Ethan Brandwood: "Doing The Solo Thing Helps You Understand Yourself"

Ethan Brandwood is in a new era.

The eclectic musician first rose to prominence in the local Adelaide scene as the frontman of raucous post-punk outfit Gallery One. But he has since reinvented himself. His solo project Ebop is about to take off - with its first single, ‘Cage,’ slated for a March 14th release - and he couldn’t be more excited.

He looks back on his earlier musical eras fondly, though he enjoys the total control of having a solo project. About Gallery One, he says, “I was always making the songs. And it was such an amazing group of people. Everyone in that group has such a wide range of influences and talent. But I realised…When I write songs, I straight away have a vision for the drums, the guitars, everything.”

He continues, “I was recording and writing songs by myself, and I was really enjoying it. So, I thought why not just do this myself if it’s working so well? Why not see how far I can push making music just by myself?”

In essence, he says, “I was writing this really cool music that I was just so much more passionate about because it was all written by me, and it was exactly what I envisaged.”

Ebop’s live band features Charlie Wood, Frank Atkinson, and Isaac Byrnes - all versatile, mutli-faceted musicians that Brandwood is thrilled to be working with. These young talents have allowed him to be a musical chameleon.

“It was just a different time,” Brandwood says of the transition from Gallery One to Ebop. “And I think I’ll go through many bands in my life.”

‘Cage’ happened to be the first song that he wrote for Ebop - a song that touches on his somewhat tense relationship with his mother. “I guess I was just indirectly getting it out,” he explains. “It’s just capturing a moment.”

The track is blue and brooding, an immersive sonic palette. Brandwood’s voice is arresting, and the sound is all-consuming.

The process of recording was quite staunchly DIY. He put his mini 1-input interface to use - every sonic layer was recorded one by one. “Everything was recorded in my room, except drums and vocals.” Drums and vocals were recorded at Swapmeet legend Jack Medlyn’s house. “Jack mixed it as well.” Brandwood calls Jack “very generous.”

“It’s just nice,” he says of recording in his bedroom. “This is my space. It’s cute…Recording in my bedroom makes the songs sound quite tinny, or cartoonish almost.” A sound that he is undoubtedly a fan of. “That sound is easy for people to listen to and understand and enjoy.

“The end of the song is actually my favourite part of the song,” he specifies. He refers to the proliferation of EBow usage - a hand-held electronic bow used for guitars. “I just wanted to totally wrap the listener’s head in these Ebow drones…It goes quite fast and then dreamy and drowsy…That end of the song came out exactly how I wanted it. Every time I listen to it, it’s my favourite part of the song.”

It’s something he appears to be proud of. He wants people to think: “I’ve got to listen to the whole song because the last bit’s my favourite.”

Buoyed by giddy enthusiasm, Brandwood wants to release as many songs and do as many gigs as he can. “When I’m making the Ebop setlist, every song I love equally…They’re all bangers.” 

Brandwood is especially keen for the single launch, a house show which will take place on March 29th, and will feature sets from major local talents such as Awnings, The Genevieves, Jackulson, and Jude Keely.

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“Doing the solo thing just by yourself helps you understand yourself,” Brandwood says. “Even if you’re not the best at playing drums or the best at playing keys, if you record everything, it just allows it to be cool, because it’s just raw, and it’s natural. I went for a really raw sound with this song. I sent the early mix to my uncle, and he was like, ‘It sounds really raw, and I can hear where you recorded this song. Keep it like that. Keep it raw.’”