A Story of Hope

I have lost and I have triumphed, I have traveled through the darkest pits and come out the other side, I am a survivor and it is time I share who I am, where I come from and why I am here today! Come with me on a journey through darkness where we will face our truth - From victim to victor!

My name is Solveig Træet and I am the norwegian singer-songwriter Queen of Sol.

Ever since I was a little girl I have been immensely strong-willed, I always knew what I wanted and ended up pursuing that. I can’t remember this myself, but apparently one day when I was quite little, I went strolling with my doll wagon. We had this short stone wall outside in the garden, and even though the wall was getting closer, I hit the wall with my wagon. I just kept pushing, waiting for the wall to move. I banged the wagon again and again, until I was lifted up by my mother to go in another direction. And so I did.

When I heard that story about myself, I couldn’t help but laugh. Despite this headstrongness, I lost track of what I wanted when I got older, I was struggling to know who I was and I longed for purpose.

It was a classmate of mine who accidentally discovered I could sing. We had our own ‘‘idol’’ contest at our elementary school, so me and her thought we should try it out. Then she told me that I could really sing, which I had never thought of. In this moment, when she saw and heard me, it was truly the beginning of something important in my life. Soon after, I told my parents that I wanted to take guitar and singing lessons to improve my talent, and they agreed. When I was 14, I started my musical journey. I grew a special bond with my dad through our mutual passion for music, he understood me in a way few others did. He used to always come with me to my musical performances, and proudly so, cheering me on. In one of our last conversations he told me I had a gift, and that the world needed to hear my voice. I miss him with deep sorrow.

I grew up being especially taught by my mother that I should compare myself to others, taught that I was never enough, that I always had to be better, prettier, skinnier, smarter. That was toxic, and for many other young people that is their reality too. It takes time to be confident in yourself, self-doubt and shame has been a chronic part of my life, almost as long as I can remember, and it was a long period of time where I struggled with myself and believing in myself. It wasn’t until I was into my twenties when I finally came to a crossroads, where I took the leap of following my long lasting dream, because I could feel it calling me! I had to stop looking behind me all the time, and finally start to look forward, and reach my potential. But to be able to do this, I needed to understand my past. Finally after so many years I found the courage to fully see myself. See the darkness that is a part of me.

At a personal level I struggled for quite some time as a teenager, going through bullying and social exclusion (mainly from age 6-15) that formed my social anxiety, which got pretty intense through norwegian high school, and caused me to have low and troubled self esteem and self image. In so many ways I felt like a ghost, like no one really saw me the way I needed them to. When high school was over, I did not know who I was or what I was supposed to do. Darkness devoured me. I felt not only grief, but also overwhelming shame and guilt. I joined the army (first time service), ending up as one of the first women in the department (guard and security), so that was challenging, both in a positive and negative way. I was lucky enough to be approached by the department’s lieutenant colonel one day and asked if I could give musical performances at arrangements. I am grateful for him seeing and hearing me at this time. When my time in the army was coming to an end, I performed at an intimate dinner setting made for the leaders within the department across Norway. After my performance, I was awarded a black box containing a coin, this was given because of my special service in the department, I was told I gave an important contribution during the time I spent there. I am grateful for this moment.

After the army, I still didn’t know what to do with myself, I tried out different jobs. I never even realized music could be an option. I was so broken. I felt so blind. So lost. But with the help of my wonderful man, I found something that maybe could give me some of that longing, namely theology - the road to becoming a priest. Slowly, but surely I became a stronger woman, person and spirit. But unfortunately I endured discrimination both at my school and in other christian contexts over the course of 6 years, which ultimately made me realize that I needed time to breathe and reflect on my own for a while.

In 2020 I heard a calling coming from my gut and my heart, telling me it is time to focus on music! It gives me chills just to think about that moment in time. This moment was so spiritual! I have lived a heavy life, but every day I make an active and conscious choice to make something out of it. It could have destroyed me completely, but I choose to fight and try to make gold out of darkness. I have to do this every day, fighting the same fight, again and again. My biggest wish is to help others become more aware and conscious of their life, and the hard things that they have gone through and still goes through, and try to help others on the path on how to find yourself in all that darkness. You have to be bold to make a change. Music is my passion, and there is no time to wait no more. My life is now, and I am going to live it boldly and bravely, and if I fail along the way there is room for that too. That is part of life. Life comes with highs and lows, beauty and pain, light and darkness, life and death. And I wish to reflect just that in my music and through my words. So it is time I share my truth with all of you.

I was thinking of suitable artist names in January 2020, that would describe me and my world. My artist name came to me over a short period of time. I feel like it was waiting for me in dormant until I was ready to see and listen. And I thought of Queen, which for me symbolizes carrying yourself with respect and love, and ‘‘Sol’’ that derives from norse and germanic mythology meaning lifegiver (PS: it is also a part of my name meaning ‘’the sun’’). When I sing something special comes to life, I can’t describe it, but I feel it under my skin, that is when I truly breathe. The eye of my logo represents seeing yourself - seeing your gold hidden within darkness! Queen of Sol symbolizes me being the queen of my own world, and it proclaims that so can you! Give yourself the love and respect that you deserve, because you are one of a kind, just like a star! Remember in time, no matter the struggle, no matter the pain…See your gold hidden within darkness!

My music is my heart, soul and voice. It is Raw and it is Real. It is time to hear me Roar!

To all the warrior souls…