Exclusive: Sean Solomon Shares Debut Single “Car Crash”

After two studio albums and years of touring with his band Moaning, singer and guitarist Sean Solomon has taken his first step into a promising solo career. This morning, he released his debut single “Car Crash,” an intimate and contemplative indie-folk track paired alongside a music video that’s both self-directed and self-animated.

Solomon seized the opportunity to step away from the bedlam of music industry ordeals once Moaning went on an indefinite hiatus, dedicating his time to the art of animation instead. He soon found himself collaborating with the likes of Run the Jewels, Unknown Mortal Orchestra and Odd Future, developing their visuals while simultaneously earning himself a necessary respite from the broader music scene. Still a musician at heart, though, Solomon’s inevitable return to songwriting brought with it a fresh and boundless perspective—he was free from the heavy shackles of major label expectations and confident in creating songs just for himself. Solomon recalled this moment, saying, “That’s when it clicked, and I started making this kind of music where I didn’t give a shit what anyone thinks.”

While “Car Crash” is officially out today, Solomon posted an early version of the song three months ago that highlighted both his hand-drawn animations and subtle acoustic fingerpicking. Compared to the DIY clip, the formal debut for “Car Crash” is delicately embedded with harmonies by Sub Pop vet Shannon Lay, as well as muted live percussion sounds courtesy of producer Jarvis Taveniere (Whitney, Purple Mountains, Waxahatchee). Lay was the jolt of confidence Solomon needed to fully commit himself to his solo work, with Solomon celebrating their friendship in a recent press statement, saying that she “sings backup on the chorus and plays guitar. She was my roommate, our cats are siblings, and we have an unhealthy obsession with the Simpsons. She’s the first person I felt comfortable sharing my music with. I sent her my demos and she told me she had to pull off to the side of the road to cry while listening. Her reaction was what motivated me to finally start recording these songs and I immediately knew she had to sing them with me.”

Solomon winds through each forlorn verse on “Car Crash” in an effort to retell his chilling story exactly as it went down—and to hopefully find solace in unburdening the trauma. He reflects on how he’s never been the same since surviving the car crash. He feels shame, he feels like he lies to himself, and he plainly writes these feelings out as not to obscure even a moment of this perturbed flow state. Solomon expanded on the intent behind “Car Crash” saying, “I wrote this song after my first car accident. I grew up in Los Angeles but I never learned how to drive. It was a part of my shtick. I liked being able to look out the window and daydream. When I finally did get a car, I almost immediately got into a wreck and totaled it. The song is about that and I guess whatever else was happening in my life at the time. I write in a pretty stream of consciousness way so I’m not totally sure what it means either. It’s for the listener to figure out.”

Jointly, the music video for “Car Crash” compounds Solomon’s artful skill for storytelling with his passion for animation. Sketched out faces and 2D cats morph into one another as he narrates the tale. It’s an illustrated song that accents Solomon’s quirky, nerdy persona, like he was always the kid doodling in class while the teacher was talking. He said, “This is my first time combining my artwork and my music. I think this project is really the most authentic art I’ve ever made. In a lot of ways it’s scary, but it feels better than trying to be someone I’m not. I’m a fucking nerd. I like cartoons and emo music. I’m not cool. I’m not a rock star.”

Check out the music video for “Car Crash,” as well as Sean Solomon’s upcoming tour dates, below.

Sean Solomon’s Upcoming Tour Dates:
Feb 16 – London, UK @ The London Palladium *
Feb 17 – London, UK @ The London Palladium *
Feb 18 – London, UK @ The London Palladium *
Feb 19 – London, UK @ The London Palladium *
Feb 21 – London, UK @ The London Palladium *
Feb 22 – London, UK @ The London Palladium *
March 26 – Houston, TX @ House of Blues – Bronze Peacock ^
March 28 – Austin, TX @ 3Ten ACL Live ^
March 29 – Dallas, TX @ House of Blues – Cambridge Room ^
April 1 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Rebel Lounge ^
April 2 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Roxy ^
* supporting Rex Orange County
^ supporting Hey, Nothing