Ethereal: /iˈTHi(ə)rēəl/: Characterized by lightness and insubstantiality; intangible. Of the celestial spheres; heavenly; not of this world; spiritual.

 

It’s no surprise how the musical wonder Ethereal, got his name. His tracks penetrate deep into inner recesses that only the most impassioned musicians are able to touch; transporting listeners through both an experience and a journey. Devoted fans already know that something deliciously wicked is coming soon and are eagerly waiting for him to drop his latest gem, Abstractica.

Art Nouveau got the opportunity to catch up with the man via Skype and here is what he had to say about his personal journey, the things that inspire him and other-wordly artist musings:

Art Nouveau: First, I love the word Ethereal. How does the name Ethereal reflect your music or who you are as an artist?

Ethereal: I used to skim the dictionary for powerful words and I came across Ethereal. And I know that I heard it a couple of times before and I read the definition and the definition is like something out of this world, something from the heavens, something that is not from this planet. I was like that’s the perfect definition. That’s what I want my music to be at the end of the day, some shit that nobody else is really doing. Yeah, I just picked that and stuck with it. People kind of mispronounce it, it’s cool though. I actually like that. A lot of people call me E- The Real, it’s pronounced (ee-thee-real). It’s got so many connotations; it’s kind of cool that it’s [like] mysterious I guess. I dig it.

Art Nouveau: How do you describe your sound and when did you first start making beats?

Ethereal: How I would describe my sound—really, I’m real open about everything. I feel like music is music. A lot of people get caught up in not liking stuff when they shouldn’t. It’s not a matter of not liking it or not enjoying it, it’s just not for you. I make everything. I make hip-hop, I make electronica, I make drum and bass. I’m getting into dub step ‘cause that’s blowing up down here, finally. I’ve been in side projects, indie projects like rock bands and stuff like that. I just really enjoy all mediums of music.
I had always been in music class in school and shit like that. Music has been in my family’s blood. My dad was a songwriter. I took a liking to it and when I turned eighteen, about a couple of months before that I got kicked out of high school over some silly stuff and I was at home and was like, man I need to find something to do. I just can’t be rotting. So, I picked up music and started to take it seriously. Around April 26, 2009, my mother passes of breast cancer and that really sort of made me… kinda kick something in my head like, yo’ you need to get your shit together. That’s when I really, really started hustling, going out to shows and events like, just on the blogs and the forums, and shit like that.

Art Nouveau: Who would you say influenced your musical style?

Ethereal: Aw man, it’s so many. It’s a long list. It’s hard to narrow it down because everybody that I really consider an influence is like a big impact in my life because when I was going through certain things, like I’m really the kind of person, depending on my emotions I’ll listen to that certain type of music to get me out of it or to help me harness it. If you’re ever sad and you sit and listen to like some real sad music and it’s kinda like, I need this right now.

Some of my influences are… it’s all over the scale. Flying Lotus, is probably my big influence. That dude’s a genius, more than anybody understands. MF Doom is my second biggest influence because I really picked up rapping and producing from him because he released some beat tapes with all of, most of his beats that he’s made and they were just so sick. I was like man, I really need to learn how to do that. He really pushed me to get into the music game. I like his persona, his whole character. On the hip-hop side of things, I got crazy random influences like Three 6 Mafia, I used to bump that all the time. That’s where my biggest hip-hop influence comes from. Yung Dro, Gucci, Souls of Mischief, Pharcyde, west coast rap, Mac Dre. Anything that I listen to and I just like, aw man that I feel like I can take something out of it, I would consider an influence. So, I can’t hold you up ‘cause I got a big ass list of people! I’m easily influenced in music by anything.

Art Nouveau: Can you tell me a little bit more about your recent work, Abstractica?

Ethereal: Abstractica was an idea that came to me last year in the summer and some of the songs were older ideas. A lot of them got scrapped due to new feelings and new surroundings and growing up from the time I started the album to now. A lot of things have changed. I’ve been putting a lot of work into it. I really can’t wait for everybody to hear it. It’s kinda like this is my one chance to breakout and actually show the world, Oh, what the fuck, where’s this dude been at? How come nobody’s found him yet? His music is off the chain.

Art Nouveau: I can’t wait to hear it. I hope Art Nouveau can get and advanced copy.

Ethereal: Oh definitely, I’m actually still mixing the album right now even though it’s supposed to be out in eight days. It makes it more from the heart. You guys can definitely get an advanced copy. I’ve been working super hard on it and I got a lot of my good friends that we’ve been trying to make it, well, I hate that term, not trying to make it, but we’ve been pushing ourselves out there. And with this album I tried to not only take care of myself, but take care of my associates who I mess with as well because they all make great music. And I don’t want to come up and be affiliated with people in the music game that I don’t fuck with because that’s not the kind of person that I am. I really don’t see myself working with a lot of people from the music industry at all. I keep it close knit. That’s why I took care of my family and got Lazy Mane and Kosherbeets, Cheek Charles, Micah Freeman, those are my two boys right there. I got Opio, of Souls of Mischief. It’s an all-star line-up. It’s gonna be real, real dope. I’m super excited to let the world hear it.

