Washington D.C.’s rising folk-rock collective Stephen Sol & The 7 have released their highly anticipated debut EP Sunshine Wine, a record that blends psychedelic folk-rock with alternative grit and soulful warmth. With horns, gospel-tinged harmonies, and a nine-piece line-up that thrives on live chemistry, the band delivers music that feels as intoxicating as the title suggests.
Fronted by singer-songwriter Stephen Sol, the group channels a wide spectrum of influences, from The Beatles and Bob Dylan to Dave Matthews Band, Bo Burnham, and CAKE. The result is a sound that is raw, joyful, and adventurous, equally comfortable in tender acoustic moments and full-throttle jams. Already a live favourite across D.C. venues such as Union Stage and Galactic Panther, Stephen Sol & The 7 have quickly built a reputation for shows that brim with energy, humour, and a touch of the unexpected.
Recorded in Washington, D.C., the band’s first collection is steeped in live instrumentation and collaboration. Over five tracks, Sunshine Wine carries listeners through themes of joy, reflection, heartbreak, rebirth, and love. “Sunshine Wine” opens as a golden-hour anthem that captures the glow of late summer, nostalgic and healing in tone. “The Moon” follows as a nocturnal ballad inspired by wolves under a mystic sky, featuring soaring harmonies from Yasmin Wamala, Bema Tadey, and LEIF. “Forever Changed” is a stripped-back acoustic track meditating on love and loss, calling to mind artists like Hozier or Iron & Wine. “Spring (I Made It)” rises as a powerful anthem of rebirth that pairs alternative rock intensity with cinematic storytelling, while “Hum of Love” closes the set with a radiant celebration of love as the universe’s deepest vibration.
To mark the release, Stephen Sol & The 7 will headline Union Stage in Washington, D.C. on 9 January 2026, before embarking on a regional East Coast tour. Their debut full-length studio album is already in the works, set for release in February 2026.
Raised on Johnny Cash and Elvis by his grandfather “Boots,” Stephen Sol discovered his voice through a second-hand guitar and an obsession with The Beatles and My Morning Jacket. Today, he leads The 7, a nine-piece collective whose music is cinematic yet intimate. Their shows mix folk storytelling, rock grit, soulful harmonies, and playful theatricality, with moments that can shift from heart-rending ballads to face-melting guitar solos to tongue-in-cheek skits.
