With his latest offering ‘Burn’, London’s Solum takes a noticeable step into heavier emotional territory, delivering a track that feels raw, immersive and emotionally unresolved in a way that suits its subject matter perfectly.
Built around themes of betrayal and emotional fallout, ‘Burn’ captures the immediate psychological aftermath of heartbreak; the moment where anger, sadness and self-destruction blur together before perspective has had time to settle in. And here, Solum leans into their volatility, allowing the song to feel emotionally exposed without becoming melodramatic.
Musically, the track marks an interesting evolution in his sound. While traces of artists like Joji and newer waves of alternative electronic music can be felt throughout the production, ‘Burn’ avoids feeling overly indebted to any one influence. The song instead builds its own atmosphere through fractured electronic textures, restrained distortion and understated melodic tension.
What stands out most is the sense of emotional confinement within the production itself. The track feels intentionally enclosed and inward-facing, as though it was designed to mirror the obsessive thought patterns that often accompany betrayal. Synth layers drift in and out of focus while the vocal delivery remains intimate and restrained, never overreaching emotionally even when the lyrical themes become darker.
The fact that Solum writes, produces and performs everything himself also gives the track a strong sense of artistic identity. Recorded in his home studio, the song retains a certain emotional closeness that might have been lost in a more polished or collaborative environment. It feels personal in a way that cannot easily be manufactured.
There is also a clear sense that this release represents a creative turning point for him. Compared to more familiar alternative pop structures, ‘Burn’ feels more experimental in mood and texture, suggesting Solum is becoming increasingly comfortable stepping outside genre expectations and allowing atmosphere to lead the songwriting.
For an artist still carving out his identity, Solum demonstrates a strong instinct for emotional atmosphere and cohesion here. ‘Burn’ may be rooted in pain, but it also signals an artist willing to evolve creatively rather than remain static.