Art Nouveau: Cool. So, I noticed on your site you have some other work that’s posted that is available for free download. Is Abstractica going to be released as a free download as well or will it be available for purchase?

Ethereal: Abstractica is gonna be free, definitely. At this point in time in my life, a lot of people don’t like to hear me say this, but as far as this music shit goes, it’s not my primary source of income. Because that’s how people get jammed up, trying to make a job out of it. So, I know that the time will come when I’m gonna get money. So I have other hustles for that and shows that take care of that kind of stuff. As for the music, I’m still getting out there. So, I would much rather, for my fans and new listeners, download the album for free.

Pretty much, I’ve always kept my music free. I never really sold anything. I even never sold a beat before. I feel like it’s gonna be like that for a minute just because I really enjoy, it’s more initiative, free music. In all honesty I can find other ways to get what I need instead of trying to hustle for album sales. The album will be free. I’m actually working with my manager and a couple of other of my creative directors right now. We’re trying to get hard copies pressed up. Where, say if somebody goes onto Bandcamp and they purchase a hard copy for $7.00 or so, they would get a hardcopy of the CD, and some real dope concept art that was done by me. I’m gonna have some art from Matt Martians from the Super 3, hopefully. Centel of Awfully Creative—they just did a video for me. Their stuff is real dope. But I really can’t wait for people, if they want to, when they order that they get that in the mail, they get all this dope shit.

Art Nouveau: Most creative people have multiple interests in the arts and are multi-talented; do you have any other artistic talents or interests besides music?

Ethereal: I’ve always been interested in anything right brain. So, I’m into music. I’m really into art. If I hadn’t gone to school for music it would’ve been for graphic design. It’s one of my passions. Both of my sisters are graphic designers, so it kinda trickled down the family line. I picked up some drawing skill and what not. I’m actually really into astronomy. I know that’s not really considered art but, I feel like I hadn’t become a musician I probably would’ve gone to school for astronomy cause that’s just something that really, really interests me. But, I do all my own art for the most part, unless said so otherwise. I enjoy anything that is freedom of speech.

Art Nouveau: What drives and motivates you as an artist to do what you do?

Ethereal: There are three things: the first one would be my mother. She really, that situation really inspired
me to push forward because she left this earth, she left me with a lot of common sense. She gave
me a lot of knowledge. And I feel like if I don’t put that forward in whatever I’m doing, it’s a waste. So I really, I’m really driven by that. That’s kind of what wakes me up every morning, like ‘Obie, yo hit these promoters back, get these photo shoots set up, like get on your shit man. You gotta get this shit cleared out.’

The other reason would be because I’m ADHD as hell, so I don’t ever see myself in a 9-5 situation. I would really enjoy going to school. But as hectic as the last two years of my life have been I just don’t have time for it. But I could definitely see myself going back for music to re-educate myself on things that I may have missed out or going to an art school.

The last, biggest motivation would be my fans. I got some real dope fans and it’s starting to become more apparent everyday. Closer to the album drop I’ve just been getting more and more feedback, more love shown. Downloads for the albums have increase ten-fold in the past week or so as we get close to the album. I just really appreciate [the fans]. When I get off stage I just really appreciate somebody actually coming to me and taking the time to really, tell this guy that his music is dope. When they could just be like, aight—that shit was cool and leave or, go smoke a cigarette and hang out with their friends. But, people will come up to me and they’re like, “Yo man that’s the dopest shit I’ve seen in a long time.” That’s like, I’m a real humble person and when people do that it’s like the most mind- blowing thing that at a live performance, they were actually listening. When people come up to me like, “Yo, I dug what you said,” and they quote a lyric or they’re like, “When you dropped that third song, I don’t know the name of it, when you dropped that was beautiful.” I’m like, man that’s so much attention to detail at a show that you don’t have to pay attention to. So my fans really, really, really keep me going. Waking up everyday to just comments like, “Yo, your music is dope, keep going.” That’s what really drives me.

Art Nouveau: So, how do you see yourself evolving as an artist 5 years or so from now?

Ethereal: Oh man, five years from now that guy is gonna be ridiculous. I’m so excited to meet him. Things have been somewhat a struggle for the past couple of years in my whole journey. So, when I do get my props and all of that and my financial situation is straight most of my money is gonna go to music equipment and weed anyway, so that’s just gonna turn me into a monster. I can’t wait. I can’t wait to see me a year from now, even when I just got a better MAC, something simple like that. Little characteristics or variables like that are gonna boost me to the next level. So, I’m super excited.

