Mighty Dollar is reminiscent of the funk and soul classics of the ‘60s and ‘70s.
Sola Rosa’s band includes Peter Leupolu, NZ Music Award-wining jazz musician Dixon Nacey, and Matt Short; session players Michal Martyniuk and Julien Dyne.
Mike Booth, Andrew Hall and Hadyn Godfrey contribute on horns, with strings courtesy of The Black Quartet.
Chasing The Sun, Sola Rosa’s seventh album, is out on September 25.
