Interview: ethericashadowsound - Midheaven

ethericashadowsound is an Astral-Pop Priestess living and creating in Brooklyn. Her band, Champale Gold, paused during the 2020 lockdown and limitations led to expansion. A love for shoegaze, dream-pop, ambient, guitar rock + sound healing is imprinted into this solitary songwriting that’s alchemical, transportive + scorpionic AF. ethericashadowsound has played various venues around NYC and has been featured on college radio in Seattle, WA. 'Midheaven' was recorded/produced at ethericashadowsound's home studio in Brooklyn, NY and mastered by Scott Craggs at Old Colony Mastering. Themes include transformation, the dark night of the soul, and re-entry after the intense NYC Covid lockdown combined with 432hz tuning.

By Kamil Bobin

Discovered via Musosoup

Kamil) Hey ethericashadowsound, super nice to have the chance to chat with you. What first got you into music?

I once had a psychic tell me that “Music is my soulmate” and that statement feels like a truth. I also remember getting an orange record player for Christmas when I was 3 years old…

How do you balance your time in the studio with other commitments such as a part-time job, family, admin?

I involve myself in some part of the artistic process most days be it playing guitar for 10 minutes with coffee, going to the practice space, recording at home, journaling, dreaming + scheming or intention setting.

Your latest release is 'Midheaven'. Can you tell us more about the making of it and if there were any unusual things happening during the process?

I created “Midheaven” in my home recording studio with the intention to “do it all myself”. I felt I was up for the challenge as I needed something to bring me back to life after the severity of the NYC pandemic lockdown.

Where did you get the inspiration for this EP?

During a drive across the country and back with my husband and dog in early 2022, the first song started to come to me while we were at Greg Dulli’s, R Bar in New Orleans and at that moment I felt the muse and her momentum for the first time in a long time. The cover art is a combination of 2 photos from the road-trip and the first song on the EP, “But Not Tonight” is a forever portal into that evening on Royal St.

How long did you work on the 'Midheaven'? Was it an easy process for you?

I began working on the EP in March 2022 and released it in October at the beginning of Scorpio Season which was my goal. There were moments of divine flow paired with deep frustration throughout the entire process and I tried my best to be present,
trusting, and intuitive during all of it.

How do you know when a work is finished?

I usually go into a project with a soft blue print and let it evolve from there. I try to remind myself to feel over think, and to stay open to the infinite learning experience it is while honoring my skill level.

Can you write what was your best performance in your career? How do you remember it?

For me, there are fleeting moments in performance that are truly transcendent and satisfying. Those moments are like a strand of pearls in my cellular memory.

How do you find yourself in the music business? When you started out in music, did you know it would be like this?

“The Music Business” has changed alot over the years. I appreciate the ability and the freedom to send my music out into the universe but we all know that Musicians, Sound Artists, Sound Healers etc. should be better respected, supported and paid. Can you even imagine a world without sound? Unliveable.

Who is your favourite musician?

I grew up listening to Prince, every day for years. He is definitely a part of my star family but my musical influences are many and varied with Afghan Whigs and Cocteau Twins at the top of the list.

What are your plans for the future?

As usual, I have a lot of plans. As for now, performance, sound healing recordings and possibly a covers EP is in the works…