Art Nouveau: Can you think of one song that inspires you or one particular thing that you go to for inspiration?

Ethereal: By me, I would have to say there’s a track that I made for my mom called Glenda. It’s a Vince Guaraldi sample, you know the Charlie Brown Christmas song, I sampled that. It’s a real big song. Everybody loved it. Whenever I listen to that, that rally puts me in the mood to keep going because that’s the last song that my mom heard. She really enjoyed it, so, that’s kind of a refreshing thing to have in my mind. I listen to that. I keep it going. As far as anybody else, just like a musician, there’s this band called Phish. They’re like an indie jam-band, it’s what they’re classified as. They actually, probably the most talented, most well thought-out, most genius band on the planet. I could go on about them for hours. Their music is real dope and they helped me through a real emotional time in my life. So, any song by them will just change my mood. But there’s a particular song called Reba, and it’s like nine minutes long. And a lot of people won’t get it. It’s pretty weird. It has to do with a lot of music theory. So it’s kind of like thinking music. But there’s certain parts, 5 minutes into the song and on, it’s just like a really, really serene but really intense solo. Everybody is soloing, which is the cool thing—the guitarist, the bassist, the pianist, the drummer, they’re all off doing their own thing but they’re keeping it so together. And whenever I listen to that song it’s like there’s nothing in the world that could make me feel more like, fuck yeah I can do anything right now. I would have to say that would be my biggest inspiration.

Art Nouveau: What words of encouragement and advice would you give to other young artists?

Ethereal: Where to start? First of all, don’t stop. If you are sure that this is what you want to do and it’s not just a fad, you’re not just using it to get girls and shit like that… if this is truly what you want to do at the end of the day, it’s not gonna get you a ton of money in the beginning. That’s where a lot of people fuck up. They see all these overnight celebrities because of the internet, which is a cool thing but a lot of people expect things just to happen. And you take a look at people like me that, no flex or anything like that, but you know I’ve been working for like three years now. I’ve been producing the same dope music but I’m just now starting to get the buzz that I need. So, my biggest thing is to take your time and try and find yourself. Because if you find yourself, and you’re so out in your own lane, you will probably be more inclined to get on faster than doing the same normal shit that everyone else is doing every other night at the parties and shit like that. And you gotta take your time man, this shit definitely doesn’t come fast at all. I actually, a lot of my homies, my good homies, that just got into the music game, I had to sit them down and talk to them about the same thing. It seems like everything starts to pick-up but it’s weird with music, things can be, you can be doing good then shit can just stop. And it doesn’t have to have anything to do with music. It can be like a situation in your life, so you really just gotta like buckle in and be ready for an experience and just take your time. Nothing that’s really, really, really good for you or is gonna be really great comes overnight or comes into fruition in a short period of time. So, that’s really my main thing. Just keep your head up and stay on it, no matter [what]. It may seem like it’s being dragged out, you gotta keep going and keep working at it.

Art Nouveau: What can we expect for your upcoming release party at Masquerade?

Ethereal: We’re getting that squared out right now. It’s actually turning out to be a super-dope night. We’re gonna have Ritz, my Slumerican label mate out there. Speakerfoxxx, first lady of Slumerican and DJ Dibiase, who’s hosting the album. They’re gonna be spinning. I got my boy Hal Williams coming out there. He’s got a couple of tracks on the album that he executive produced. I got Keith Charles, Spacebar is gonna be doing a couple of songs. Lazy and Kosher will be doing a couple of songs. Hopefully, depending on what Yela’s schedule looks like, I’m gonna try to get him to make a guest appearance and maybe do a song or two. I think that’ll really set the night off. But, as for right now everything is just looking super-super dope. And that night I really, really want people to pay attention to my set because that’s where I’m headed for my career. Doing hip-hop shows is real dope, but there’s something about rapping at people on stage, it’s gotta be deeper than that, you know. So, I’m getting ready for this new thing that I’m getting into, like 45 minute long instrumental sets. There’ll probably be some kind of hip-hop, some kind of lyricism, but for the most part it’ll be instrumental and it’s all just continuous, just a journey. And if people really pay attention to it then they will pick up on my music prowess. Like aw, this dude is nothing to play with, like he’s pretty serious. I’m just excited for that. I’m excited for everybody to see what I’ve been doing and for everybody to finally come to the realization that I’m about to take over.

Tonight in Atlanta, Ethereal releases his latest album ‘Abstractica’ and is bringing along his friends Hal Williams (Odd Future), KeithCharles, Rittz & Tuki Carter (Hollyweerd). Click here for more info.

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