Where the Edges Stay Sharp
Sola Guinto’s music thrives in motion —Sola Guinto’s music feels built on movement — between places, scenes, and emotional extremes. Born in the Bay Area and now based in Manchester, she’s developed a sound that carries a bit of both worlds: high-energy alt-pop driven by instinct, momentum, and a refusal to smooth out the rough edges.
The visuals match that same intensity, helping shape a world around the songs that feels intentional rather than decorative. Her music moves easily between humor and confrontation, euphoria and release, often in the same breath. Big hooks sit next to flashes of chaos, but she always seems to keep it under control.
It’s the kind of music that feels lived-in rather than manufactured, shaped as much by the scenes around her as by melody. As her world continues to come into focus, we caught up with Guinto for our Nice To Meet You series to talk about displacement, momentum, and what it means to make loud, emotionally honest pop on your own terms.
What was the process that led you to writing your first song?
I’d written maybe one or two small songs with friends back home in San Jose, California, while we were in our teens, but nothing substantial until I was really an adult. I honestly just didn’t have the confidence and thought I lacked the instrumental skills to start. The first time I wrote by myself, I was 19 at a music college in Southern California because I really wanted to transfer to Paul McCartney’s arts university in Liverpool, England. So finally, I took the leap, wrote three songs, auditioned with them, somehow got in — and now they can’t get rid of me :)
Do you remember the first time you shared your music online — and what that moment meant to you?
I remember sharing demos on SoundCloud early in my music-making journey, but that was mostly for me and my friends to listen to — though it definitely felt incredibly exciting to finally be doing it. The first song I dropped on Spotify was called “Closure,” which I wrote by myself in a small piano practice room in Liverpool. It was so special to finally reach that point after transforming my life so radically to pursue my goals. I’ll forever love “Closure” for the huge Band-Aid-rip it gave me, and I still think she’s cute.
Was there a specific artist or moment that made you realize you wanted to make music?
Being invited last minute to see Paramore in LA was a big moment in my life. I was around 19 and at college, contemplating how the hell to start making music a career for myself. A friend suddenly had a spare ticket, so I snatched it up. I’d rarely gone to arena shows at that point, so seeing Paramore — after all their years of hits and success during my childhood — still going so strong, with such clear impact on so many people, was overwhelming. Just this tiny woman singing her heart out, with the most incredible vocal ability and musical discography — I was so inspired and felt the fire ignite in my gut to finally pursue my own music. The very next day, I wrote my first song by myself, which began the domino effect of moving to the UK.
What’s an album or song that still reminds you why you do this?
I think listening to songs or albums from my past and still feeling something — even getting something new out of them — always gets that fire in my belly going. The most recent moment of this for me was last week, when I was re-listening to Able Bodies by From Indian Lakes, who’s been a longtime musical inspiration for me. Getting something new out of a body of work you’re already intimately familiar with is a special feeling. I’d love to be able to make stuff that impacts people across time.
What’s a sound, sample, or texture you’re currently obsessed with?
I’ve recently been messing around with vocal sample loops for the first time, and I’ve been loving it. I’ve been experimenting by starting with a vocal chop, then pushing it further — distorting it and chopping it up even more. Using that as a starting point for a song has been really fun.
What inspires your approach to writing lyrics?
This really varies for me. Sometimes I start with a poem or just a couple lines I’ve written. Sometimes I go purely off the mood of the track being built and how that feels. Sometimes I have a concept I want to explore that’s inspired by life — recent events, a story, a podcast or video I’ve watched, something I’ve read or seen, etc. I like to be flexible with how I write, but I mostly lean into how I’m feeling and what’s been on my mind.
What is something you're proud of?
I’m really proud that the first song of mine that’s truly connected with people is an ironic political song I wrote that feels 1000% me. I’m a big politics, sociology, anthropology, psychology, philosophy, etc. nerd, and my coping mechanism is definitely humor and fun. Sonically, it’s such a mix of UK/European and American sounds and culture, which feels like a direct reflection of my own life journey. As a proud Filipina, mixing all of that in — with the opening word being a Tagalog greeting — just felt so me. Having people connect with it, and sharing even a tiny bit of Filipino culture, has been amazing. Sometimes betting on your ideas while leaning into yourself can pay off in a deeply fulfilling way — who knew!
What’s a recent performance, film, or book that left a mark on you?
t’s funny, but I recently watched a brand-new “low-budget” indie film called Primitive War. I went in blind after my partner told me the concept was: what if soldiers during the Vietnam War encountered dinosaurs in the jungle? I thought that was hilarious, and I was game. What really left a mark on me, however, was how great the CGI looked on such a low budget. The filmmakers stretched that budget to its absolute limits, and personally, I think it looked fantastic visually. It made me think about how much you can accomplish with very little at your disposal. Sometimes constraints can create the most incredible ideas, and you don’t always need a lot to accomplish a lot.
What’s your greatest challenge right now — and how are you working through it?
Money! I’m not! xx
We hear you! Wild times. What’s one piece of advice you’d give to artists just starting out?
Everyone has a unique experience and perspective on life so lean into yours. Don’t panic, stay consistent, don’t overthink it, stay patient, and keep showing up. Boom, advice.
What’s the biggest goal you have for your music at this moment?
Reaching as many people who mess with what I do as possible and building out a community of likeminded baddies. I’m in this for the long haul so building my team and reaching my people is priority number one right now. And if I can help people deal with their lives and struggles as I deal with my own through music, that’s a job well done to me.
Follow Sola Guinto on IG at @solaguinto
