Fast Five: Ethav

When did you begin making music, and did you ever ponder a different career?

I went to LA at the age of 17 to study acting at a drama school, but after being repeatedly typecast into certain roles because of my ethnicity, I turned to music, as with music I could just be myself. I can’t see myself doing anything else, however, I do love wildlife, and if I was not doing music, then you would probably have found me in the middle of a jungle somewhere helping conserve wildlife.

How would you describe your music?

My new single “Warrior” is an electronic track. My debut single “Sleep” is an acoustic song which I often perform acapella at gigs. “Dirty Girl Dirty Bed” from the new EP is a flirtatious bluesy track inspired by Emin’s “The Bed”. My sound does not fit into one genre. Most of my songs are lyrically driven.

What have you been up to so far and what can we expect over the coming months?

I have finished an EP and it will be released together with the single “Warrior” on Friday 25th September. ‘Warrior’ has had tremendous support from international taste-maker DJs, I have a gig coming up on the 1st October in Camden in London and will be playing few other shows in the weeks to come.

If you could duet with anybody who would it be and why?

I would love to duet with Tom Waits. I did a cover of his track “Chocolate Jesus” and would love to sing the song with him. He is a character, not just his unique voice, but also his personality.

What’s your desert island disc and why would you take this one album?

Robert Johnson – The Complete Collection. He only did 29 songs in his short life, but I could never get tired listening to them.