Jesse Solomon Knows What You're Thinking About His Music (Exclusive)
Jesse Solomon is well aware of the stereotype.
Reality star launches music career, eyes roll. The Chicago native, 33, who studied music at the University of Miami, expected as much when he started releasing music while starring on Bravo's hit reality series Summer House.
But as he's cemented his spot as a series regular over the past three seasons, something shifted. "Going on tour definitely helped things," Solomon tells Men's Journal in an exclusive interview. "I was expecting a ton of negativity and TikToks making fun of me after every show. But I really feel like everybody who showed up and saw me perform live was like, 'Oh, this isn't just a reality TV guy trying to make it as a musician. This is an actual artist.'"
The validation means a lot to someone who spent years honing his skills. "I studied vocal jazz performance, I've sung my whole life," Solomon says of his style, which he describes as pop with jazz, soul, and funk influences. "I grew up listening to a lot of '70s Motown, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, and John Mayer is one of my all-time favorites. I'm trying to bring that old-school feel into modern-day pop music."
For Solomon, making music offers something reality TV just can't. "I think reality TV is more nerve-wracking because I don't control it," he explains. "Sure, everything that happens is something that I did or said, but what gets presented in these 43-minute episodes is not up to me. Whereas with my music, it's such an incredible outlet to talk about the things that mean the most to me."
His first single, "Guess I'll Start," started gaining traction online, eventually catching the attention of Ring, which partnered with him on the music video. "It was actually just a super organic idea that we had," he says. "It was a nice way to make fun of myself, like, 'Oh, there's Jesse Solomon singing his own song walking down the street.' But it also felt like a great way to capture a really high-quality music video."
Now, his focus is on his newest single, "Wildfire," a track he promises has "big summer energy," adding, "I'm really excited about this one. There's a lot of things I could do. I'm thinking about a remix. I'm thinking about doing an acoustic version. I'm thinking about a music video."
Still, he's trying not to get ahead of himself. "You can't force a trend," he says. "You kind of have to be receptive and see what the people like."
Navigating the court of public opinion isn't always fun, but he approaches it with a unique perspective. A testicular cancer survivor, Solomon celebrated five years of being officially cancer-free in 2024. "When I find myself upset about anything, I just try to think about all the things that I'm grateful for because I am so blessed, and my life is so good," he tells MJ. "If you really zoom out and think about the complaint, it's so minuscule in the grand scheme of things."
He applies that same philosophy to internet haters. "People I don't know are upset with me, and they don't even know me, but they think they know me. You got to remind yourself that I get to do what I love every day, which is music."
To stay grounded, he relies on a routine of avoiding his phone first thing in the morning, prioritizing workouts, journaling, and checking in with a therapist every few weeks. "You definitely do have to find things to keep you grounded," he says.
Maintaining that headspace will be crucial as another summer in the Hamptons approaches – and things will look a little different this time around. The recent Season 10 reunion was an emotional one for Solomon, leaving several friendships fractured within the group-including his roommate, West Wilson.
"For better or for worse, these are our real lives," Solomon says. "Those are some of my best friends. Trust me, I didn't want to cry on national television. When you spend your summers with the same people and I literally share a bedroom with West, you get to know people pretty well."
Amid reports that Wilson is not returning to the show this season, Solomon is looking forward. "I'm just excited to get back out there," he says. "I love the summer, and despite the chaos, it's a unique experience."
Whether he's stepping back in front of the Bravo cameras or onto a concert stage, Solomon seems far less concerned with proving doubters wrong. He'd rather just let the music do the talking.
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 16, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published June 16, 2026 at 7:57 PM.