By Marlène Panara — Translation of an original article first published in French by RFI.

The atmosphere is electric at The Social, a cultural hub in the heart of Addis Ababa. On stage, Rumi Solomon—elegantly dressed in navy blue, her long, smooth hair sleeked straight—offers a shy greeting to the audience gathered to hear her new track, Ohio State. The melancholic ballad, which explores the ache of long-distance love, offers a poignant glimpse into the young artist’s world, where polished pop sensibilities meet raw emotional depth.

“I’d say my music is kind of sad and pop at the same time. Honestly, I usually write when I’m feeling vulnerable. I think we all go through the same things—we’ve all had our hearts broken, we’ve all had moments where we don’t know what we’re doing with our lives. Those really human feelings… that’s what I try to share. That’s where the music comes from,” she says.

On her debut EP, released earlier this year, Rumi Solomon shares deeply personal lyrics carried by delicate, understated melodies. “These are songs I wrote at different moments in my life,” she explains. “I think we’re always changing, and a lot of what I write is about looking inward. I try to put what I’m feeling into words. Sometimes I feel like I’m pulling away from everything—but I remind myself that it’s going to be okay.”

Music has been part of Rumi’s life for as long as she can remember. “I grew up surrounded by it,” she says. “My mum sings—she has a really beautiful voice. And later on, my brother introduced me to so much music: Bob Dylan, Tracy Chapman, Led Zeppelin, The Pixies… Everything I know technically about music, I learned from him. They both support me a lot.”

It was after the pandemic, in 2021, that Rumi truly began her musical journey, writing songs in both English and Amharic. “I get that for the local market, it’s better to sing in Amharic—because a lot of people here don’t speak English,” she says. “But for me, it’s easier to write in English. So I try to do both. It lets me create a kind of fusion. I’m always trying to find the right balance for people here, and for those elsewhere. I don’t want to be seen only as ‘the Ethiopian singer.’ I want to share what I feel, and what others feel too—especially people who’ve struggled to express themselves.”

Following her well-received debut EP, Rumi Solomon now aims to release a full album—carrying the same honesty and a heartfelt desire to connect with audiences both at home and beyond.