We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ezekiel Wright. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ezekiel below.
Ezekiel, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
By far the most meaningful project I’ve worked on is my debut album, Eastward, releasing to all platforms September 7th. This will be my first full-length album, and is a folk-rock concept album influenced by all I’ve been through in the last three years. Growing up in a small town in Ohio, I always wanted to make albums like my favorite artists had, and through a relocation to Memphis, a painstaking writing process, tedious demo production, and months of late-night studio sessions, this dream has finally become a reality. Eastward reflects a recent time in my life when I felt like the world was collapsing around me, and writing songs about it helped me process my own emotions and navigate an impactful crisis of faith. Eventually, a more cohesive narrative began to emerge from the songs I was writing, and the album developed an elaborate storyline with many layers of meaning. Eastward isn’t just significant to me, though – it’s also a meaningful project to so many dedicated collaborators: my bandmates, my mentors, and especially my amazing team of recording engineers who have worked so hard to turn each demo into a great song. I can’t wait for listeners in both Memphis and Ohio to hear the result of everyone’s hard work, because this album even more a community project than a personal one.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Ezekiel Wright, and I am a recording artist based in Memphis, Tennessee. I play a myriad of instruments, direct bands for Music Box Germantown, and front a local folk-rock band called Ezekiel Wright and the Shades of June. I grew up in a small town near Dayton, Ohio where a life in the music industry was not a viable option, so in 2022, I moved to Memphis to attend University of Memphis for a recording technology degree. Recording studios are my favorite places to be, but my greatest passion lies in songwriting.
One of the things that shocks most people when they meet me is how young I am. I understand that since I’m only twenty years old, I’ve got to regularly prove myself to older industry professionals, and I take every opportunity I can to show my motivation to anyone who will give me a chance. I hold myself to high standards – I wrote, produced, and financed my own EP back in high school, and I plan to release my first studio album this September. I’m a big believer that in an industry like this, the only way to success is to work as hard as you possibly can and to take whatever opportunities come your way.
I haven’t caught a big break or anything yet, but I’ve always got my eye out for opportunities to perform live, whether solo or with my band (the Shades of June). My favorite part of playing live is the intense energy each song contains – my music is full of wild highs and lows. The unique part of this is that it’s done with an indie-folk setup: acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, drums, and mandolin! We make a point to blend elements of various styles such as bluegrass, jazz, gospel, and punk, combining the best elements of each into a one-of-a-kind performance. Since I’m so young, venue hosts tend to be understandably cautious inviting me to perform, and it only makes it more fun to see the looks on their faces when the music starts.
Another unique aspect of my music is its message. Like many other young artists, I try to convey my most authentic self through my songs. However, I hardly ever sing about typical themes like love or happiness, and instead sing about the things that keep me up at night, from existentialism and depression to harmful fantasies and faith in crisis. It took me a long time to realize that others will deal with these issues, too, and so my goal with this music is that anyone listening can relate to these struggles and be inspired.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
Start a CD collection! Since most music today is listened to on streaming apps, artists are making less than ever from their meticulously crafted songs and albums. Because of this, merch and ticket sales have become a majority source of income for many. Buying a physical copy of your favorite artist’s work is one of the best things you can do to show your appreciation for what they do. Vinyl can be really expensive, so I like to collect CDs of all my favorite records, found mainly at live shows and thrift stores. Even if you don’t own a CD player, you can still have the artist sign a CD just to own something with the album art and show your support.
CD collecting is also one of my favorite ways to discover new artists and to fully appreciate their work. Because I own a physical copy, I’m more inclined to listen to it again and again – and in album order, too! You’d be surprised by some of the layers and nuances hidden within your own favorite albums, from old classics to recent hits. In this way, Vinyl and CD purchases not only help local artists, but also help listeners to better enjoy an artist’s product.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
I don’t advertise this within my music, but my songs all contain deep Christian influence. However, I plan to deviate from typical Christian trends. I think God values and respects everyone’s choice on whether to follow him, and so my goal in releasing this music is not to convert listeners to Christianity so much as to present Jesus as a legitimate solution to life’s problems. I mentioned earlier that I try to make music that’s authentic to who I am, and since Jesus was the answer to my problems, I try to help others understand that he can be the answer for anyone’s problems. I try to avoid using the term “Christian” to describe my music, since Jesus is not explicitly mentioned in the songs, and I don’t seek to idealize life as a believer. Instead, I confront the problems that still emerge with or without faith, and since not all Christians like or even approve of my music, most of my fanbase is secular. In the end, though, we’re all living on the same Earth, and this music serves to unite those from all walks of life by calling attention to experiences of pain and grief shared through all humanity.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ezekielwrightmusic.com
- Instagram: @ezekiel.wright_music
- Facebook: Ezekiel Wright
- Youtube: @ezekielwrightmusic
Image Credits
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