Reading-based singer-songwriter Etham just released yet another irresistible song, “I Won’t,” via Nettwerk Music today (April 28th). He sings of a love that is unwavering through the good and the bad. The raw honesty and intensity of the lyrics will pull at your heartstrings while the piano offers a soothing effect. We had the pleasure of interviewing Etham, and here’s what he had to say:
Q: What did you enjoy most about creating “I Won’t”?
ETHAM: I’ve had the song for a few years now and I think what I’ve enjoyed the most about the making of the song is that when I first wrote it I loved it and through the years that feeling never changed and so the time finally came where I wanted to put it out and it was just really fun to produce it in a different way from the demo and Noah my friend did such a great job that I just fell in love with it even more and was just really happy that I still felt I needed to put it out even though I wrote it nearly 4 years ago.
Q: How long have you been making music? How did you start?
ETHAM: I started writing songs when I was 12/13 but they were terrible but luckily after a few years of writing constantly, people started to like them when I was around 16/17. I started by playing the guitar first when I was 9 and singing and writing didn’t come till I was about 12/13 but I just kept going. It started in school playing school concerts which my teacher encouraged me to do and I just enjoyed it then a little bit later on I started to play a lot of pubs doing covers and also busking in Guildford high street where I just practiced so much and it just pushed me and made me realise how much I wanted to do this as a job and ever since I’ve never lost that feeling, especially for writing.
Q: Can you describe what a typical recording session for this song was like? How long did it take to finish this song?
ETHAM: I had the demo for about 4 years and then it wasn’t only until the last 3 months that I felt it was the right time to release it so I got my friend Noah involved to help with the production meanwhile I did a new vocal which I sent to him and then it only took 2 versions for it to be done because Noah knew exactly what the song needed and I was very happy with where it was going so it was a very chilled an enjoyable process.
Q: What is the best advice you’ve received as a musician?
ETHAM: It’s super typical and cliche but you just gotta keep going, I didn’t believe in that for a while because I had a tough couple of years where I was no longer with my label and I thought it was the end, to be honest, but as much as I grew to hate the saying “just keep going” It really did work and believe me I really really thought it was a load of rubbish but you really do just have to keep going and not give up.
Q: What are your other interests outside music?
ETHAM: There’s really not a lot, I work on music so much that it consumes every day of my life because if I’m not working on my own project I’m working on someone else’s but I really don’t mind because I really do just love music so much and I always feel a bit off if I’m not working on something. but other than that I just spend time with friends, I try to work out as much as possible cause being in a studio you find yourself sitting in one position for hours and I sadly support Chelsea FC who’s had a terrible season.
Q: What is one thing you’re really looking forward to achieving musically this year?
ETHAM: Personally I’d love it if 12:45 wasn’t my most listened song so I’m trying really hard to knock it off the top spot but really I’d just love to make a record that people love and it is a soundtrack to their lives for however long that can last.
Interviewed by Zoey King
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