Interview with Eth Eonel: Exploring His Musical Journey 🔊 WhatsMusic.de

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Interview with Eth Eonel: Exploring His Musical Journey

written by Eth Eonel and WhatsMusic.de

Exclusive Interview with Eth Eonel: Exploring His Unique Sound and Musical Journey

Eth Eonel, a versatile musician from Norway, was born in 1979 and grew up in a musically rich environment. Initially pursuing a career in archaeology and linguistics, Eth eventually embraced his passion for music, obtaining a Master’s degree in Music Technology and releasing his first solo album at the age of 32. His music, described as alternative pop, blends elements of pop, prog rock, and avant-garde, often incorporating unique meters and syncopation. Eth is particularly proud of his song “Black Eyes,” which reflects a personal childhood experience.

Eth’s music stands out for its originality, a quality that even his wife finds unparalleled. Looking ahead, Eth plans to engage more with social media platforms like Threads, TikTok, and YouTube, and anticipates releasing new music both as a solo artist and with his band, The Sleeper Service. A memorable moment in his career was when a fun, experimental track he created, “An Alice Less in Wonderland,” unexpectedly gained recognition on Norwegian radio.

Eth’s musical journey has been extensive, beginning with early family band experiences and continuing through various projects and bands. His work, known for its diversity and innovation, includes collaborations and a significant output of solo albums and other projects. Looking forward, 2024 promises more releases, concerts, and creative explorations.

Interview with Eth Eonel

Tell us about yourself, who are you and where do you come from?

I am a middle aged man from Norway, born in 1979. I grew up in a very musical environment, and have always made music, even though I pursued completely different careers initially. A certified nerd, I was determined to be an archaeologist and linguist, and it took me years to find out I could educate myself within the arts. At the age of 32, I received my Master’s degree in Music Technology and released my first solo album. Since then, I have really immersed myself in creating music from the heart.

How was your passion for music born? Who are your idols?

I come from a very musical family, where music was always played in the house. I guess also growing up in the 80s, with all the talented musicians making great music: Toto, Level 42, Nik Kershaw, Mr. Mister, Chicago and Münchener Freiheit. I think I draw my inspiration mostly from the pure talent of 80s AOR and fusion, as well as progressive rock and avantgarde music, that I really delved into from the late 90s. I would say I am inspired by these artists, but I’m not a blatant copycat. I enjoy very much to experiment and throw in some crazy elements to stir things up, making my music as unique as I possibly can.

What kind of music do you do?

I call it alternative pop, so it has elements of pop music, but with different instrumentation. I also like odd meters and syncopation, so I use that a lot. It probably stems from my prog rock fascination. And I like to do crazy things in terms of chord progressions, which is a trait I picked up from early 80s Chicago. As a Master of Music Technology, I tend to use a plethora of studio/mixing tricks as well. I usually make everything myself, and writing lyrics is very important to me. I created an artificial language, that some of my songs are sung in, just to make it super weird, I guess.

What is the most important song for you? What message do you want to convey to the listener?

I think my song “Black Eyes” from the album “Another Failure (1989)”, which was released in 2016, is most important to me. It is a very personal account of an incident in my childhood – puppy love and heartache. It was a moment that defined me as a person, I believe. Also, the song is probably the best one I’ve made in terms of composition. It’s very proggy and diverse.

Why should a listener who doesn’t know you listen to your music?

My wife always get a sort of perplexed look on her face when I play her new stuff. Each time she reiterates the statement that she has never heard anything like my music ever before, like if it is its own genre. That’s just how unique it is, and people should always broaden their horizons by listening to new music. I thrive to be authentic, to make music from the heart. I believe this to be very important, especially in this day and age.

What are your future projects? Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?

I have really grown to love the online community of social media, especially on Threads, but I also enjoy making videos for TikTok and YouTube, and I think I will direct my attention more towards these in the future. Not to cater to a “need” and compromise myself, but the engagement these social medias create, inspires me, and the medium fascinates me. So in a way, social media implores me, not to create something differently, but to create MORE. In five years I think I will have released the first album with my band The Sleeper Service, and I believe we will be doing a lot of shows. I’m hoping my music and videos will gain a lot of traction for me as a solo artist as well.

Tell our readers a funny episode that happened in your career as an artist.

One time I made a crazy, silly little song called “An Alice Less in Wonderland”, just for fun, really. I put it up on the pages for unsigned bands on the website of the Norwegian Broadcast Company, and it had very few listeners. A couple of years later I’m on holiday at a cabin with some new friends, and I’m playing them a collection of my songs. The aforementioned song comes on, and within a second of it starting, this one guy jumps up, super excited and screams: “You made this? I’ve heard this song once before!” Apparently, they played it on the radio in a DJ mix of other songs, and as this song came on, this guy had been in his car with some friends, and they had dug this song so much and wondered who made it. A very fun coincidence.

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