SOLSTICE HIGH by Ardash Vartparonian
Matt, Rochelle, Daphne and Jonas are four students starting their senior year of high school, but suffer a freak-accident the very first day and start to realize that they are developing superhuman abilities. They quickly realize that the school principal, Mr. Devlin, has in fact more than just education on his agenda, and is using the school for his own purposes.
Not only must the four friends try to figure out what Devlin’s plans are, but when he will strike, and seeing as how they cannot turn to grown-ups for help without exposing themselves, must themselves grow-up in order to stop him. As well as learning to cope with these developing powers, the four teenagers must deal with the day-to-day muddles of being a teenager, such as volatile emotions, infatuations and family issues.
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Hi Rebecca,
Thanks for allowing me a spot on your blog! You asked me what songs I would choose for the soundtrack if Solstice High were to become a movie, as well as my dream cast, and these are my picks:
PLAYLIST
(SPOILER ALERT! I want to show how the songs would go hand in hand with certain scenes or plot points in the novel)
Sour Cherry – The Kills
The fun and strong beat this song starts off with would be a great way of showing the nerves and excitement of the first day of school, and this would only be emphasized by the off-beat rhythm of the song. It would be easy to imagine this song as the very first thing you hear, while the first thing you see is this horde of students marching into a large assembly room.
9 Crimes – Damien Rice
The bittersweet sound of this song would complement chapter three nicely; the moment when Daphne is pouring all her rage into the punching bag and ends up bursting into flames. The melancholic voice of the song would be a reminder that there is no going back for these kids; their world has definitely changed for good.
Cities in Dust – Junkie XL
This fun song would be ideal for when the four friends try to break into the lab for the first time; none of them except Jonas seem to take it very seriously, and this song would echo that sentiment. If the song were to end abruptly when Jonas realizes something is wrong and the twins appear it would show how quickly a situation can change.
I Love It – Icona Pop
This tune is such a party anthem it would go great with the scene of Rick Brody’s party. The song is basically about being young and care-free, to the point where consequences are not an issue, and though personally I don’t condone this, it would reflect the atmosphere of the party with a huge group of underage kids drinking and going crazy. Also, the fact that the song seems to promote a sort of care-free lifestyle with no regard for consequences would be a foreshadowing of what will happen to these kids and what has just happened (Daphne accidentally burned her mother’s hand before the party for example).
Thoughts of a Dying Atheist – Muse
The sorrow and bleakness of this song encapsulates all of chapter thirteen perfectly in my opinion. Matt’s growing pessimism and detachment, his uncertainty about himself and his budding relationship with Julius would be a great moment for a Muse song. Not just because Matt is a declared Muse fan, but because I listened to a lot of Muse while writing this book, particularly Matt’s chapters, and I think the music influenced the tone and voice of his personality in a way. (Disclaimer: I was a fan of Muse before the Twilight-mania)
Stripper – Soho Dolls
This song is incredibly sexy and would be ideal for the dare game that Rochelle plays to try and get Jonas to kiss her. A secret bonus would be that the song is actually from the Gossip Girl soundtrack, and Rochelle is a big fan of that TV show.
Creep – Radio Head
When Daphne manipulates events in order to discredit her brother and send him back to rehab in order to cover up after herself and protect her friends, the numbness that covers the self-hatred she is feeling would make Radiohead’s ‘Creep’ an ideal fit. Daphne loves Radiohead, and the feeling of self-deprecation voiced by the song would mirror Daphne’s own feelings quite fittingly, I think.
In For the Kill – La Roux
Some sort of Electronica remix of this song would be ideal for the club scene after Daphne has her brother sent away because it would foreshadow the terrible event that occurs in that same chapter between Daphne and Matt, with the subtle hint of a predator going ‘In For the Kill’ an ominous warning, though the upbeat tempo would fit right in with a nightclub track.
Someone Like You (Live) – Adele
This would be the best song for the scene when Matt and Julius fight because Matt thinks Julius has cheated on him. I can even imagine Matt playing this song on his laptop or something while the fight between them unfolds. The heartbreak one can feel in the song would be in contrast with Matt’s idea that Julius cheating on him isn’t an issue (a result of his terrible self-esteem) but work well with Julius storming out and calling Matt out on how he can never truly care for Julius if he doesn’t care about himself. Matt seems to love wallowing in his own pity-parties and I can totally imagine him listening to this song on repeat during and after the fight.
Bangarang – Skrillex feat. Sirah
The pulsating energy of this song would be great for when the four friends go through the tunnel after the Winter Formal trying to get to Devlin’s house before him, and the fast-paced fight between Daphne and Matt against a super-strong Rufus would get an extra layer of exhilaration and anticipation as the three brawled in what seems to be a fight to the death.
I Wish I Was the Moon – Neko Chase
Neko Chase’s song would be a haunting farewell as the four friends lay the bodies of DeMona, Rufus, Devlin and Helena around the house as well as when Daphne sets the house slowly on fire under the night sky and, thinking that they have failed in their mission to save their school-mates, the main characters trudge their way back through the tunnel towards the school with heavy hearts.
DREAMCAST
Matt Decene: Ezra Miller
There is a kind of darkness around Ezra Miller that would go great for playing Matt, and the fact that I kind of based Matt physically on myself and Miller and I have some similar features would only add to that.
Rochelle Dubié: Lucy Hale
Lucy Hale has a fresh, doe-eyed look that I think would make for a great Rochelle, contrasting her seemingly sweet and beautiful appearance with the temperamental and often rash and even selfish traits that encompass Rochelle.
Daphne Redgrave: Holland Roden
I didn’t pick Roden just because she is a redhead but because seeing the work she’s done on the TV show Teen Wolf, I think she could take on the moodiness and brooding that make up Daphne (though her character on the show is more similar to Rochelle).
Jonas Knight: Colton Haynes
Jonas Knight is supposed to be physically incredibly looking, and I think Haynes shares that kind of look. It would be interesting to see how someone who is so clearly good-looking could play the shy, reserved character that is Jonas.
Hunter Spencer: Alex Pettyfer
I think Pettyfer could easily pull off the cocky, almost arrogant person that Hunter is, while at the same time showing a softer side of himself during his intimate moments with Daphne.
Helena Spencer: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley Whiteley has that sort of ethereal look I had in mind when writing about Helena, the sort of gentleness that can easily but mistakenly be confused for weakness.
Harmony Kendall: Amanda Seyfried
Seeing Seyfried’s work on the movie Jennifer’s Body I have no doubt that she could play the meek side of Harmony as well as her vindictive and more aggressive side
Julius Fontaine: Dave Franco
Franco is a charmer, and his smile is contagious, and that sort of laid-back, effortlessly cool attitude he seems to have would make for a perfect Julius.
Aleister Devlin: Alexander Skarsgard
I always had Skarsgard in my head when writing about Devlin. Physically he was my inspiration for the character. Tall, blonde and powerful. Enough said, lol.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ardash Vartparonian was born in London but raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina. At the age of 18 he began his debut novel, Solstice High, and continued writing throughout his last year of school and first year of university, where he moved back to the UK to study English Literature at Edinburgh University. Now a fourth year student, Ardash enjoys going out with his friends, watching horror movies and reading fantasy book while trying to keep up with his university work. Find out more at http://sbpra.com/ardashvartparonian/
Ardash on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SolsticeHigh?ref=hl
Google+: https://plus.google.com/100558471915520443621/posts?hl=en
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I didn’t pick Roden just because she is a redhead but because seeing the work she’s done on the TV show Teen Wolf, I think she could take on the moodiness and brooding that make up Daphne (though her character on the show is more similar to Rochelle). 
Hunter Spencer: Alex Pettyfer 
Seeing Seyfried’s work on the movie Jennifer’s Body I have no doubt that she could play the meek side of Harmony as well as her vindictive and more aggressive side 
Ardash Vartparonian was born in London but raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina. At the age of 18 he began his debut novel, Solstice High, and continued writing throughout his last year of school and first year of university, where he moved back to the UK to study English Literature at Edinburgh University. Now a fourth year student, Ardash enjoys going out with his friends, watching horror movies and reading fantasy book while trying to keep up with his university work. Find out more at http://sbpra.com/ardashvartparonian/ 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
When I was a child, I never read as a child. My imagination reached far beyond Nancy Drew and her snappy red roadster, but found nothing to satisfy it upon the conservative shelves of young adult fiction. To feed my creative curiosity, I had to reach higher, onto adult books with themes often outside what was considered ‘age appropriate.’ Fortunately, I had a progressive mother who never censored (though she did scrutinize) my book choices. While other girls my age were sighing over Trixie Belden and Little Women, I was chapter deep in the Foundation Trilogy, soaring with Where Eagles Dare, or tucked away with Frank Yerby and Arthur Hailey. I was into big sagas and action series even back then.
