Solya Kicks Off Her Queen of Texas Tour With a Sold-Out, Intimate Show in Nashville
The End in Nashville was packed on a Tuesday night for Solya’s first stop on her Queen of Texas tour. I arrived just before the doors opened and saw a long line already formed around the venue. Inside, early arrivals had claimed front-row spots five rows deep. The crowd was a heavy mix of young fans with bright hair and gothic lace dresses and parent chaperones at the edges.
TELE NOVELLA
Tele Novella is an Austin-based duo, Natalie Gordon and Jason Chronis. They describe their sound as “coin-operated medieval-western songs through a psychedelic 50s-ish lens.” They were joined onstage by drummer Danny Reisch. Reisch produced Solya’s Queen of Texas album, and Chronis contributed guitars and bass.
Reisch and Chronis also joined Solya as her backing band after the Tele Novella set. Being from Austin, I’ve seen them perform before, but seeing them in Nashville felt more magical. I saw something rare for an opener: the audience already knew the songs and was entranced.
They covered songs from older albums, including the spooky folk tale “Crystal Witch” and the crowd favorite “Eggs in One Basket.” They also played their newly released “Ring of Stones,” with its old-western-movie-soundtrack feel. As a child of the 70s who grew up listening to my Dad’s old sock hop and classic western records, Tele Novella’s dreamy nostalgic sounds hit many sentimental points.
SOLYA
Solya was met with screams as she entered the stage. At only 20, the Amarillo, Texas-based multi-instrumentalist has built a dedicated following like big radio pop stars, with fans camping at the stage and exchanging trinkets and bracelets.
Solya started her music career at 16, recording her first two EPs from her bedroom. She cites Patsy Cline, Buddy Holly, Cocteau Twins, Flaming Lips, and David Bowie as influences. Vibes from her surrounding vast West Texas landscape are also woven into her songs. It’s hard to pick audience favorites from Solya’s set—each new song was met with screams and “I Love You Solya.”
She moved through songs from her newer “Queen of Texas” album, with “Tell Me It’s Over” standing out. Despite being in a small dive bar with neon writing on the walls, if you closed your eyes, the song could transport you to a slow dance at a 1950s prom. At the bar, I chatted with a few parents accompanying their kids; they were blown away by Solya’s voice and throwback sound. When I was away from the stage, I heard Solya ask, “Did you just get engaged!?” There was even a marriage proposal in the crowd, adding to the evening's intimacy.
Solya continues her Queen of Texas tour across North America through October, with a final stop at Weekend 1 of Austin City Limits Festival. Keep scrolling for the full list of tour dates!
