ECHO US - Interview with Ethan - Miscellaneous - http://maxpages.com/aeazine2/ECHO

Before you started Echo Us you were in a progressive rock band called Greyhaven. When did Greyhaven get together and what was the lineup? How much material did you write for them?
Greyhaven went through three basic lineups but it only involved one member coming or going. Nate Howard was the original guitarist. He left shortly before the first album was released. At that point I took over more guitar duties, a second album was over halfway done writing and we eventually got a stand-in keyboardist for the live dates we played in 2000. If I am now remembering correctly I wrote around 75-80% of the music and some of the lyrics/melodies. Brian Francis (vocalist) and Nate also wrote a lot of lyrics and vocal melodies and Nate wrote two songs on the debut. Nick Cipriano, our drummer also handled engineering duties. Nick has since become a full time engineer at a Manhattan studio while Brian and I reside in Portland, OR. All in all two albums worth of music was written but only one album was released.

Describe Greyhaven's self-titled CD from 2000. Was its release received well by the press? For what reasons did it take so long for the band to record their debut CD?
It actually didn't take that long to record the album (although it took very long to mix/master!). What took much longer was contractual things and preparation for the release with Angular (the label). Also, it is worth mentioning that during much of the time the members of Greyhaven were far apart geographically which can make things take longer in general. It is actually quite amazing what we were able to do (getting together, recording, rehearsing and playing live) while often times at such a distance and not a lot of resources to throw around. Honestly though at this point I don't remember this stuff so accurately!

Would you say Greyhaven helped bring progressive rock back to the metal underground when the band released their self-titled CD? If so, how significant was their role in doing this?
I think we were part of a good resurgence of progressive rock/metal in the late 90's and early 2000's, but far from being any kind of leader because we were never promoted properly. It would be nice to think that good music could stand on it's own but without real promotion it never gets far from the word of mouth stage which is small. I think we offered something a bit different as well from what the rest of the scene was at the time. Angular was a small label with not as many resources as the bigger prog-rock labels so for a band to do something like what we did and have it basically spread word of mouth was interesting. I don't see this sort of thing happening as much in the indie/niche market world these days, although I could be a little off base because I've not been as directly involved with the metal scene of late. With electronic music things have to be hyped and promoted to survive and have any sort of lasting impact.

Have more progressive rock acts emerged in Boston, MA since Greyhaven started bringing about a return of the style? Any of them worth checking out?
I don't know because I don't live there anymore. At the time the only groups I really knew of were few and far between. It's worth noting though that the Northeast US has typically had a better roundup of prog acts over the years (at least I saw more shows out there and a lot of smaller bands are from the area). Boston itself though was a very difficult city as far as the live shows go. When I was there there were only a handful of clubs within the city and they used to roundup bands by the dozens (and none prog or metal!), get them in and out because there was really not enough time or space for so many bands (we're talking 6-7 regular clubs in a city of 600,000). Echo Us participated in the Boston scene more than Greyhaven actually, but for a limited time. I doubt GH could have gotten regular gigs inside Boston.

At what point did you decide to depart from Greyhaven and start Echo Us? Describe how this project began and other band members you were working with in the beginning.
Echo Us was a name I came up with before Greyhaven's album was released. For a small period of time we were thinking about renaming Greyhaven to Echo Us but this did not work out so much business wise. So, I sort of kept the name in the back of my head until late 2000. Echo Us started as a song-writing partnership. After quickly doing a couple of demos we got a drummer (actually went through 2 drummers) and a bassist. The band mostly gigged around Boston and the music was much less complex than say, Greyhaven. It was nearly pure synthpop with some industrial elements here and there. We had some really strong musicians but overall things were a little misguided for me personally once the band situation surfaced. I had an idea of where I wanted the music to go after doing the first 2 demos and playing live, but it was a new and more broad creative direction that ultimately did not sit well with everyone. Also, there was this sense (with the band) that I was in accordance with this big vision and I had a duty to my role in that vision. And I didn't want it. Also, I was coming off of other disappointments to compound the situation further. So after consulting with a few people over the late summer of '01 I started to not care at all for the first time. I had to release myself somehow from the grip of these people and all the situations. So I did it. My life was fast back then. Things are much more slow and drawn out now. Things are comfortable and I don't feel so much pressure to do commercial music so I can get gigs or fit in or what have you. I go back and forth on things but one thing that seems really stupid for me to hold myself to formula, like pop song form and such. It's ridiculous. It's safe to say I'm not a big fan of "music industry" culture! But, I care greatly about music and trying to spread around something different!

