“Soliloquy" by ReeToxA: A Journey of Different Emotions Through Rock

The dynamic rock band from Melbourne has released a 26-track album, “Soliloquy.” Led by Jason McKee, ReeToxA is a rock band that’s built on years of experience. There’s a strong sense of catharsis driving the project, where songwriting feels more like an emotional outlet than just a creative process. Their roots are firmly in rock, but there’s a clear willingness to experiment, blending 90s alt-rock influences with more modern, emotionally charged sounds. With parts of “Soliloquy” dating back to 1997 and finally coming together during the pandemic, the album carries a sense of time, persistence, and a story that’s been waiting to be told.

“There’s something about ReeToxA’s sound that just pulls you through different versions of yourself.”

The fact that this album has 26 tracks makes it sound heavy, but the themes keep shifting enough to not feel dragged out. At its core, it's rock—but not just one shade of it, you get everything from gritty, raw moments to more melodic and emotional stretches. The orchestral layers come in and out, adding this cinematic feel without overpowering the rock base. There’s a constant emotional movement that never stays in one zone for too long. Some moments feel loud, chaotic, almost unfiltered, while others slow down and hit a more reflective way. It genuinely feels like a rollercoaster, where you laugh in parts, sit with heavy emotions in others, and then suddenly find yourself vibing along.

It's the kind of album that makes you laugh, cry, dance through chaos, and still sit with the ups and downs after. Lyrically, it feels very autobiographical, like pieces of someone’s life laid out in the form of musical melodies.  Themes of struggle, memory, relationships, self-doubt, and survival keep showing up across the album. The ability of ReeToxA to literally keep you moving through phases of life, purely through the medium of music, is what I admire about this entire collection. Even without breaking down each song, you can feel that every track adds something to the bigger picture. Overall, “Soliloquy" feels like a long, personal release of everything the artist’s been holding in. It’s raw, ambitious, and stays with you even after it’s done.

We also got a chance to interview Jason McKee. Here's a candid conversation with the man.

1. You’ve held onto some of these ideas since the 90s, what made you keep them all these years?

Jason: I have written 1000s of songs, and I have a good feel for when I write a good one. I just feel some of the songs I wrote in the 90s and early 2000s are too good to let go.

2. What shaped your sound growing up as an artist in rock?

Jason: Well, I started writing songs in 1995 and playing guitar. I was really into alternative music/grunge, and then I listened to its heroes like Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath. I was brought up on 1960s music, so I try to keep my mind open to anything.

3. Was there ever a moment you almost walked away from music? And what made you hold on to it?

Jason: When I joined the navy, I thought music was long gone, which made me sad, but no matter what they did to me, songs would still come to me. It took a long time, but eventually, I realised there was nothing I could do to stop it.

4. What personal moment sits at the heart of Soliloquy for you?

Jason: It’s about a suicide attempt.

5. Why did you decide to keep it a 26-track double album instead of cutting it down?

Jason:26 was the bare minimum this project could possibly be. In the future, I’d like to make a third side and push it to 39 songs, but for the time being, I need to move on.

6. How did the orchestral elements find their place in a rock project like this?

Jason: Simon Moro, during pre-production, mentioned six of the tracks desperately needed an orchestra. I was blown away that this was an obtainable option.

7. Did the emotional flow of the album come naturally or was it planned?

Jason: Ever since I was 15, I’d put my songs into imaginary lists and albums. I have met dozens of artists that do that. But the flow came naturally from the start. We never changed it.

8. Did working through the pandemic change your creative process in any way?

Jason: Oh definitely. I shut out the outside world, and with a diet of cigarettes and coffee, with three hours’ sleep, I slowly sent myself insane.

9. After this release, do you feel like you’re starting fresh or continuing the same journey?

Jason: I have nearly caught up with 30 years of songwriting, and the new album will be really fresh with only a few oldies. I think the fourth album will be the first start-from-scratch album.

10. What inspires your music when you’re not actively trying to write?

Jason: Anything and everything! It never ends lol. Hope you enjoy the tracks down here:

Discover more such similar tracks on our Testing Rock playlist: