Bio & Press

Over the past two decades, Spraggon has proven himself a master of reinvention, blending soul, R&B, funk, jazz, hip-hop, and pop into a sound that’s unmistakably his. Warm, polished, and relentlessly creative, his work has consistently pushed boundaries, earning him a global following and attracting top-tier collaborators along the way—remixes from names like Tall Black Guy, Hermitude, and DJ Vadim tell their own story.

Since bagging Best Electronic Release for his debut Solarized at the 2001 New Zealand Music Awards, Spraggon has built a career marked by its diversity. Whether playing festival stages at Secret Garden Party or Green Man, or racking up plaudits from Rolling Stone to Mojo, the Sola Rosa sound has traveled far beyond its South Pacific roots, reaching fans in Berlin, São Paulo, Paris, and beyond.

Fast forward to 2020’s Chasing The Sun, his first full-length album in five years, and you can feel that a certain creative momentum has been building. Now, as we approach 2025—a year that marks 25 years of Sola Rosa—there’s a sense of transition. Spraggon is set to release a new EP early in the year, gathering together tracks that have been simmering for some time. It’s a project that brings together a who’s who of vocalists, musicians, and writers from both New Zealand and further afield, all woven into a fitting close to this chapter of Sola Rosa’s evolution.

Make no mistake, this EP marks the end of an era for Sola Rosa. The expansive, collaboration-heavy approach is shifting. However, Spraggon is already deep into a new full-length album, due in late 2025. While collaboration with musicians and artists remains part of the process, this next phase will see Spraggon taking a more focused, central role—bringing his signature production into sharper focus for both loyal fans and new listeners alike.

Discography & Press

2020: Chasing the Sun (album)
Way Up Recordings / Kartel Music Group

“Spraggon has always had a finely tuned pop-groove ear but Chasing the Sun lifts him to a whole new level of excellence” – Mojo ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars
“Chasing The Sun is a perfect mix of funk, soul and jazz” – Radioaktiv.it. Italy
Selected in the JB Hi-Fi Guide to Essential Vinyl 2021: “Crafted over a long time, in the manner of making a fine wine”
Finalist, Best Electronic album 2021 Aotearoa NZ Music Awards
Also: Chasing the Sun; Deluxe Edition (2021 album); Chasing the Sun; Instrumentals (2021 album)

2018: In Spaces (EP)
Way Up Recordings

“A plethora of sounds to create music that you can dive into, peeling back each layer, discovering something new every time you make your way through” – Yasmin Brown, elsewhere.co.nz

2015: Magnetics (album)
Way Up Recordings / Agogo Records

“Eleven canny songs which are integrated through a downbeat r’n’b vibe which also has a warmth that is going to work well come longer and hotter days.”  elsewhere.co.nz.
Finalist, Best Electronic album 2015 Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards
Winner, Soul/R&B release in the iTunes Best of 2014 NZ Awards

2010: Low and Behold, High and Beyond (album)
Way Up Recordings / Agogo Records

“Blooms with sensuality and sass” – Rolling Stone
Finalist, Best Electronic 2012 Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards
Also: Low and Behold, High and Beyond Deluxe Edition (2013 album), Low and Behold, High and Beyond the remixes (2014 album)

2009: Get It Together (album)
Way Up Recordings / Melting Pot Music

“Sola Rosa needed to produce something special to confirm their point of difference, and they have delivered with this session of solid soul-funk” – Rip It Up
Certified gold
Finalist Best Dance/Electronic 2009 Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards
Finalist Best Producer 2009 Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards
Also: Get It Together Deluxe Edition (2009 album), Get It Together (2010 remix album),  Get It Together Instrumentals (2010 album), Get It Together (2012 remix EP)

2005: Moves On (album)
Warner Music

“It’s all about a bigger, more human sound achieved by the recruitment of a full band for both the recording and touring of “Moves On”. No more flying solo, at least, for now.” – Bandcamp
Finalist, Best Dance/Electronica 2006 Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards
Finalist, Best Engineer 2006 Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards
Certified gold

2003: Haunted Out-takes (album)
FMR

“a natural successor to Solarized, ten perfectly proportioned pieces of possessed palaver” – Bandcamp
Winner, Best Downbeat Release at the 2004 bNet Awards
Also: The Ready Now EP (2003)

2001: Solarized (album)
FMR

Winner, Best Electronic album, 2002 New Zealand Music Awards
Certified gold
Also: Solarized: Refreshed (2013 album)

2000: Entrance to the Skyway (EP)
Independent release then FMR (Festival Mushroom Records)

Winner b-Net’s Best Independent Release of the Year Award as voted for by  New Zealand listeners nationwide.

1999: Starter for 4 (EP)
Independent release