At what point did Echo Us become a solo project? What was the reason you wanted to write and record without other musicians? Do you still keep in touch with your ex-members today?
First off, I have kept in touch with Kai Kurasawa at times and did even see him recently here in Portland as he's been playing with a band called Collide. The others I am not sure because I don't have much connection to the East Coast anymore. Echo Us moved to just me for many many reasons in late 2001. First off, I have pretty weird ideas lyrically and musically and over the past few years I've finally been able to realize that without anyone else's help. That is not to say I get no input or I don't need it. We have listening parties with Brian (Greyhaven vocalist) from time to time and also some musicians I've getting ready to record with soon. Also, I've moved over 6 times in the past few years and am now finally settled in Portland, OR. At least for now. I've also had major personal troubles over the past years since Greyhaven split. I don't really see why it matters if I say it anyhow now but I was involuntarily committed to a mental hospital for a while in late 2001 and have been picking up debris ever since. It makes for nice songs but at a certain point you just get angry that these type of things go on and have effect for so long. There is way worse in the world anyhow! ha-ha. That is another reason I do the vast majority of my work alone. It's been more of a catharsis for me lately if I do it alone. Because I can learn a lot about myself this way and without the constraints that others would put on it in a band situation or other type of personal relationship. I often feel best alone. The first Echo Us album was very personal and I felt I had to make that kind of statement for myself for once. Right now I'm getting ready to do away with the insular approach and get back to recording with some people here in Portland. On another note the core of Greyhaven actually still hangs out a couple times a year when Nick (drummer) comes into town. Also, safe to say no one has any intentions of reforming Greyhaven. I feel very solid that that will never happen as now everyone has a life far far away from what it was years ago.

Echo Us has been compared to progressive rock, Goth, EBM electro, reggae, psychedelic, synthpop and jazz fusion. How would you yourself describe the music you write and record for Echo Us and how many different elements do you bring to your material?
Honestly in putting together the promotional stuff for the first album I have no idea. There are all those elements I think. I've absorbed a wide variety of music over the years and the only way I keep myself interested is by doing new things. I don't really analyze what I do as much anymore because I'm not really attempting to emulate anyone else compositionally. I mean, in terms that most bands and artists seem to be really interested in sounding like their favorite groups. I mean-exactly like their favorite groups! I can't really do this. It's boring! In relation the influences you hear are almost subconscious to me now. I really can't say all these elements really. They are there but they are natural to me I suppose but in years past I've listened to many artists from those genres. I don't listen to music so much lately but when I do it seems to be more often classical.

How much of what you wrote in Greyhaven reflects in what you're doing for Echo Us?
I don't think I'm a good person to ask. Many have already spoken that they don't think it reflects Greyhaven at all which is fine. From a strictly musical perspective there are underlying similar elements here and there. Greyhaven wrote two albums but only the first was released. The second album (which was not released) was vastly different from the first and I think if people heard a few of those songs they'd see the ties a little more clearly. Actually, one track of Greyhaven's has made the second Echo Us album now in production. It's a slight rearrangement to fit my vocal style but it was actually performed live at the Powermad festival and elsewhere by Greyhaven. The only reason is the mood and lyrics fit with the current Echo Us.

How long has your self-titled recording been available at the time of this writing? Discuss the favorable press has the album had received since it came out. How can people reading this interview procure a copy of this album if they're interested in checking out the band?
Officially almost six months it's been out. The press has been very sharply divided which is interesting and quite cool. Definitely the best and worst reviews I've ever seen written about my work! Distribution is light at the time being. Advertising and everything is light right now which is just the way it is. It is notable that the album has been just picked up for distribution in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland by Paengg Distribution in Germany. It's available through quite a few mail orders which are all listed under Links / Distribution at www.absoluteprobability.com . Also the basics like CDBaby and amazon.com and amazon.de.

