Polly Havelock talks to singer-songwriter Etham on his profound new ballad ‘Simply Anybody’, the complexities of heartbreak, and the highly-anticipated upcoming EP ‘The whole lot and Nothing’….
Hello Etham, how are you?
I’m very properly thanks. Very excited for this yr and it’s already been nice up to now!
Your new single ‘Simply Anybody’ dropped final week, and it is perhaps your most heartfelt monitor but. Are you able to inform us what impressed the track?
I believe I needed to seize 2 feelings on this track and the obvious ones when breaking apart with somebody is unhappiness and anger little little bit of anger however wrapped in a reminder that she wasn’t simply anybody to me, she meant so much in my life and I simply needed to seize a track that expressed these emotions.
Sharing such a private idea publicly should be fairly the expertise – do you discover the method therapeutic or daunting?
It’s a little bit of each as a result of to me music is meant to be sincere so your conscious that your placing that vulnerability on the market but additionally on the similar time it’s an opportunity for folks to attach which is what I prefer to try to obtain however that does include the daunting feeling that it gained’t join with folks however that’s the danger you generally need to take.
Simply Anybody’ is the most recent chapter in your upcoming EP ‘The whole lot and Nothing’, due out on July 4th. May you stroll us via the inventive course of behind the undertaking?
The whole lot & Nothing was born from a spot of feeling just a little misplaced after a breakup and the phrase “The whole lot & Nothing” got here to me while writing among the EP in Nashville as a result of I at the moment I felt like I had every little thing I might ever want however in a a bizarre manner it additionally felt like nothing as a result of I used to be now not sharing that journey with somebody anymore so numerous the songs have this bitter candy feeling of acceptance but additionally capturing a sense the place you can have all these good issues however for me not sharing that with somebody can really feel empty.
You’ve mentioned the EP chronicles your journey via heartbreak. What particular feelings are you exploring in ‘Simply Anybody’?
I believe I simply needed to have one thing that defined that the connection I used to be in wasn’t only a half time factor or that particular person didn’t imply something to me as a result of I believe she’ll at all times imply one thing in my life and I needed to seize these feelings in addition to voicing some pure unhappiness that you just really feel throughout a breakup.
2025 has already been an enormous yr for you – from releasing a string of singles to your collaboration with Ok-pop star CHUNG HA on ‘Discover Love’. What’s been a private spotlight up to now?
I believe each launch has been a spotlight as a result of I wrote many of the songs final yr so it’s simply been very nice to see all of it come alive and be on a string of releases in a manner that I’ve by no means finished earlier than however I believe “There For You’ was an enormous spotlight as a result of it was the primary track that kicked off these releases and in addition certainly one of my favourites.
What was your favorite half about engaged on ‘The whole lot and Nothing’?
I’d say my favorite factor about engaged on The whole lot & Nothing has been how little strain there was to make this as a result of I gave myself numerous time to get the songs prepared which I’ve by no means finished earlier than. Usually I’d write the songs because the yr goes on however the means of getting each track prepared months earlier than has been very nice.
Your cinematic sound has turn into a signature. If ‘Simply Anybody’ have been to soundtrack a movie, which one do you suppose it will go well with greatest?
I can’t partially consider one movie however I believe it will undoubtedly go well with these sort of movies that inform story of two folks simply looking for a satisfying life however caught unsure which ends up in second guessing their decisions and questioning if the grass greener on the opposite aspect, just a little just like the story from “The Pocket book”
Trying forward, what are your hopes and objectives for the remainder of the yr? Are you at all times writing and recording, or do you like to depart house between tasks?
I’d love for my music to achieve an even bigger viewers by the tip of the yr and hopefully begin doing reveals once more. I believe I’m at all times going to be writing music whether or not that’s for me or different artists so so long as I’m doing that then I really feel like I’m heading int the suitable path to fulfil my objectives.