A Chat with Etherdene (04.04.25)
Etherdene is a versatile singer, songwriter, and producer whose music continues to evolve with every release. With a musical journey that began in the Afrikaans band Kaktus as a pianist and songwriter, Etherdene’s exploration of music production in 2020 marked the beginning of a new creative chapter. Her latest single, ‘Forsaker’, is an electrifying and empowering anthem that navigates the emotional complexities of letting go of relationships and partnerships that no longer serve you. We chat with Etherdene about her new single and more below.
OSR: Your music spans multiple genres, from alt-pop to indie-pop and synth-pop. How do you describe your sound, and how has it evolved over the years?
Etherdene: I’d think synth-driven alternative pop with the presence of driving electric guitars. My dad loves a wide variety of music styles and always listened to music, and that has been a great influence in my life. I’d say my songs are evolving and leaning more into synth bass arps, both for ‘Forsaker’ and the upcoming releases.
OSR: How do you manage the creative process of both songwriting and producing your own music? Is there a particular process you follow?
Etherdene: More or less, a song often starts as a line or phrase that comes into my head, and once that happens, I will pretty much stop what I’m doing and pay attention to it. I’ll go and sit in front of the piano, turn my iPhone’s voice recorder on and capture what follows while I write out any more lyrics that follow. Through the course of the days, I’ll continue to craft it and elaborate on it until it’s all there, and once it’s ready for a rough demo, I’ll put it together on Logic Pro with keys and synths, samples, and rough vocals. In this stage, I’d often go back and forth between different versions, crafting the sound and feel of what I’m after. Once that is pretty close, I’ll reach out to the session musicians I work with to track the drums/guitars/bass if needed. Once I get that back, you usually need to tweak more of the arrangements and alter or create new leadlines on the keys or through samples. During this stage, I would also track my vocals – comp and edit them. When the whole song is done, I would listen to it for several days to gut-check if anything in the arrangement could be better placed or tweaked. Once everything feels solid, I’ll hand it off for mixing and then mastering.
OSR: You’ve been releasing singles every few weeks since 2023. What drives this constant output, and how do you stay inspired to create new music so frequently?
Etherdene: I’ve played in several bands in the past, and I thought I was all done with music. I was settled in my brand design career (though I still wrote music and played piano often) when we learned that my mother-in-law had 3-6 months to live. To work through the news, I wrote a few songs for her and produced some of those (this made me realize there is a Soundbetter world where you have access to incredible musicians, even if you are a solo songwriter). My mother-in-law loved those songs, and she challenged me to get back into music and pursue it. After numerous conversations with her and close friends, I had a Holy Ground moment and decided to go for it. Me getting back into music again was the thing my mother-in-law spoke most about in our last conversations; it was a highlight for her to hear about all the updates and news. She passed away the same week that my first single came out on Spotify. With every single I release, I tell my husband, “This is for your Mom”, and we celebrate her. Getting back into music has also helped me with so many other things – it’s hard to be depressed when you’re working on a new song. I draw inspiration from my own experiences and those of my close friends. Several of my songs are about their breakups and crushes.
OSR: And tell us about your current single, ‘Forsaker’.
Etherdene: I wrote this song while working through a profoundly disappointing breakup of a professional partnership I had high hopes for. Because I prioritize relationships and rarely give up on a situation, it felt surreal to walk away and “forsake” it. While sitting behind the piano one afternoon, pretty mad and heartbroken, the line “brand new member in the club of quitters, the uniform compliments my eyes” came into my head, and I decided to run with that theme. The line “How you made me feel will linger longer than everything you said with my goodbye” is also close to my heart since the biggest challenge of the breakup was to let go of all the words that were said – it was tempting to lean into it and allow it to define me. I rewrote the melody 3 or 4 times – it was initially much more emotional and slow, but I wanted this to be an upbeat statement song with an empowering message to move on when things don’t work out and thrive in the aftermath.
OSR: What role does personal experience play in your songwriting? Do you draw from your life’s ups and downs, or do you find inspiration in other places?
Etherdene: It plays an incredibly big role. Most of my songs are written in an attempt to work through something painful that has happened to me or someone I love.
OSR: Many artists struggle with the balance between vulnerability and strength in their music. How do you navigate that balance in your own work, particularly with ‘Forsaker’?
Etheredene: I honestly think vulnerability is strength; you need immense bravery to come to terms with your vulnerabilities and even more to share them with the world. Being able to use music to work through hard things is such a gift that I’m okay with bearing my soul in the process.
OSR: As a producer, how do you keep yourself challenged and avoid falling into a comfort zone with your sound?
Etherdene: As a brand designer, I’ve learned to be immensely critical of my own work, force myself to be aware of outside trends, and have a close circle of peers and mentors to share my work with, knowing they’d be brutally honest with me if it could be better. I do the same with my music. I love feedback, and I seek it out. You are way more creative if you’re open to input from those around you.
OSR: Your stage name, “Etherdene”, carries a strong meaning for you. Could you elaborate on what it represents and how it influences your music?
Etherdene: Ether is the clear sky, the upper regions of air beyond the clouds. It’s unaffected by dark winter days, rain, and storms. Writing songs about what happens down below always pulls me back to the ether where, for a moment, things are light and free. I’d say the biggest way this influences my music is that I lean into the hard emotions, and I write about it because once it’s out, you can move on.
OSR: You’ve been recognized on platforms like Spotify’s Fresh Finds Indie playlist. How has recognition like this impacted your career and the way you approach your music?
Etherdene: It, of course, helps with increasing listeners and exposure. Most of all, it’s an encouraging sign – especially for independent musicians – that you’re on the right track.
OSR: What’s one piece of advice you’d give to aspiring artists who are trying to find their voice and establish themselves in the music industry?
Etherdene: Read Letters to a Young Poet by Rijke – it’s a short read and incredibly empowering. Don’t let fear and doubt keep you from pursuing your dreams. If you have a burning desire to do something and you don’t think you have enough talent to execute it, don’t believe the voice telling you you don’t have the talent. Work on developing your talent, and take the lessons necessary to grow in your craft. Be brave enough to suck at something as you work on developing your skills. When I started using Logic Pro, I hated not being as fluent in it as I am in design software, but I decided the measure for success is that I need to learn just one thing every time I’m on there. Support and invest in other artists around you. When we lift up others, we ourselves get lifted up.
Many thanks to Etherdene for speaking with us. Find out more about Etherdene on her Instagram and Spotify.