Your website says "Echo Us" can be downloaded through I-Tunes. Has making your music accessible to Internet surfers in this way helped the band expand their fanbase? Would the band release more of their recordings through I-Tunes if the demand was big enough?
Sure, but to release it on ITunes for a small label like the one I have now you have to release a full length album anyhow. Digital distribution is a nice extra at this time but I still don't see it as the future just yet. Also, Echo Us, as Greyhaven was is more of an "albums" kind of act. If the album disappears completely I'd be very disappointed as an artist. I don't think it will happen any time soon. Although there has been some interesting discussion about where the "niche" markets in music are headed with this new technology. It's to early to tell for me personally. Really I'd rather not think about it!

How many instruments came into play while you wrote, arranged and recorded "Echo Us"? Which of these instruments are you self-taught in and which of them were you educated in?
I'm not self-taught on anything. No one is. Although, to get technical I have no "formal" vocal training. At times I've thought about taking some lessons. But, things are often so busy and my vocals have improved dramatically over the past couple of years just doing it without really practicing anything else but Echo Us songs. Guitar is my "formal" instrument but it recent years I spend more time on production and synthesizer programming than anything else.

Kai Kurasawa, a former member of Echo Us, joined you to record five songs in July 2002. Which songs on the CD does Kurasawa appear on and what instruments does he play?
The only song I ended up keeping his bass tracks on was Who Loves You. Kai and I have since reconciled this and are fine with the outcome. At the time it was not really happening very well because of the situation with Echo Us. Who Loves You came out well though and it's sort of fitting that it was the only arrangement to survive from the originals to what it is today.

Would you work with other ex-members of Echo Us again if you had the opportunity?
Absolutely not!

You wrote three songs; "Directed Study," "In the Fall," and "White Wednesday"; while you were completing your music degree. How did you find the time to compose material as you worked toward getting your degree? Where did you earn your music degree?
Finding time was not so much the issue. More finding the head-space to do it. Actually those three songs were really the turnaround point for me in moving on with the project. I went to a music school on the East Coast known for it's jazz output.

In how many different ways did your music transform from when you started Echo Us as a solo project up to today? Do you expect this transformation to continue in the future?
It's gotten a lot smoother overall. Although lately I'm a little bit not sure what the future will be after the second album is done and hopefully released. In fact the material I'm completing now feels like a sort of apex of a sound I've been going for for years. I've learned boatloads about production as well and my ears are sharper than ever.

You are working on a new conceptual piece called "The Tide Decides" this year. Is this CD going to be in the same vein as "Echo Us" or can we expect something new from you?
This is what I referring to above. It's much more flowing and was written almost within a year. It is not the same. It's very involved and still evolving as it enters different stages of production. I don't think I can ever do two of the same type of albums. The album will have some harp (most likely orchestral not folk) and possibly some strings beyond plucked varieties. Bits of field recording and long electronic arrangements mixed with big melodies and creative vocal production.

When "The Tide Decides" is released, how do you intend to promote it? Will it be promoted as actively as "Echo Us" or will you take the promotion further?
This is the sticking point right now. The promotion will have to be taken much further. The economy is bad. Albums aren't selling as well as they used to and in general the American public doesn't care about the arts. In music I have always felt I am walking the line between pop music and art music and I think and it's time to find some new ways as far as the promotional aspect is concerned. It would be interesting if a bigger label picked up Echo Us and I would welcome it. I am doing what I can but the bottom line is sanity and the music. If I did every last thing I should be doing on the budget I run on I would not sleep. 80 hour weeks are just not for me. Never have been. 70 is my max!

Is there anything else you would like to do with Echo Us in the years to come?
It's an evolving project and I think it's to early to tell. There is a lot of extra material and I have brief moments of clarity about where things should go. I don't really think about all that much at the moment but I'd imagine from the next album on things will be different once again. Just getting about halfway through recording the second album now. I'd like to see what becomes of that before thinking about distant prophecies.

Anything you want to sign off with?
Thanks for having me and thanks to everyone who is checking out Echo Us!

Echo Us c/o Absolute Probability Records; 3033 SW 1st Ave Unit B; Portland, OR 97291 USA
www.echous.net info@echous.net

-DW

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Page Updated Mon Jun 12, 2006 4:30pm EDT