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Five Fast Facts with Ethan Buckner on His Track "Wavering," Blending Personal Struggles with Societal Issues

Ethan Buckner, a Los Angeles-based indie folk/pop artist and activist, infuses his music with the tumult of his life experiences and commitment to social justice. From facing arrest by the Egyptian military to scaling bridges for environmental protests, his activism deeply shapes his work. His upcoming LP, Treading Water, produced by Grammy-nominee Justin Glasco, intertwines personal struggles with broader societal issues, blending intimate moments with anthemic soundscapes. Featuring contributions from Brandon Walters, Debbie Neigher, and Ethan’s brother Matt, the album reflects resilience and activism. On August 23rd, Ethan released his latest single, "Wavering," a driving, rhythmic anthem inspired by a sudden vision loss in 2022 that left him grappling with migraines and anxiety. The song explores his ongoing struggle with chronic anxiety, capturing the search for clarity in a chaotic world.

ethan buckner


1. SJ: You’ve lived through some incredible and life-altering experiences like being detained by the Egyptian military, repelling off a highway bridge in protest, and chaining yourself to the Oakland police department, and more. Have those experiences had any effect on your musical experience, or led you to this musical path?

EB: Through chaos in my life, music has always been the refuge for me to come home to. It all started when I was 15 when I witnessed the tragic death of a teenage girl during a trip to explore my heritage and learn about the Holocaust. That moment forced me to confront deep, personal grief alongside the weight of collective suffering. Coming out of that trauma, I found my purpose to commit my life to preserving life. Not long after, I learned about climate change—a threat to life on a global scale—and felt drawn to take action. Around the same time, I started writing music as a way to cope. Songwriting became my outlet, helping me process the anxiety from that trauma and the uncertainty in both my life and the world. Since then, music and activism have been the twin forces driving my life. As I got more involved in movements for justice, I started taking on increasing levels of personal risk as I felt deeply the urgency of social and environmental crises. My experiences, some quite harrowing, have certainly inspired my songwriting, both implicitly and explicitly. I often joke that songwriting is cheaper than therapy - and I continue to turn to lyrics and melody to try and make sense of it all.

 

2. SJ: Your latest release, "Wavering" is based on a sudden and terrifying vision loss episode back in 2022. Can you tell us more about this story and how your struggle with chronic anxiety inspired the track?

EB: One evening in late January 2022, I suddenly couldn’t see for about 30 minutes. As my vision returned in a dizzy blur, I was rushed to the hospital, told I “didn’t seem to have a stroke,” and sent home. From that point forward, for the 8 weeks that followed, I experienced constant migraine and vertigo. Unable to work, read, or look at screens, I spent much of that time walking in the Santa Monica mountains, on Venice Beach where I live, and sitting on my patio with my guitar. During this two-month period, I wrote a number of songs that found their way onto my upcoming record Treading Water. Towards the end of this ordeal, in early March, I took my guitar out to the beach at sunset and wrote "Wavering" in a flurry of inspiration.


Throughout my adult life, I’ve struggled with chronic anxiety that stems from traumatic teenage experiences witnessing and grappling with death. Many of the songs on Treading Water reflect on how I relate to and move through that anxiety, how I am impacted by the chaotic outer world and, at times, a chaotic inner world. "Wavering" examines how the combination of my anxiety, at times unwieldy social energy, and my desire to live the most meaningful life possible leads to the perfect storm of chronic indecision and self-doubt. Am I in the right place? Did I make the right choice? Throughout my twenties, I tended to take bigger risks, putting my body (and a few times, my life) in harm's way, sometimes for activism, sometimes for thrills. I tested boundaries, head down, and when I’d look up, often found myself paralyzed and questioning. With "Wavering," I both explore that past and also look inward for reassurance that I have learned lessons, that I know who I am, and that I am able to navigate the unknown.


3. SJ: How has the nature and the scenery of the Santa Monica mountains and Venice Beach affect the songwriting process for this song?

EB: Nature has often provided the backdrop for my songwriting, where I am able to quiet my mind to be able to access what my soul needs to say. Many of the songs I wrote on Treading Water, including "Wavering," emerged while I was alone in nature. I often start by just sitting with my guitar, and searching for riffs or melodies that move me, and lyrics flow from there. While I have been experimenting with other songwriting processes, including co-writing, starting from poetry, and working from prompts, my solitary nature sessions continue to be my go-to.





4. SJ: What was your recording process like? Any prominent producers or influences that affected the way the song was shaped?

EB: I absolutely love how the production of "Wavering" showcases the vulnerability of my songwriting and the explosive energy of release that defines many powerful moments throughout the record. We had an absolute blast in the studio layering the intricate foundational guitar riff, which on a rubber bridge Old Style parlor sounds almost like plucked cellos, with asynchronous synths, pianos, guitars, and harmonies. The song showcases the whole band that will perform at our record release coming up September 23 at the Troubadour: Debbie Neigher (Demi Lovato) on vocals and keys, Brandon Walters from Lord Huron on electric guitar, my brother Matt on drums, and Justin Glasco (Paris Paloma), my incredible producer and multi-instrumentalist, on practically everything. Ultimately, "Wavering" is a sonic invitation into my inner world, and I am so excited for fans to hear it.


5. SJ: What is one song you wish Ethan Buckner wrote?

EB: Wow this is tough. One song that has inspired me in the past year that resonates with my own life experience is "Grace" by Marcus Mumford. I’m glad he wrote that song, to process and move through his own trauma. But I do find it to be profound, moving, and healing.


SJ: What’s next for Ethan Buckner?

EB: My debut full-length record Treading Water is coming out on September 24! This has been an enormous project and I couldn’t be more excited for this body of work to finally be out in the world. We are celebrating the release with a full band, headline performance at the iconic Troubadour in West Hollywood on Monday, September 23. It’s going to be an epic night, and you can find tickets here! 


SJ: Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us!

EB: Thank you so much for the opportunity!


'Wavering' Ethan Buckner
 

Listen to "Wavering" below!



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