Etham

Etham is a singer who always wears his heart on his sleeve, and with his highly anticipated mini-album, ‘Everything and Nothing’, he makes no exception. Soulful, vulnerable, and unafraid of confronting demons, he explores the complexities of heartbreak through a yearning lens.

We talked to Etham about the experiences that shaped its narrative, recording in Nasville, and the therapeutic essence of converting songwriting into healing…

Everything and Nothing explores the full arc of a relationship - from love to heartbreak. What was the creative process like when writing something so personal and emotionally layered?

Writing it felt really relieving and it felt good to put what I was going through down into words and into a song, but the releasing part has definitely been a little harder because of the personal aspect of it all, but I hope people can relate to it and find comfort in a situation that I went through.

You wrote much of the album during trips to Nashville and LA. How did those locations shape the sound or the stories in the music?

I started going to America about 5 years ago, and I just really connected with some writers out there that I felt really helped me shape the music I wanted to create, and it also keeps things fresh.

The vulnerability in your lyrics is incredibly moving. Is it ever difficult to share that level of emotional honesty in your music?

I definitely get a little nervous but I also find it hard to connect with a song if it doesn’t have that level of honesty and truth so I have to - otherwise I just won’t connect or like it.

You’ve mentioned music was your anchor growing up in a fractured home. How does that early relationship with music still influence the way you write and perform today?

Like any job it just takes your mind off of it and channels all those hard times into something meaningful. Thankfully, writing songs can become quite therapeutic and can help you release those emotions instead of keeping them locked up.

Your latest single, Just Anyone, is incredibly raw and emotional. Can you tell us more about the story behind the song and how it came together?

I was in Nashville working with a good friend Evan Cline and he’s an incredible songwriter that can really help bring out lyrics from situations that you go through. I felt ‘Just Anyone’ had all those qualities and so we kept shaping it throughout the year and I’m really happy with the outcome.

Your songwriting often feels like a form of emotional processing. How does writing a song like Just Anyone help you move through those lingering feelings of heartbreak?

It’s almost like writing a diary, and just letting your thoughts out on paper can really help you move on from all the emotions you go through when dealing with a breakup

Cinematic storytelling is a key part of your artistry. When you're writing a track like Just Anyone, do you see it visually as well as emotionally?

I think visualising a concept and what kind of journey you want to take the listener through is really important. Picking out key moments that describe a specific day or memory can help build a story that people and yourself can relate to. Then, hopefully by the end of the song, you evoke memories and feelings (in a good way) that people can really connect with.

With over 200 million streams and a growing global fanbase, how are you feeling about this next chapter in your career?

I’m feeling really good, I’m really proud of the music and the team I have. I’m just really grateful that I still get the chance to release music under a very supportive team and I’m really looking forward to seeing how the year goes. No matter the success, I think I’m always going to be trying my best to put new music out and hopefully be at a point where I can do bigger shows more often.

Looking ahead to the full release of Everything and Nothing, what do you hope listeners feel or take away after hearing these songs in sequence?

The whole EP is aimed towards the healing process of a breakup so I just hope for those who listen to it can find some peace knowing that they’re not alone - and that feeling those hard emotions and dealing with them is the only way to move forward and I just hope my music can be a support mechanism to help them through that.

‘Everything and Nothing’ Is Out Friday, July 4th with new single ‘Feel Like This’ featuring Anna Clendening