I remember hitting 33 solo. Buying the new vendor gear and having one upgraded exotic will get you to 32. From there you compete the level 32 Prison of Elders and obtain an armor core to buy the piece of armor from the House of Judgment vendor in the Reef. This will push you to 33 which will leave you where you've been since launch, one level behind the cap. The only difference is it's possible to reach the max level with Etheric Light, specifically for your case, from the Nightfall which will only be at level 32. You're bound to get one eventually and another way to get some solo would be from the Iron Banner when you hit rank 3 and 5, when it comes around of course.