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Interview with
ETHAN JEWELL

(13th November 2021)

Interview by Dave Bruce

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A hauntingly beautiful and iridescent soundtrack of pain, anguish, fear, and longing is the backbone of Dallas based poet and indie artist Ethan Jewell’s upcoming record, “loneliness in the presence of company”. The highly anticipated album follows recently released single “something to live for” which garnered support from Indie Top 39, A1234, Quadio and more.

With the support of over 780 thousand dedicated TikTok followers and 21 million likes to date, fans and industry professionals alike are buzzing about the upcoming project. Acknowledging loneliness in its most vulnerable form, this record depicts Jewell’s journey through the ups and downs of mental illness and finding solace in the warmth and comfort of self acceptance.

Here’s what Ethan had to say about the record:

“Loneliness is oddly comfortable. Once you get used to it, it can become difficult to be around people. It slowly consumes you. I hope others who struggle with loneliness will find peace within this album, and understand that just because they’re feeling lonely doesn’t mean that they’re alone”.

Along with the upcoming record, Jewell is preparing to embark on his first ever run of shows; The Lonely Together Tour (with support from indie folk artist Mae Krell).

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Have you always wanted to be a musician? When did you get the song writing bug?
I’ve played piano for 13 years, but I never really considered making music until winter of 2019. I started writing in 2018 after my grandpa’s death, and used writing as a way to process what I was feeling.

How would you describe your sound? Why do you think people resonate with your music?
I would describe my sound as ‘musical poetry’. I think people resonate with my music because it’s raw, genuine, and talks about topics many people are afraid to talk about. It unapologetically dives into the darkest parts of mental illness.

Which artist’s music and/or performance, past or present, inspires you today?
Hobo Johnson has definitely been a huge inspiration of mine ever since I started creating. He’s one of the biggest spoken word artists out there, and his unique style pushes me to form my own unique sound.

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Your new album ‘“loneliness in the presence of company” is released/! Describe its origin and evolution.
“loneliness in the presence of company” was born during an incredibly lonely period of my life. I lost a majority of my friends over the past years and saw myself slowly being replaced in many people’s lives. Over the course of the last 11 months, I began turning this loneliness into music and art. “loneliness in the presence of company” explores all forms of loneliness – from breakups, to lost friends, to raw isolation. It is a beautiful and raw expression of what it means to be truly alone.

Any tours or events coming up soon? What are you looking forward to, and what can the fans expect?
I’m going on tour in January of 2022! The “Lonely Together Tour” is my first ever tour experience, and I am so excited about it. I’m most looking forward to being in a room with people who feel the same things I feel, and to be able to deeply connect with them emotionally. Fans can expect to hear all of my best musical poetry performed live, and can expect to cry to it! I know I will be crying.

How has COVID affected you to date? What have you introduced to balance the losses from missed events?
COVID added to the loneliness that I’ve felt in the past year, which inspired “loneliness in the presence of company”. It was more of a heavy social loneliness. An inability to go to a coffee shop and be in the presence of others. Fewer people on the streets. It created an odd feeling of isolation. I’ve started to be okay with that loneliness. I’ll go on walks by myself and enjoy it.

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If you could perform with any music artist, Alive or Dead, who would you choose? And why?
I would perform with Hobo Johnson. I’ve seen videos from his shows, and his performances are incredibly raw and emotional. That’s a big part of music to me, so it’s inspiring to see that live!

Do you have any long-term aspirations as a music artist?
I hope to help people feel their feelings and to help them feel understood. When someone is struggling with mental health, they often need someone to tell them they’re not alone, and I want to be that person.

What’s been the career highlight so far?
Early last year, I received a DM from a fan who told me my music saved their life. They described how they were planning to leave this Earth, but then discovered some of my music, and realized that they weren’t alone. For the first time ever, they felt understood. This was incredibly powerful to read, and I think about it almost every day.

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Finally, a few questions for some quick answers –
FAVOURITE:
Album – Zombie Boy – Scruffpuppie
Artist – Flatsound
Movie – Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire
Place to visit – Colorado
Venue to play – I’ll find out on tour!!
Food – Any variety of pasta
Drink – Sprite Cranberry
Person in History – Beethoven!
Tattoo – The only one I have – a flower on my chest in honor of my song, Bouquet!

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Follow ETHAN JEWELL

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LONELY TOGETHER TOUR

12/03 Madison, WI @ Der Rathskeller
01/04 Minneapolis, MN @ Amsterdam Bar and Hall
01/05 Milwaukee, WI @ X-Ray Arcade
01/06 Chicago, IL @ TBD
01/07 Nashville, TN @ Glen Campbell Museum (Rhinestone Stage)
01/09 Dallas, TX @ Amplified Live
01/10 Austin, TX @ TBD
01/11 Houston, TX @ Super Happy Funland
01/13 Richmond, VA @ The Camel
01/14 Buffalo, NY @ TBD
01/15 Toronto, Canada @ TBD
01/17 Boston, MA @ O’Briens Pub
01/18 Philadelphia, PA @ Philamoca
01/20 Burlington, VT @ TBD
01/21 Portland, ME @ TBD
01/23 New York City, NY @ Mercury Lounge

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AMNPLIFY – DB