E.T.
Meet E.T. also known as ETgotSoul, our third artist featured in our Tune-In New Pick series. E.T. is a hip hop artist out of Nashville, Tennessee on a mission to put more love and positivity in the world through his music. His style is a mix of classic, soulful boom bap hip hop and that old school feel. We had the opportunity to ask E.T. some questions on his journey as an artist and his thoughts on what makes music so special.
Breaking it Down
“I actually started my journey in Louisville as a breakdancer which eventually led me into production and songwriting.” Listening to E.T.’s music this start is clearly an inspiration on his style, and he captures that culture well. “Since then, I’ve been blessed to tour across the country and share stages or work with some of the most respected names in hip hop.”
From reel-to-reel cassettes, to DATs, ADATs, and disks, E.T. is appreciative of how easy it is now to record compared to his first setup, which was just two boomboxes next to each other. “We’d play a beat tape on one and record our voices on the other. Eventually we upgraded to a karaoke machine with an actual mic, and then little by little I started buying gear and teaching myself how to use it.”
The Inspiration
E.T.’s main motivator in his creative process is life itself. “Like a lot of artists, music has been my therapy, my way to process experiences and emotions and be heard.” It’s clear that the lyrics in E.T.s more introspective songs are true to heart, and it’s a testimony to his love for hip hop that his style is inspired by the passion in the genre.
“Other artists inspire me too. Watching the creative process of others, seeing their passion and how they put the pieces together pushes me to keep creating.” Which artist specifically? Nas was the first name to come up. “The way he painted pictures with his words and told stories is exactly what I want to do with my music.”
While Nas was his biggest influence creatively, B.Stille from Nappy Roots is what fueled his passion. “I grew up with B. Stille. We used to freestyle on the street corner after school, just kids with big dreams.” The success B. Stille has had is a main motivator for E.T. to keep it up. “A few years later he’s selling millions of records and getting Grammy nominations. Seeing that up close made me believe it was possible.”
From Nashville to New York
When asked what city E.T. enjoyed picking the mic up the most, he had to give his flowers to N.Y.C. “Every city has shown me love in its own way, but if I had to choose, I’d say New York City. Hip hop was born there, so being able to rock the mic in that city is special.” While performing in New York was something special to him, the best moments he’s had were spontaneous freestyle cyphers that happened on tour. “Whether it’s an open mic at a show, or an after-party session at an Airbnb with the crew, some of those moments end up being legendary.”
How Does E.T. Create
For E.T. he almost always starts his process with a sample that moves him. If he’s producing the song, that helps guide his tone, rhythm, and direction of the track he’s working on. From there he starts writing. “Sometimes the song comes together in 30 minutes, and others it takes 30 days.” Writing lyrics doesn’t always come easy. “Deeply personal songs are always the hardest and the easiest to write at the same time.” And his most personal track would be “Nylah’s Song”.
“It’s a very personal track I wrote after my oldest daughter was born. She went through some serious complications at birth, and the song tells the story of her fight to stay alive. To this day I still tear up when I hear it.”
Music Means Healing
E.T. uses his music as a tool to uplift, and he aims to show that hip-hop as a genre can be positive. When asked what music means to him, he answered in a way that connected to us at Audioengine. “Music means freedom, it means connection, it means healing. It’s love, it’s community, it’s emotion, it’s change. Honestly music is everything to me.” No matter who you are or where you’re from music has the power to inspire, and E.T. does just that. His eyes are set on keeping that passion going. “I’m committed to keeping that golden era, classic hip-hop spirit alive while also pushing it forward.”
As an artist that has been making music for some time, we asked E.T. to share some advice for up-and-coming creatives. “Be yourself always. Don’t try to be a copy of someone else. Be open to learning, accept constructive criticism, and work with others. Uplift other artists instead of tearing them down. Give back to your community because when you support your community, your community supports you right back.”
You’re a Star
E.T. backs up his words with his newest single “You’re a Star” produced by Nashville producer JustVibez, and featuring Therèse out of Memphis. The song is about celebrating that superstar we all have inside of us and letting that star shine. Listen to “You’re a Star” below.
