Some breakup songs mourn. “Rubbish” takes out the trash. Miami singer-songwriter and DJ Soleil calls her latest single a song about “waking up to the lies that we convince ourselves to believe,” and its music video, directed by Riccardo Solorzano, wraps that realization in golden light and vintage glamour. Since it went up on September 1, the video has passed 109,000 views.
At a glance
- Artist: Soleil
- Based in: Miami, originally from New York
- Single: “Rubbish” (August 18, 2026)
- Sound: R&B and soul with blues and funk
- Video: Directed by Riccardo Solorzano
- Previous single: “Heart Strings” (July 2026)
What is “Rubbish” about?
On paper it starts as a love story, all loyalty and devotion. Then it turns. Soleil describes the moment the narrator realizes that “empty promises, mixed signals, and emotional neglect were never love at all.” What follows is less heartbreak than housecleaning. “‘Rubbish’ captures the moment that self-doubt transforms into self-respect,” she says. “It is about taking out the emotional trash, reclaiming your voice, and refusing to carry someone else’s nonsense any longer.”
Musically, her team says, it picks up where July’s “Heart Strings” left off, in silky R&B and soul, but leans further into blues and funk, with tongue-in-cheek lyrics and her vocals front and center.
What happens in the “Rubbish” music video?
Director Riccardo Solorzano sets it against a golden-hued backdrop that suits the song’s retro-soul sound. According to her team, the video shows Soleil on set and performing, and also places her on television screens. Watch it below.
Reader poll
Have you ever had to take out the emotional trash?
Who made “Rubbish”?
Soleil co-wrote the song with its producer, Dinni Bartholomew. The live band behind it is Josh Walton on bass and synth pad, Juan Santiago on keys, Moises Lenare on drums and Richard Boisrond on guitar, and Paolo Angulo mixed and mastered it. Her team describes it as a bridge from summer into her next run of releases.
Who is Soleil?
Soleil is a singer-songwriter, DJ and vocal producer who grew up in New York and now lives in Miami. Her range is unusually wide: soul, R&B and blues on one side, and on the other the dance floor, with disco house, deep house, Amapiano, Afrobeats and baile funk among her influences. She DJs regularly around Miami and, according to her bio, has played an official Miami Music Week set for Lady of the House and Labelworx.
Her bio also lists stages including Carnegie Hall, the Miami Beach Bandshell and Hard Rock Live, events from Art Basel activations to Spirit Airlines’ #Music4Miles concert series, and a live TV interview on WSVN 7News’ Deco Drive. Off stage, she is a voting member of the Recording Academy, serves on its Florida Chapter’s Songwriters & Composers Committee, mentors emerging artists through Grammy U, Women in Music and Symphonic Distro, and works with the Next Generation Music Foundation to bring music education to youth in foster care.
What else has Soleil released?
- Solo singles including “Whose Side?,” “Noise,” “Loves To Blame,” “Infatuated,” “Cabin” and “I’m Good” (2021–2025).
- Dance collaborations with VKZ (“On the Low,” “Loving Is Easy (U Got the Love),” “Strangers”), Smltwn EP (Ambedo), HAI-LIFE and Vintune.
- Blues and soul team-ups with Skeletons in My Corset (“Stretch Armstrong,” “Hardwired To Hurt”).
- 2026: a soul cover of “Jolene,” “Heart Strings” and “Rubbish.”
Why we are featuring Soleil
“Rubbish” does what a good breakup song should: it turns hurt into a hook you want to sing back. Add a DJ’s instinct for groove, a mentor’s commitment to the next generation, and a video this stylish, and Soleil is an easy artist to root for.
Where to find Soleil
- Stream “Rubbish”: all platforms
- Website: soleilworld.com
- Instagram: @solefulsoul
- TikTok: @solefulsoul
- YouTube: Soleil
- Spotify: Soleil
- Apple Music: Soleil
- SoundCloud: soleilworld
Frequently asked questions
Who is Soleil?
Soleil is a singer-songwriter, DJ and vocal producer originally from New York and now based in Miami. Her music blends soul, R&B and blues with dance styles like disco house, deep house and Amapiano.
What is Soleil’s “Rubbish” about?
It is a breakup anthem about self-worth. In Soleil’s words, it is about “taking out the emotional trash, reclaiming your voice, and refusing to carry someone else’s nonsense any longer.”
When did “Rubbish” come out?
The single was released August 18, 2026, and the music video premiered on her YouTube channel on September 1, 2026.
Who directed the “Rubbish” music video?
Riccardo Solorzano. Soleil co-wrote the song with its producer, Dinni Bartholomew, and Paolo Angulo mixed and mastered it.
Is Soleil a member of the Recording Academy?
Yes, according to her bio. She is a voting member and serves on the Florida Chapter’s Songwriters & Composers Committee.
Mara Alcantara is a tech-savvy writer with a creative eye who tends to see life in color. Pairing an analytical mind with a knack for spotting talent, she covers music, voice acting, and entertainment for The LA Note. Outside of writing, she’s busy raising her kids and hiking with her family.
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