We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ethan Salter a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Ethan, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
Everything about music is like taking a risk, you gotta just go out and take it. Every step of my journey as an artist and a musician has been about taking risks, an unwavering faith in my potential as an artist. It all started back in middle school when I was first introduced to my local choir program. The only reason I joined was because my older brother was in the program, and everyone always said you got to “talk to lot’s of girls” (haha).
Up until this point in life, I honestly kind of hated music. I never understood it, I didn’t even like the sound of it on the radio. I could only tolerate classical music on occasions. And soon after joining choir, I quickly learned that I couldn’t sing, or dance – – what a surprise! I had hours and hours ahead of me of faith and constant practice. But one thing that was with me from the get-go was my enthusiasm and passion to entertain. I quickly gained many awards in the local choir community for my showmanship, but always lacked in my confidence as a singer – a belief I’ve struggled with for a long time. I often joke around about this, but the truth is, I was basically tone-deaf when I first took on singing. And it was a real risk every time I went up in front of my class to audition for a solo. But over the years through many failures -and some successes- I slowly began to develop a voice unique to my own.
And at the end of the day, it should really be about finding a voice unique to your own. I’ve took all I learned about believing in myself and risk-taking from my days in school to my early adult life to pursue music unconditionally. I’ve made new friends, found new musical inspirations, and tested my limits as an artist and as a person on a daily basis. Self-doubt and insecurity of course rears its ugly head every once in a while, but I keep pushing forward, one tiny step after the other. I have made some crazy connections that I never thought would be possible even just a year ago, and am only looking forward to what the future holds ahead. It is a long and narrow road, but with a spirit of adventure, and an open heart, risk quickly becomes opportunity.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Being a showman and performer, there is nothing I like to do better. Fans are sure to find a spectacle at every one of my shows, as my outlandish energy on stage can be pretty entertaining, at least according to the response I get from my audiences. I like to bring a range of emotion to my performances, from moments of heartfelt intimacy to electric charisma in moments of high energy and enthusiasm.
At the fresh age of 21, I have built an already sizable catalog of performances at several world-renowned venues. This includes backing Barry Manilow at The Kia Forum in Los Angeles, CA in 2017 as a part of a vocal choral ensemble. I did this once again two years later for Barry Manilow, accompanied by the Los Angeles Philharmonic, at Hollywood Bowl. I’ve also performed on the stage of Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry; and, I recently performed with Tristen Gressett, American Idol 2022 Top Finalist, at the Hotel Cafe in Hollywood, this time performing my own solo works.
I’ve been told that my voice is a mix of angelic falsettos, soulful baritone and gritty howls. Gleaning influence from Jim Morrison of The Doors, Elvis Presley, Jeff Buckley, Jack Johnson, Bon Iver, and much more, my earlier music has been described as 90s nostalgia, rock-Hosier, with folk and alternative-rock styles blended together. I seem to be falling into a more experimental pop direction going forward…
As a “hopeless romantic,” with romantic dramas being one of my favorite film genres, I take much of my songwriting inspiration and essence from the swooning love songs of the American 1950s. I believe that music and art is a form of emotional expression and appreciation of beauty, which I find very little outlets for in today’s current culture. I enjoy partnering with other singer-songwriters to riff off each other, most notably Jakob Nowell, son of late-Sublime lead singer, Bradley Nowell.
Above all else, I seek to inspire others through a message of relatability and overcoming hardship and struggle in times of desperation and pain – honest, passionate, and always looking upwards, through my songwriting and art. As a young kid, I often found myself feeling at odds with my peers, out-of-touch or, too eccentric. While growing-up, I spent a lot of my time pursuing various niche hobbies liking building 3D-printers, collecting antique American coins, studying military history, melting metal in my backyard with my own hand-built foundry, or restoring my 1973 VW Super Beetle; the latter made its star appearance in my latest single’s “Inside Out” music video! The song is currently my top performing track, gaining some traction in Indonesia as well as radio play over in the UK. Always one with an entrepreneurial spirit, I pay the bills as a handyman, faux painter, set-lighting rigger, business owner, and much more, all in an effort to make ends meet while I grow my music career … I’m a man of many trades and, ambitious in pursuit of my goals.
Currently living in LA County, I spend a lot of time performing locally in Long Beach and Orange County, California. I am currently working with legendary alternative producer Jon Joseph (Børns) in San Pedro and LA artist Cali Slum to bring my works to life. My first EP is soon to be released in February!
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
You know, all I want is really to inspire others through a message of relatability and overcoming personal hardship in times of sorrow or pain- whether it’s through adverse experiences I had growing up, or an internal strife that I can feel at times, I look to art to transmute my struggles into something with even a tiny glint of hope. Music is a medicine really. Medicine for a wounded soul. And I do believe every scar fades with a bit of time and a tune to keep the world at bay. I also am deeply inspired by the beauty of the natural world around me and often the divine aspects of feminine beauty. Frequently awestruck by God’s creation, I look to praise it all in my songs. I hold a bit of a romantic streak at heart.
Observant of the fresh and newly growing LA underground and alternative scene that is evolving, I plan to turn the city upside-down in the coming years with new flavors of rock, folk, pop, in an effort to create something revolutionary.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist, for me, is getting to see someone else benefit from the thing that I created. To see someone’s perspective shift, mood lifted, connect with an old or different part of themselves, or even inspired to take on their own internal conflicts. I have yet to experience deeper satisfaction than to be able to witness another human being tell me that a song that I wrote helped them gain closure, or at least move beyond a specific struggle in their life. That even in my deepest heartbreak and sadness, I was inevitably able to connect with someone else.
And it gives some real meaning and purpose to all I’ve experienced or suffered. Because everything that has happened to us, and every action we have taken, makes us who we are today. And often times for the better. Yet rarely do we realize that when we’re going through the difficult times. And it’s through moments of sharing my music and stories with another, that I realize I’m not alone. Being a creative is about connection. And bringing people home.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/altsalt
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salterofficial/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ethansaltermusic/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@salterofficial?si=_z49910rhhLi8VUE
- Other: “Inside Out” Music Video: https://youtu.be/9V7m0w9y9gg?si=PYaS-K8cfMRldrwj Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5cWh49nbQZ6MF25QmGj1AK?si=H555h-IuQe2qaFYHGG1qeA Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/ethan-salter/1659745528 Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@salterofficial?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
Image Credits
Black and White Images: Fabian Fioto Live Show Images: Richard Kroening Beachy/Mask Images: Rachel Briggs