Introducing the Californian singer-songwriter Ethan Gold and his new single ‘Not Me. Us’, together with an animated video that is an inspiring call for unity in troubled times.
There are two kinds of artists mostly; those who are poignant and intense on what they claim, and those who can be described as the quiet forces in life. Usually, both of them are good friends who share the same visions and the same demands. Therefore, I can easily imagine Ethan Gold discussing socio-political issues with a mohawk punk who is ready for action, and at the end of their long chat I see them both hugging each other with that glimpse in their eyes “…but if not us, then who?”
Raised in San Francisco during the long extended hangover after hippie times, Ethan Gold is son to Beat author Herbert Gold and Melissa Gold, a collaborator and girlfriend of legendary concert promoter Bill Graham – the two died together in a helicopter crash. A childhood of constant change and chaos may have led Ethan to the unique way he approaches music. Today he lives and dreams songs, writing much music while asleep. In 2013, Gold suffered a serious head injury. After a long recovery, he now credits the temporary dissolution of his cognitive ability with an upgraded inner power, creativity, and clarified mission: in a world that seems more and more combative, bringing sensitive people and quieter things – music and poetry and the living earth – back into their magnificence.
Every person has a story behind, agreed. Every person has the right to speak and make art too, agreed. Every single one of us has a dream and the will to achieve it, right? Now picture again the mohawk with Ethan and you have a clearer picture as they walk away, the one with a limited edition GBH album, and the other with a limited edition John Lennon album. Can you tell with certainty who’s holding GBH and who’s holding Lennon?
Ethan Gold’s music though it seemingly derives from the trobadour-style of the late 60s early 70s it also contains the new indie streams, either it all sounds like indie-pop, or indie-folk, or art-rock music, the sole fact is that when both the mohawk and he meet again at the bar after their live gigs they will both agree that they did their best “to change the game, man.”
“Musically I went with a sound that’s more traditionally American. There’s a power in those idioms. I wanted to call out the hard fight everyone is having in the country, while also allowing everyone to feel, in a time where the dominant feelings are factionalism and fear, that the things which unite us could still be greater” says Ethan, and let’s hear exactly what he means.
This track was produced and engineered by Dave Tweedie (So You Think You Can Dance, No Doubt, Flipsyde, Akon). Gold and Jay Ponti produced the video, with editing and effects by Adam Laiben. Ethan Gold has just finished recording his upcoming double-album ‘Earth City’, which explores themes of longing — for human connection, for romance, for city nightlife, and ultimately for connection to the threatened natural world. Release expected later this year. ‘Not Me.Us’ is out now everywhere digitally, including stores such as Apple Music, and streaming platforms like Spotify.
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Written by Mike D
