Today we’d like to introduce you to Do re FaSoLA.
DOUGH – RAY – FAH – SOUL – LA!
Bolutito Fashola, also known on 808s & soul samples as “Do re Fa$oLA”, spent many of his younger years in the shadow of West Coast musical greats. In 2010, Do re Fa$oLA began songwriting while attending Sherman Oaks CES, a small public school located less than a mile from the old “Can-Am studios” where Tupac Shakur recorded his last two albums, All Eyez on Me & The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory. Growing up a fan of buzzing pacific coast anthems like “Beautiful” by an LBC native formerly referred to as Snoop Doggy Dogg and spending countless car rides listening to trunk-rattling bangers like “How We Do” & “Tell Me When To Go”, Fa$oLA expresses he witnessed the West Coast briefly renaissance between 2004 and 2006 after the passing of Shakur. He felt the fever of West Coast music at the mainstream level fizzled shortly after until Ty Dolla $ign, YG, DJ Mustard & others made Ti$a hats, khakis & Dodger caps cool again! As we turn the decade and enter a new generation of music, it was the West Coast that reigned supreme with the biggest anthem of the year!
Working out of ‘MODENT STUDIOS’ (a Carson California studio run by other Nigerian- American creatives & media moguls), Do re Fa$oLA hopes to continue a culture of Hip Hop & Urban R&B dominated by the West Coast; describing himself as Jodeci, Young Thug & Kendrick Lamar rolled up in a fine aged leaf and smoking on wax!
His latest release “VINEYARD$” tells the story of a young man disillusioned by the luxuries of Los Angeles. On “VINEYARD$”, Fa$oLA speaks on his desires to be paid in ones “no more”, his evermore growing love interest who boasts an impeccable fashion sense, and his trying to carry on the legacy of acts like Shakur, as fireworks and fire marches move cities – and local fans and contemporaries champion his movement.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Smooth ride? Definitely not! Whether your independent or signed to a label, being a musical artist is never a smooth ride
When I wanted to quote, unquote “start taking music seriously” –
I didn’t even know how musicians got paid!
Like, ok streams? But how?
Who cuts the check?
Shows? But how do I get shows?
How do I put music on Apple?
How do I rap again?
…Autotune makes my voice sound weird but everyone in the studio wants you to use it and eventually, you want to experiment. I had recorded music in my college dorm room on my own with homies for like five years but the first time I went into the studio, I was in the box for like 35 minutes and couldn’t lay down one verse!
I knew how to write and sing and whatever but I didn’t know how to speak into a microphone to make a good musical recording. Things I had to learn. Things all your favorite artists had to learn.
And my chase bank account will definitely tell you that music is expensive! Studio time, photoshoots, marketing, making t-shirts! and pocket money to preserve your mental sanity!
Can you give our readers some background on your music?
At the end of the day, I am a musician. “Do re Fa$oLA”!
My music bounces everywhere within the spectrum of Hip Hop, R&B, Soul & Afro Sound.
My brand “Solfege.” (SOUL-FEDGE) plans to roll out merchandise in November 2020 and produce other media in the future like music videos, animated shorts, documentaries, etc.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Music is all about marketing! I’ve required the help of many people to get to where I am today and I continue to collaborate with producers, studio engineers, other artists, video directors, graphic designers, dancers, animators, editors, blogs, playlist curators, that list got long, right? All those people deserve credit. God is my ghostwriter by the way. I freestyle a lot of my music so, God is definitely gonna be in my songwriting credits.
Contact Info:
- Website: DoReFaSoLA.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/fasoladoughrain
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3IJjJr9YvYlz6ZeNrCTw0V?si=8IhsE5HNRN-bNhE5l5g0Aw


Image Credit:
CameraWoman: @individually.focused
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