In an more and more complicated world, the facility of perception—in oneself, in overcoming adversity, and within the enduring magic of music—shines as a beacon. Ehson Hashemian, a prolific artist identified for his emotionally resonant soundscapes, delves into this very essence together with his fourth solo album, “Consider.” Removed from a mere assortment of tracks, “Consider” is a testomony to non-public evolution, a reignited ardour for songwriting, and an unwavering dedication to honesty within the face of setbacks.
On this insightful interview, Hashemian unpacks the deeply private journey that formed “Consider,” revealing how tough life experiences solid a renewed sense of self-belief and creative objective. He discusses the album’s central theme of self-honesty and optimism, inviting listeners to search out solace and motivation inside its 14 tracks. From the surprising genesis of “It Is What It Is” to the cathartic creation of “Really feel,” Hashemian provides a candid glimpse into his songwriting course of, highlighting how “Consider” stands other than his earlier works like “Face Shine” and “Bliss” by its newfound fluidity and constructive mindset.
Past the lyrical depth, Hashemian, a multi-instrumentalist, sheds gentle on his distinctive method to crafting an expansive but intimate sound, recorded largely himself with just one collaboration for mastering. He touches upon the numerous position of experimentation, mixing genres from rock to afro-beat, and pushing artistic boundaries in tracks that challenged his typical strategies. As he displays on his journey from co-writing Younger The Big’s large hit “Cough Syrup” to forging a definite solo profession, Hashemian redefines success, prioritizing creative integrity over industrial metrics.
Hashemian additionally shares how his Southern California roots subtly infuse his music and provides a tantalizing peek into his prolific future, with a number of extra albums already within the pipeline, promising an excellent broader exploration of dance, funk, and jazz. Be a part of us as Ehson Hashemian invitations us to “Consider”—not simply in his music, however within the energy of our personal resilience and the enduring promise of a extra optimistic tomorrow.
- “Consider” is your fourth solo album. What does this title characterize for you at this stage in your life and profession?
Ehson Hashemian: Going by tough instances in my life personally, I needed to discover no matter means potential to consider in myself to beat adversity. After ending this album, I felt my degree of songwriting actually advanced from my earlier work, and reignited my ardour for music that was dwindling for a while. Now I really feel extra assured than ever to share this music with the world.
- There are 14 tracks on this report. Was there a central theme or emotional throughline guiding the complete album?
Ehson Hashemian: The central theme is especially being trustworthy with oneself when going through excessive setbacks, and discovering a option to consider that you would be able to nonetheless discover a option to get by with life. The songs are all sort of meant to encourage and encourage the listener when feeling like you might be caught, and that will help you escape right into a extra optimistic state that issues will get higher.
- How did the songwriting course of for Consider differ out of your earlier albums like Face Shine or Bliss?
Ehson Hashemian: The songwriting course of for the “Consider” album was rather more fluid than the earlier albums. I wrote my first three solo albums after taking an extended break from writing music, so my writing expertise and musicianship have been a bit bit rusty at the moment. Nonetheless, after finishing these albums and beginning with the “Consider” album a 12 months later, I felt rather more strong in my skill to write down and report songs. I used to be additionally in a greater temper general, with a extra constructive mindset, so the songs turned out to be extra uplifting and blissful sounding.
- What music on Consider got here to you most unexpectedly—and what was the story behind it?
Ehson Hashemian: Probably the most surprising music was “It Is What It Is.” I simply randomly got here up with the guitar loop and made it as polyrhythmic as potential. I needed to hear very intently to provide you with the fitting vocal melodies that might deliver collectively and simplify the considerably difficult sound. The lyrics have been impressed by the widespread phrase that individuals are inclined to say when issues go improper or are simply out of our arms. Going by some problem myself, anytime I’d discuss it to others, the widespread consensus was “properly, it’s what it’s.” I felt that we might do higher than simply stating “it’s what it’s” every time somebody is struggling, so I wrote a complete music on going deeper than simply stating the apparent.
- You’re identified for writing emotionally resonant music. Have been there any moments through the making of this album that felt particularly cathartic or transformative?
Ehson Hashemian: Sure, after I wrote and completed recording the music “Really feel,” it was fairly uplifting and transformative. It was the primary time that I felt like I had a universally pleasant monitor that actually anybody might recognize and luxuriate in. I used to be additionally very content material with my vocal efficiency on the monitor, as I really feel it was among the most emotive singing that I’ve accomplished.
- Musically, Consider feels each expansive and intimate. How did you strike that stability within the studio?
Ehson Hashemian: I attempt to hold issues so simple as potential within the studio to maintain it sounding intimate and as if you’re within the room listening to it reside. I solely use three microphones (two overheads, one kick drum) to report the drums. The expansiveness primarily comes from the polyrhythmic guitar components, which typically I’ll add delay to at least one layer. Discovering the fitting stability between the 2 requires listening very intently and sort of observing every music from as unbiased of a standpoint as potential.
- You play a number of devices. How a lot of Consider did you report your self, and did you collaborate with others on this undertaking?
Ehson Hashemian: I performed each instrument, sang all of the vocals, wrote, and recorded each music on the album. The one collaboration I did was having it mastered by Grammy-nominated mastering engineer Shawn Hatfield at Audible Oddities.
- What position did experimentation play within the sound design or association decisions on this album?
Ehson Hashemian: Experimentation performed an enormous position in creating this album. I positively experimented loads exterior of my consolation zone to create the sounds on the album. I attempted to mix sounds from many various genres together with rock, jazz, dance, and afro-beat.
