Music Scene: Shije

Musician and writer Shije Sollid is known for her folksy style and poetic lyrics. Frontwoman of the eponymous band, she has spent her life pursuing her passion and drawing influence from the environment around her. She also has forged a path in writing, interviewing well-known creatives in her city. But her first love? “Always music,” she told me.

Sollid said music was always her first love, but she learned a lot from her mother, who worked as a publicist and a writer. She saw her mother getting published in major magazines and thought, “I’ll always have that to fall back on…I can ask people questions and type.”

Growing up in the Southwest would help shape her musical aesthetic. An upright piano that came with a home purchase proved to be a gift in Sollid’s childhood. She also played viola and guitar in school and started writing songs at age 11. Eventually, she formed an all-girl rock band in college while obtaining a degree in teaching. She credits Fordham University radio with giving her the start in airtime.

Her lyrical themes include grief over losing a friend to addiction (Skin), relationships that didn’t quite work out (Anything, Alone with the Fire), and the oneness of humanity (The Dance of the Fire).

Shije also discovered a love of writing poetry and interviewing celebrities. Her poetry has been published and is available for viewing on her site, Shije.com. She met artist Mark Kostabi (known to the masses for his cover art of Use Your Illusion 1 & 2 by Guns ‘n’ Roses) at the Martin Lawrence Gallery in Soho and interviewed him for an article, as well as others.

When she is thinking of who to write about, she considers her fans: “If I think the audience who loves my music might be interested in this person, I ask them,” she said. The interviews add another dimension to her site, fostering a community of individuals with similar tastes.

Aside from playing shows, she also gets her name out to the world by singing at sports games, including singing the national anthem and doing halftime performances. During the holidays, she creates merch such as hot cocoa mugs with pictures of her album covers.

Sollid is recording new work, “Dance of the Fire”, which will be released this summer on Apple Music.

For more information on her music and written work, visit Shije.com.