Episode 3: Ethan Low
The Introduction
Toronto, a city known for fostering influential artists like Drake, The Weeknd, and PartyNextDoor, continues to be a hub for cultivating future pop stars. Among them, Ethan Low stands out with his unique sound, seamlessly blending Western & Asian R&B, which has garnered millions of listens worldwide.
Ethan Low's versatility is evident in his music, effortlessly transitioning from woozy, melancholic trap beats to upbeat, R&B-tinged pop anthems. However, one constant that remains is his exceptional storytelling ability, allowing him to vividly paint his world for his audience.
His presence in the music scene is not fleeting; Ethan Low has firmly established himself and is here to stay. With a clear focus on creating a legacy that reaches far beyond Toronto, he aims to leave a lasting impact on the global stage.
The Discussion
I say it's clear you know your stuff when it comes to making music! Your tracks like "Gemini" and "Boujee" really show off your abilities and how you can mix up different styles and genres while keeping it uniquely you. That being said, what got you into making music in the first place? And how did you end up finding that unique sound that's so unmistakably yours?
I was always really into music early on. My mom used to be a piano teacher. She never taught me, ironically, but I think it was around third or fourth grade when a teacher asked me if I wanted to be part of a singing competition. She had no idea I could sing… I didn't even know I could sing, but I just said “Okay, this kind of sounds interesting”. So I went for it, ended up placing third, and that was the first time I thought “Oh, maybe there's something here”. I did a few more competitions and repeatedly placed from that point on. There was some prize money involved, and as a third and fourth grader, you're like “I’m getting money now and I’m trying to get more.”
I’ve loved singing from a very young age, but I didn’t start writing my own music until high school where I met one of my friends, Henry, who was a producer. He made beats, I was singing, so he suggested “why don’t we make our own music?”. We came up together, and he blew up a lot faster than I did. He made a lot of lo-fi stuff back when lo-fi was popping off and that was when he helped me get my footing in music. In university, I met another producer, Dan, who introduced me to the Korean R&B genre. I started leaning into that sound and ultimately made a song that caught the attention of a few K-Pop groups. I was scouted after this by a major label and signed as a songwriter for a year, which really helped me develop my own skills and surrounded me with people that could help me improve as an artist.
I'm happy with what I'm creating now. I'm putting out some solid music. In 2015, I was a 15-year-old kid who was trying to find who he was as a person. I had to go through all those experiences to be where I am today, which is why I think my music sounds more polished and mature.
Toronto, a city known for fostering influential artists like Drake, The Weeknd, and PartyNextDoor. How did the music scene in Toronto influence your music when growing up?
Growing up, I listened to all the classics. All the Toronto greats. Drake was a big one. Especially Take Care and Nothing Was The Same. I was also on a lot of The Weeknd's music which is inspirational & revolutionary to the Pop and R&B we listen to today.
Nobody else will understand walking back home from school in the dead of winter bumping the music coming out of the city. It's as if all the music that's made in Toronto encapsulates the environment. You can really tune into the nostalgic, melancholic feeling that you get when you listen to the records. I knew that for my rebrand as a solo artist, I wanted to make music that reminded me of the songs I listened to growing up and put my own twist on it.
Growing up in an Asian household specifically in your Malaysian-Singaporean background. How has your family reacted to your pursuit of music?
When I was young and participated in those competitions, they were definitely supportive. However, when the thought of “Oh, maybe I want to do this as a career” came up, there was definitely some resistance. We had some arguments but I think something that I was told a few years ago, and has still stuck with me to this day, is that our immigrant families just want us to be happy. And to them, when they came over to a new country, happiness was being able to survive. For us, where all our basic needs are kind of met, happiness is different. It’s fulfillment. I don't think they really understood that until recently. They might actually be still trying to understand it. When I showed them that I could support myself by doing music, they were definitely more accepting.
Do you think people tend to support artists more when they are from their city or do you think there is a bit of disassociation? What do you think needs to be done to develop a sense of community here in Toronto?
I definitely feel a lot of hometown support here in Toronto, especially with the people that listen to my music that I don't personally know. I think that's almost always the case. Random people are sometimes more likely to support you than your friends. Luckily, all the people I keep around me are very positive, carry good energy, and support me all the way, but I can’t say the same for everyone. In Toronto, people do tend to be very supportive and proud when an artist from the city starts gaining attention. However, there is definitely a lack of sense of community for underground artists, which needs to be built up. A big issue is that artists that blow up from the city always move to the US. It’s not their fault either. The infrastructure in Canada isn’t as developed as in the US, which is why artists move and get signed there for better opportunities.
Me being Malaysian-Singaporean, I have also seen a lot of support from my South-East Asian fans. I think they ride for me pretty hard because not a lot of people come out of that region and see global success. I hope to see more South-East Asians come out and represent because the artists from there are so extremely talented.
What advice would you give to your fans or those who are trying to make a career in this tough industry?
Focus on your craft. Put in the time and effort to refine the art that you want to put out. Study your inspirations and figure out why you love their work.
You have to stay disciplined. If you want this to work out, you must understand you have to put the work in. Be consistent, have a schedule, and always be ready to learn.
Learn how to market yourself and create a brand. There are 110,000 or 120,000 songs uploaded every single day on Spotify alone. You need to give people a reason to listen to your music.
If you want to succeed, you need to turn the people who discover you into long-term fans. My fans are so important to me because, without them, I wouldn’t be where I’m at today. Show your fans more of who you are and what you stand for. Give them a reason to love you beyond the music.
What is the future for Ethan Low?
At the moment I am finishing up a project that I have been working on for the past year. (The album GEMINI is out now). It’s a collection of songs that shows off my versatility and after that project, I feel like I want to go back to R&B and really hone in on that sound. Apart from music, I’ve always been into acting and want to improve in dance so you guys might catch me in those areas soon. I’ll be performing my album at some upcoming concerts too so come out and say what’s up!