Ethan Butler? Who is this guy and where did he come from? Is he even any good? Why would I pay to listen to a guy I haven't heard of?
These are a probably just a few of the questions you are asking yourself, and, well, I wouldn't blame you. As music lovers, we are rather protective of our musical tastes and our pocket books. But every once in a while, we come across an artist that we are willing to go out on a limb for. I think Ethan Butler is that kind of an artist.
Ethan may be new to the music scene, but he is not new to Chitown. Born and raised on the west side of Chicago, this young man does not produce your typical west side, church-raised tunes. Drawing inspirations from MJ to Coldplay and JT to John Williams, Ethan describes himself as a "center city artist." This may be due to his frustrations of trying to develop an answer to the daunting question "describe your sound”, but I have come to find it an accurate description of his music. While layering a light undertone of jazz with acoustic pop, Ethan intertwines different genres to give you a diverse listening experience. But instead of coming across as a "lost" artist, Ethan skillfully incorporates a variety of styles while maintaining a sound that is distinctly "Ethan Butler."
"But that's just his music. What about his writing?"
Glad you asked.
His writing style is fresh, unique, and personal. From his heartfelt stories about his failures with the ladies, to self disclosure of his struggle with life's tough questions, Ethan shows you his heart. For a guy who was homeschooled his whole life, rollerbladed on the front sidewalk, and is unaccustomed to listening to the radio, Ethan sheds light on his life in such a way that will make you feel as if he is sharing parts of your story. Ethan is not out to make a radio hit (though a radio hit would not hurt) but rather, to make a song that hits the soul of his listeners. He relates to others by weaving his story in with the life experiences of those around him so that all ages go where he has gone, feel what he has felt, and maybe even believe what he believes.
So the moment has now come. Are you going to jump into these sonorous waters or stand at the edge, forever wondering, "what if?"
As Aladdin once posed the question,
"Do you trust me? Then jump!"