The Texas based musician who has certainly made a swift introduction into music, Eraste has caught the light when bright. The 21-year-old self- taught singer and instrumentalist, did not grow up in a musical household, but that hasn’t stopped her from reaching heights of the things she's capable of and that shows through her music. She’s putting her signature palette of inspirations and upbringing as her musical theme. Her music proves that it’s possible to gracefully adorn your music even without a musical household. Full of shining synths, winsome vocals, "Tragedy" begins with an arpeggiated organ-like futuristic hook, with vocal hums and a constant drum beat pouncing back and forth.
By Kamil Bobin
Discovered via Musosoup
Kamil) Hey Eraste, super nice to have the chance to chat with you. What first got you into music?
Hi! So excited to talk to you :) I actually got into it through the church. Being from a small town in Texas, singing praise and worship music growing up had a really big effect on me and I continued to lead worship all throughout my youth! My piano teacher was actually the piano player at our church, and so when I was younger and wanted to learn my mom would take me to her house (and it was the worst!) My school didn’t have a choir so I would join them with different churches around town and that really built my love for music and then when I got older I started developing my tastes.
What jobs have you done other than being an artist?
The list is endless! We do what we have to! Lol but I spent a lot of time as a barista (go figure right?) and I really loved it because I got to flirt with everyone with ZERO! Repercussions! But other than that I’ve been a server, door dasher, retail worker, and right now I work in a hotel. But I’m so tired of the 9-5 lol help
Your latest song is 'Tragedy'. Can you tell us more about the making of it and if there were any unusual things happening during the process?
Yes I would love to! Sometimes some songs are harder to write than others, and this was definitely one that felt like WORK! I was sitting with the idea for I think a month before I could write any words, I remember I sat with it for a really long time! Most of the time song ideas come to me all at once, like a phrase or chorus and I jot it down in my voice notes, but with this song, I had to physically sit at the piano and write the chord progression first, and then the melody/lyrics came after! After I had the first verse and chorus done, I brought it to my friend and ULTRA talented artist/producer Zach Benson, because we were finishing up my single “Lead Role” at the time, and he helped me finish it. I love co-writing because when you feel stuck you can bounce ideas off of someone and they can help you provide context and a new perspective and that’s exactly what I needed. It was definitely what I needed to finish the song!
What do you dislike about the art world?
Something that’s really difficult is that everyone is constantly trying to compete with each other. At times it can feel like when you’re with a group of artists, they’re trying to prove that their art is more valuable than yours, and I think it’s the opposite of what the artist community should do! The best collaboration I’ve had with people are when we both go into the session respecting and valuing each other’s work. I hope that I can start to find a community of artists who believe in and support each other rather than try to tear each other down to get ahead.
Describe a real-life situation that inspired you?
One situation that changed everything for me happened before I wrote my song “Habits”. I was in a coffee shop journaling through the emotions I was feeling, and I had no idea how to articulate it into words. Sitting in this all-pink cafe, (Revival Coffee in Austin! It’s so cute!) I wrote in my journal “I’m not feeling creative right now, I don’t know how to process what I’m feeling.” And then the barista called out the name of someone’s order, and her name was the exact same name as my best friend from high school. That’s when I wrote the line, "I heard someone call your name and I almost turned my head but I know you’d never be caught dead in a place like this.” And that was really the core of the song and it helped me figure out what emotion I was trying to get out the longing and nostalgia!
What accomplishments do you see yourself achieving in the next five to 10 years?
I have big dreams! I see myself finding more people who resonate with my music and the things I have to say, and I would love to tour and meet them and talk to them. I really want to get a label deal and write an album, I think that’s my next big goal. The process of making an entire body of work in the studio, and not having to worry about working (hopefully quitting my aforementioned day job! Lol!) and focusing on the music. I think when I have the opportunity my creativity will reach new limits! I also want to move to LA soon, so finding an apartment? Baby steps in my journey to pop stardom lol.
What’s your scariest experience?
I think releasing “Tragedy” was the scariest moment in my career. I was so nervous to have people listen to something so personal, and this was my first release being single, and it was really hard to deal with that insecurity alone. I was anxious and scared about what people were going to think of me or how their perceptions will change. Releasing is always the scariest part because I never write with the intention of other people hearing it, and then when it hits me that people actually do listen I get really stressed! Opening up and being that vulnerable for everyone to see is definitely the scariest part about doing what I do. But that’s what also makes it really fulfilling and cathartic!
How would you describe the music that you typically create?
I like to describe is as more of a feeling and color than a song. I try to bring people back to their nostalgic moments, and being able to create that environment for people to feel ALL their feelings is really special. I think it has all the vulnerability of singer-songwriter acoustic songs, and the big pop choruses of 2010’s pop music! It’s been so great to combine all of my random influencing into one, and create music that I could see myself listening to and enjoying. Angst! Tears!
Have you ever taught or mentored another musician?
Not officially but I’m always happy to share and knowledge I’ve gained with anyone who asks or when I work with collaborators. The best thing we can do as artists is share our process and let people in on what works for us. I am VERY against gatekeeping and I’ll always explain as best I can! I love to give people my perspective and hear theirs and change my way of thinking. When I self-produce I always try to do a live video where I talk about the process and how to build up a song! I love to show people how accessible music can be for them and that anyone can make it, and anyone can be an artist and create!
Is the artistic life lonely? What do you do to counteract it?
Oh absolutely, and I think I’m just a lonely person in general. I write a lot about that, how I think loneliness will be my greatest struggle in life. It’s hard when you feel disconnected from who you are, and hard when you share these glimpses of your emotions but people never get the full picture. It is a lot of letting people in but they’ll never “know” all of you. I think all artist create because we are afraid of our emotions and thoughts, because we have things inside us we don’t know how to get out otherwise and it can be really difficult to try to let people in on something you don’t even understand yourself. This era of my life has been the lonliest yet, I had to completely start my life over from scratch and learn how to be alone. It’s still really hard but everyday I’m learning to enjoy my own company more and more, and re-center myself to the things I love and make me who I am. It’s been a hard year but I’ve learned SO much about myself and accepting who I am, and once I allow myself to just “be” then I’m not as lonely anymore. :)