Solardo — a UK duo from Manchester, made up of Mark Richards and James Eliot, and one of the flag-bearers of the modern house and tech house scene. Over a decade of activity, they’ve gone from local warehouse parties to mainstream festivals, launched their own label Sola, and forged a recognizable “Manchester” signature: driving groove, tight drum work, and hooky vocal refrains.
Early years and formation
Richards and Eliot started with DJ sets and studio experiments in Manchester, a city with a formidable club legacy. Their early sound blended tech house and house, built on propulsive basslines, rolling percussion, and minimalist lead synths. Quick support in major DJs’ playlists opened doors to festival stages across the UK and Europe.
Breakthrough and rise
Solardo gained wide recognition after a run of mid-2010s releases. Key milestones include:
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“Tribesmen” — a signature tech-house banger that cemented the duo in international club charts.
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“XTC” (with Eli Brown) — a mainstage calling card that became a festival staple.
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“Move Your Body” (with Marshall Jefferson) — a respectful dialogue with house roots, adapted for modern big rooms.
In parallel, the duo broadened their collaborations and palette while remaining identifiable by high-energy drops and vocal refrains.
Solardo label & ecosystem
In 2017 the artists launched Sola — an independent label focused on club-driven house/tech house, later adding sister imprints for more melodic and experimental releases. The label became a platform for emerging producers, regular EP series, and joint releases with leading artists. Solardo’s curatorship means a strict club filter aimed at maximum dancefloor impact.
Scene, festivals, residencies
Solardo are frequent fixtures at flagship festivals and events: Tomorrowland, Creamfields, Ultra, major UK raves, and recurring Ibiza seasons. Their sets are known for igniting the room quickly, keeping the groove dense, and weaving bangers with unexpected edits.
Style and production
Solardo’s signature comprises:
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Rhythm section: dry, rolling groove with emphasis on low-end and percussion;
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Synthesis: short leads and “through-line” filter sweeps that create a sense of acceleration;
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Vocals: concise hooks that the crowd locks onto instantly;
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Arrangement: intense breakdowns and drops without clutter — everything in service of the dancefloor.
This approach makes their tracks work equally well on large open-air stages and in packed club rooms.
Selected collaborations & singles
Beyond “Tribesmen,” “XTC,” and “Move Your Body,” the duo’s catalog includes notable team-ups with top-tier artists:
- Chris Lake — “Free Your Body”;
- Tiësto — “I Can’t Wait” (feat. Poppy Baskcomb);
- Armand Van Helden & Hervé — “Power of Bass”;
- MAUR — “Power”;
- Idris Elba — “Big Talk”;
- Alok — “Over Again”.
Under their own name, Solardo also release straight-up club weapons (“Angel Dust,” “So Far So Good,” and more) that regularly circulate in peers’ sets.
Impact and role on the scene
Solardo serve as a bridge between tech house’s more “tribal” corner and mainstream house. Through their label, mentorship, and relentless touring, the duo have helped a wave of young producers break through while keeping the genre agenda focused on the dancefloor rather than hype. Their Manchester school translates to groove discipline and track functionality.
Brief discography
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Tribesmen (single)
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XTC (with Eli Brown)
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Move Your Body (with Marshall Jefferson)
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Free Your Body (with Chris Lake)
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I Can’t Wait (with Tiësto feat. Poppy Baskcomb)
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Power of Bass (with Armand Van Helden & Hervé)
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Power (with MAUR)
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Big Talk (with Idris Elba)
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Over Again (with Alok)
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Angel Dust / So Far So Good (club singles)
Current phase
In 2024–2025 Solardo continue to tour actively, drop collaborations, and curate releases on Sola. The recent trend is an even more “concert-ready” sound with instant-grab vocal hooks and a hardened low end built for big systems.
Conclusion
Solardo are a durable brand of British club sound: a duo equally at home in the underground ecosystem and on the biggest festival stages. Their tracks exemplify highly memorable, “functional” dance music, while the Sola label remains a key entry point for the next wave of producers. Thanks to disciplined production, an intuitive feel for the dancefloor, and constant community work, Solardo remain among the leading drivers of tech house in the 2020s.
