Pacific artist Soul Brown opens vault on unreleased songs

For Māngere artist Solomon Brown, his latest song is more than a new release. It is a promise kept to the younger version of himself.

The Sāmoan-Fijian musician, known as Soul Brown, has released I Met a Girl, a song he first wrote seven years ago while spending long periods in hospital during cancer treatment.

Brown says songwriting gave him a way through that time, giving him a way to put feelings and thoughts into words when he was facing a difficult period of his life.

“We can write songs, we can be inspired by all things, at any time. Whether it's putting our feelings into songs or some of our thoughts,” Brown told Carolanne Toetu’u on Pacific Days.

The song was eventually put away, where it stayed for years. Now, with I Met a Girl released, Brown says bringing it back to life has become a full-circle moment.

“It was one of those songs that got put on the shelf and just gathered dust for a little while there. It's a full circle moment and it's just, it's a real big one. If I was talking to young Soul, just acknowledging that, ‘look, I've made it happen’.”

Brown grew up in South Auckland and has built a career blending Pacific sounds with Latino influences and 90s R&B.

His songs Fire and Weekends have passed one million streams, while his latest release brings back the smooth vocal style he says is missing from today's airwaves.

For I Met a Girl, Brown worked with his cousin Austin Xavier, who features on the track.

The song draws on the big vocal sounds of 90s groups such as Boyz II Men and the storytelling style of musical films, where characters break into song when their emotions become too big to speak.

Brown says his music is also shaped by his Sāmoan and Fijian. His mother hails from the Sāmoan villages of Afega, Malaemalu, and Falealili, while his father comes from Tīavea and Tanugamanono.

Growing up in Māngere and attending Sacred Heart College also shaped his strong sense of community.

“It's a melting pot out here in South Auckland. Just in terms of that togetherness and that supportive nature.

“It reminds me to acknowledge all the different parts of myself and support all the different parts of myself. So coming back to that younger Soul that wrote some really cool songs - just acknowledging him and making those songs a reality.”

For that connection to his younger self is now driving what comes next.

He has more unreleased songs written during his youth sitting in his vault, and says he plans to bring more of them into the world.

His message to young Pacific people is to stay connected to where they come from while making space for their dreams.

Watch Soul Brown’s full interview below.

“It's probably coming to that time of the year where we're slowly starting to get busy and lots of things are going on.

“But do remember yourself and your special someone. Remember to tell them that you love them or tell others about how much you love them.”

Looking ahead, Brown plans to release further unreleased tracks stored in his vault since his youth.

And after seven years, I Met a Girl is finally where Brown believes it belongs - out in the world.