- Did you write any songs on Consider that challenged your typical method or pushed you creatively in new instructions?
Ehson Hashemian: Sure, virtually the entire songs challenged my typical method in a method or one other. The music “It Is What It Is” consists of one other degree of polyrhythmic guitar work that required me to essentially take heed to all of the harmonics of the general sound to determine the fitting vocal melodies. It took a whole lot of focus and pondering exterior of the field to provide you with. As well as, the music “Really feel” required me to fully detach from the world round me and actually reside within the second to seize the precise sound that I wished within the vocals, so I might captivate the listener.
- In the event you had to decide on one monitor on Consider that finest defines the place you at the moment are as an artist, which would it not be—and why?
Ehson Hashemian: I feel the one monitor on the album that finest defines me now as an artist is the music “Really feel.” The music actually captures my character, with the music being uplifting, but heartfelt, and easy.
- From co-writing “Cough Syrup” to crafting your personal solo catalog, how has your notion of success advanced?
Ehson Hashemian: I view success as an artist and industrial success within the music business as separate entities. To reach the fashionable music business, you usually must compromise your sound as an artist to attraction to a wider viewers, and normally that includes following the tendencies of the time. Sadly, except you might be one of the well-known acts, new artists attempting to interrupt by the scene usually resort to gimmicks to realize fast followers, so it’s actually changing into much less and fewer in regards to the artwork of creating music, and extra about who can get probably the most streams. Nonetheless, I consider true success as a musical artist comes from pushing your self to provide you with songs you by no means thought you have been able to creating, and music that defines your character as an individual, with out worrying about how many individuals will reward you. There’s nothing improper with individuals praising different’s music, however I don’t suppose that ought to be the principle goal in making music, extra like an additional bonus that you have to be content material with out. On the finish, a profitable artist is one that’s blissful and happy with the way in which they sound.
- Wanting again at your time with The Jakes/Younger the Big, do you’re feeling any threads from that period nonetheless weave into your music right now?
Ehson Hashemian: Sure, the time with the band positively helped me notice the necessity for positivity and connectivity in my music right now. We wrote music to uplift individuals, and I nonetheless proceed to write down to uplift myself and any potential listener.
- How have your experiences exterior of music—life, relationships, reflection—influenced the emotional core of Consider?
Ehson Hashemian: My experiences exterior of music fully formed the emotional core of “Consider.” Whereas going by some tough instances with my psychological and bodily well being, I needed to discover a option to escape the sensation of helplessness and consider in myself once more. Taking issues sooner or later at a time and studying to push by the ache is absolutely what the album is all about.
- Do you’re feeling freer now as a solo artist, or is the strain totally different when it’s simply your title on the quilt?
Ehson Hashemian: I positively really feel freer now, as I’m not creating music with the first focus being industrial success. My major focus is to only make the most effective music as I presumably can, to depart behind a catalog that I can look again at and be happy with making, and to share it with as many individuals as potential to get pleasure from. If I succeed within the business, that might simply be an added bonus. I’m positive there shall be criticism, however I select to make use of the constructive criticism to develop as an artist, and ignore the widespread conception that it’s a must to have thousands and thousands of streams to be thought of profitable.
- You’ve launched 4 albums in just some years—how do you retain the artistic hearth alive with out burning out?
Ehson Hashemian: I positively take some breaks after making a gaggle of songs or an album. Nonetheless, going by totally different hardships in life, I are inclined to see music as an escape from actuality at instances, so the higher the music I make, the better it feels to get by the times. I’ll typically simply have a music thought come to me that I’ll work on, however I normally simply choose up a guitar and simply play with an open thoughts that there’s at all times nonetheless music left to be made.
- What do you hope listeners take away from Consider—not simply lyrically, however emotionally?
Ehson Hashemian: I hope they are going to discover some aid from any hardship they’re going by. I additionally hope they really feel refreshed by the sound that’s extra natural than the overproduced music that’s usually launched within the mainstream. Aside from that, I additionally hope they’ve enjoyable probably dancing to among the songs.
- Are there any Easter eggs or hidden connections within the lyrics or preparations that longtime followers would possibly discover?
Ehson Hashemian: Sure, among the songs have some references to different songs throughout the album, however only a few.
- Will we be seeing a tour or reside performances to help Consider, and what can followers anticipate out of your stage present?
Ehson Hashemian: I don’t plan on enjoying reside anytime quickly. Presumably if issues change drastically, however my present mindset is to make music solely as a recording artist.
- How do you suppose your Southern California roots affect the sound or temper of your music right now?
Ehson Hashemian: My Southern California roots positively affect the sound of my music, because the seaside has at all times been a spot for me to search out inspiration. The usually sunny climate additionally helps me keep as constructive as potential to make uplifting songs. Aside from that, rising up with a superb group of musician buddies within the space positively helped me be taught to hear critically and create my very own sound.
- If Consider is just the start of this subsequent chapter, what’s the subsequent dream or musical course you’re hoping to pursue?
Ehson Hashemian: I’ve really already completed monitoring 4 extra albums after the “Consider” album, so I shall be steadily releasing increasingly music quickly. I don’t need to bombard individuals with an excessive amount of music without delay, so I’ll most likely launch an album yearly or so. All of my newer work is targeted on positivity and being as optimistic as potential, much like the “Consider” album, however increasing the quantity of kinds concerned. Sooner or later, I hope to delve into much more dance, funk, and jazz oriented music.
OFFICIAL LINKS: http://www.ehsonhashemian.com
