We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ethan Walker Chase Pittman. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ethan Walker below.

Alright, Ethan Walker thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you tell us about a time that your work has been misunderstood? Why do you think it happened and did any interesting insights emerge from the experience?

Misunderstanding is an issue we tackle everyday. Whether it’s a misconception of what we do, or our expertise – we often have to explain ourselves. Starting a creative collective in the city as artists ourselves, people often have their own understanding of what that means – but we tend to do things a little differently.

We started our company in our early 20s, and sometimes the older generation sees that as a red flag. The way we see it, art and expression has no age and is done best with an element of surprise. We work with a wide diversity of artists, genres, and mediums – and use our expertise to do it well every time.

At Canopy we often push boundaries and explore new ideas that may not resonate with mainstream audiences. Embracing our vision and maintaining authenticity is crucial. But as a new, young and independent platform, creating art that reflects your true self rather than conforming to external expectations can be difficult, but equally exciting. As a duo we have been working on turning criticism into inspiration, and allowing misunderstandings to motivate us to create even bolder work. This can lead to innovative projects that challenge conventions further.

Unfortunately, when there’s a new idea comes to fruition that people don’t understand, they make their own assumptions about it. We take pride in proving them wrong and introducing a new way of doing things.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Our names are Ethan Walker (@ethanrhyswalker) and Chase Pittman (@helloashtonchase). We started Canopy years after we met in our College BFA Acting program. We quickly discovered we both had a passion for the arts – particularly film and music. Writing, recording, and performing music was an individual hobby we shared, and soon became the foundation of our friendship and professional work together.

Canopy was established to give artists like ourselves a platform and opportunity to showcase their work and talent. Once we moved to Brooklyn, we recognized the need for a revitalized underground music scene. People were dying to go to a house show and discover a new artist, listen to some grungy music they’d never heard before, and share an experience with music lovers just like them. On the other hand, small independent artists are being overlooked due to heavy saturation in the industry – and great music was going unheard.

At Canopy, we want you to discover your taste. “Connecting the dots” is what we pride ourselves most on at Canopy. Our taste transcends genre or style – we love art for art, regardless of what it is. Because of this, we can curate a specific and unique vibe and atmosphere that goes beyond the norm of what’s readily available in the industry.

We hope you can find a new artist that you love, join their community early in their journey, and learn something about yourself in the process. We find power in connecting an artist to their audience, and shining a light on the artists that are too often caught in the shadows.

This was the beginning of Canopy. We threw our first house show in the Spring of 2023 as a market tester, and it was a huge success. 5 acts, 25 minute sets, 5 genres, 150 guests, 1 Bushwick Basement. Everyone that attended that show has attended at least one other, most sharing the sentiment that Canopy is keeping the underground music scene alive in Brooklyn.

Our platform empowers independent artists by overseeing strategic direction, managing partnerships, organizing live events, ensuring financial health, fostering community engagement, and promoting artistic innovation. We cultivate a supportive environment, drive brand vision, and enhance the platform’s visibility and impact in the creative community.

Our first year wrapped with 7 concerts spanning all genres of music, 3 comedy shows, 1 food drive, and many other parties/networking socials. We’ve sold hundreds of tickets in our first year and are looking forward to collaborating with new artists of all mediums, expanding our community and maintaining a steady pulse of the Brooklyn/New York Underground.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Be generous with your time, keep an open mind, and SHOW UP. Unique, groundbreaking work is being created everyday – often in the places where you’d least expect it. Molds are being broken, genres are being morphed, the foundation of art and entertainment is alive and well, all you have to do is look.

But between streaming and social media, attention spans are declining, and hundreds of thousands of artists are competing for 15 to 30 seconds of your time. More often than not, if a project doesn’t grip you in the first 5 seconds, an audience member won’t stick around to find out what it is. In the age of content, an artist has to be decisive and succinct – the problem is, art doesn’t always call for that.

But here’s the thing – IT’S NOT YOUR FAULT. Labels, DSPs, and algorithms are making it harder and harder for a fan to discover somebody new unless they’re connected to the larger machine. We want to change that, and be a platform you can trust to find a new personal favorite.

If you keep an open mind about what the art is, where it’s coming from, what it means to you – and allow yourself the time to explore it – you’ll discover new incredible art that feels personal to you and maybe learn more about who you are and what you like in the process.

But the best way to truly connect to a piece of art, is to show up, in person, and let it take you. If you fully want to support an artist/creative – it can’t all happen from behind a screen. Art is about connection and discovery, and there’s nothing more powerful than feeling a bass drum in your chest, or seeing the precision and care of each brushstroke in a masterpiece.

Those feelings aren’t attainable with the barrier of a screen between you. Pop out, show up, be present with the art and the artist and it can change both of your lives.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

A book that has significantly impacted both our personal and entrepreneurial thinking is Miguel Ruiz’s “The Four Agreements”. The principles—being impeccable with your word, not taking things personally, not making assumptions, and always doing your best—promote open communication, resilience, and a positive culture. These agreements establish trust and collaboration, essential for empowering independent artists and building a thriving creative community. Whenever we fall off the horse or feel we are in moments of strife as a unit, this can typically be tracked back to one of Ruiz’s four agreements.

-Be Impeccable with Your Word: This principle emphasizes the importance of honesty and integrity in communication. By fostering a culture of transparency, artists feel valued and respected, which builds trust within the community. Clear, supportive communication encourages collaboration and creativity, empowering artists to express themselves freely. Additionally we work with many local venues – this principle keeps us in good faith as we expand our territory and operate at a higher scale.

Don’t Take Anything Personally: This agreement promotes resilience in creative fields, feedback is common, and not all reactions will be positive. Encouraging artists to view critiques objectively helps them grow without fear of personal attack. This mindset creates a supportive environment where artists can experiment and take risks without judgement. Things in our field change on the drop of a dime and rejection without explanation is a common theme. Following this principle has definitely played a massive role in thickening both of our skins.

Don’t Make Assumptions: This principle encourages open dialogue and understanding. By fostering an environment where questions are welcomed and clarity is prioritized, misunderstandings can be minimized. This openness allows artists to collaborate more effectively and connect with their peers, enhancing community bonds.

Always Do Your Best: This encourages a growth mindset. By promoting the idea that everyone’s best will vary depending on circumstances, artists are inspired to strive for excellence without the fear of failure. This philosophy nurtures creativity and innovation, contributing to a vibrant, dynamic community where everyone feels empowered to contribute their unique talents.
This principle frequently comes into play during our curation process, as we constantly push each other to outdo ourselves with each event – while also doing the artist justice and curating an atmosphere specific to their creative vision and values.

Together, these agreements create a safe environment that empowers artists, strengthens community ties, and fosters a culture of creativity and collaboration.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @canopy.prod
• Other: Booking: [email protected]

  TikTok: @canopy.production

Image Credits

Ethan Walker
Allysa Harris
Jose Castillo