by martina rexrode
photo courtesy of etham
Etham's latest EP Patterns is a study in patience and musical evolution. While staying true to his stripped back, acoustic roots, this project builds onto that style in a way that feels just as authentic. After a string of collaborations and global travel, Etham is ready to show a new side of himself and his music to listeners.
Congratulations on your new EP! What can you tell us about this project as a whole?
Etham: “Thank you! This project feels like a step forward that I’ve never taken before. I think adding more of a sound to the music instead of just a stripped acoustic record feels really good to finally give my listeners more of an identity, and I’m just really proud of it!”
How does the Patterns EP differentiate from your past releases?
Etham: “I think I took a lot longer to write the songs and took my time. I think also adding more of a sound to some of the records gave it a massive difference to my previous releases, and I’m just really happy with how the patience worked out!”
This EP is described as having some of your favorite songs you’ve ever written. Which ones, if you had to choose, are your favorites and why?
Etham: “I think ‘I Won’t’ and ‘Patterns’ are a couple of my favourite songs I’ve ever written because they are probably my most honest songs I’ve ever done, and to back that up with the music that works so well together makes me really proud of them both.”
Which artists or general people in your life have had the largest impact on your ability to tap into such deep emotional depth within your music?
Etham: “I think just the history of music and how some records are literally what everybody goes through, and so taking that inspiration of those deep and personal lyrics have always appealed to me because it’s almost like therapy and how you really start to understand your feelings more.”
You’ve had a busy last half of the year! Between a sold out show in Seoul, South Korea and a UK busking tour last month which raised money for YoungMinds, a mental health charity, what have been some of your most cherished memories from this year?
Etham: “I think doing the headline show in South Korea to 700 people was just a highlight of a lifetime let alone the year! So I think that is one of the biggest things I’ll always cherish.”
How did your collaboration with South Korean artist GEMINI come to fruition?
Etham: “So I was doing a writing trip in Seoul and GEMINI reached out on Instagram and asked if I wanted to swing by the studio to meet. So I went and we played each other some music, and he’s so talented that I suggested we do a release. So after a few months went by writing and trying to pick the right song, we finally landed on a song I wrote earlier in the year called ‘Put You First,’ and he killed it so much and just so happy we got to do a record together.”
How has your success in South Korea impacted your career more generally?
Etham: “It’s done everything for me to be honest. It’s given me the opportunity to work with other artists on their projects as well as pushing my own records, so I’m just so grateful to the people that are supporting me out there. It literally means the world.”
What do you hope listeners gain or get out of this new EP?
Etham: “I hope it offers peace for those that can relate to what I’m singing about because I know I’m not alone with how I feel on some of the songs, and I just hope that’s the thing they take from it.”