Sola just dropped their long-anticipated EP Tell ‘Em, and if you’ve been anywhere near a UK rave lately, you’ve probably heard bits of it tearing up the dancefloor.
Out now via Riot Dubs, this 4-track beast features legends like General Levy and Skittles, with vocals from Jasmine Knight and Sammie Hall. It’s a full-spectrum drum & bass experience, blending everything from dark halftime rollers to euphoric melodic steppers, and it’s loud in both sound and message.
For Paul, James, and Robbie, this EP wasn’t a quick hit job. It’s been simmering for a while. “Some of these tracks have been in the works for years,” Robbie admits. “It’s kinda mad to finally have them out.” You can feel the intention behind every tune, with each one landing differently but still tying together under a theme of unity, resistance, and sonic rebellion.
The standout track is the title cut Tell ‘Em, and yeah, it features that General Levy. The jungle legend steps into Sola’s world and doesn’t miss a beat. “We’ve all been massive fans for years,” James says. “Hearing him drop vocals on our tune, especially one with a message about resisting tyranny, it’s surreal.” Paul adds, “I’ve been in the scene since ‘95, so to have him on one of our tracks 30 years after Incredible dropped? Madness.”
Then there’s Owed An Apology, featuring Manchester’s own Skittles. It’s moody, raw, and unapologetically northern. “We wanted it to be as Manc as possible,” says Robbie. Paul agrees: “It’s great to have a track like this in our arsenal.” Skittles adds t+t authentic grit that turns the tune into a minimal yet menacing banger.
Another heavy hitter is Smash Up, a collab with Conrad Subs. It’s a full-on rave weapon that chops between classic jungle and cheeky jump-up. James explains the creative back-and-forth: “Every time someone added something, we got more hyped. It basically wrote itself.” Robbie says working with Conrad always brings out their weirdest jungle ideas, which seems to be working in their favor lately.
Switching gears, the track Free takes a gentler route, with vocals from Jasmine Knight and Sammie Hall. It’s melodic, spacious, and kind of beautiful in its own way. Paul drew inspiration from Blade Runner, mixing that Vangelis-style synth vibe with modern DnB atmospherics. “I wanted something cinematic but rooted in drum & bass,” he says. James adds, “The lyrics came together over Zoom, and it just worked. These two have been part of our journey for a while, so putting them together felt like unlocking a boss level collab.”
So how did this wide range of sounds come together without sounding all over the place? Robbie says it best: “Our goal was to make something timeless. We’re not trying to chase trends.” Paul explains that it wasn’t all planned, they leaned into the diversity once they saw how the early tracks shaped up. With label boss Bohdan giving them full creative freedom, they just ran with it. James calls out Riot Dubs for backing their vision completely: “We couldn’t ask for a better label manager.”
And Sola aren’t just locked in the studio. They’re back on the road hard, with shows lined up in Brussels, Spain, Manchester, Sheffield, London, and more this summer. They’re also eyeing another Asia tour in September, so expect some sweaty club clips soon. Release-wise, they’ve got a packed schedule, DTB with Perplex in May, a collab with DYNO on Virus Syndicate’s Bad Medic label in June, Spank with Dunk later that month, and a debut on Phase Records with Freddy B in July. Oh, and that July track already has a remix booked for 2026. Not joking.
Even with all that label work, they still run their own imprint, Grand Theft Audio. That balance between independence and big-label backing gives them space to keep experimenting. Paul loves knowing that “any tune will find a home.” James puts it straight: “Not having to follow trends to stay relevant keeps things fun. It keeps us sane.” Robbie nods: “We dabble in every DnB subgenre. That freedom is vital.”
So, what’s the one thing they want listeners to take from Tell ‘Em? “That General Levy is still a f***ing legend,” Robbie laughs. Paul says, “Let things take time, it’s worth it.” And James wraps it up with the real heart of the EP: “We’re powerful together. We’ll weather the storm.”
Sola’s Tell ‘Em isn’t just a project, it’s a mission statement. From bassline destruction to emotional uplift, it’s proof that drum & bass is still as vital, versatile, and rebellious as ever.
