In an more and more advanced world, the ability 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 along with his fourth solo album, “Imagine.” Removed from a mere assortment of tracks, “Imagine” 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 “Imagine,” revealing how tough life experiences solid a renewed sense of self-belief and inventive goal. 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 sudden genesis of “It Is What It Is” to the cathartic creation of “Really feel,” Hashemian gives a candid glimpse into his songwriting course of, highlighting how “Imagine” stands other than his earlier works like “Face Shine” and “Bliss” by means of its newfound fluidity and optimistic mindset.
Past the lyrical depth, Hashemian, a multi-instrumentalist, sheds mild on his distinctive strategy to crafting an expansive but intimate sound, recorded largely himself with just one collaboration for mastering. He touches upon the numerous function of experimentation, mixing genres from rock to afro-beat, and pushing inventive boundaries in tracks that challenged his traditional 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 inventive integrity over business metrics.
Hashemian additionally shares how his Southern California roots subtly infuse his music and gives a tantalizing peek into his prolific future, with a number of extra albums already within the pipeline, promising a good broader exploration of dance, funk, and jazz. Be part of us as Ehson Hashemian invitations us to “Imagine”—not simply in his music, however within the energy of our personal resilience and the enduring promise of a extra optimistic tomorrow.
- “Imagine” is your fourth solo album. What does this title symbolize for you at this stage in your life and profession?
Ehson Hashemian: Going by means of tough occasions in my life personally, I needed to discover no matter method potential to imagine in myself to beat adversity. After ending this album, I felt my stage of songwriting actually developed 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 your entire album?
Ehson Hashemian: The central theme is principally being sincere with oneself when going through excessive setbacks, and discovering a solution to imagine that you could nonetheless discover a solution 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 can assist you escape right into a extra optimistic state that issues will get higher.
- How did the songwriting course of for Imagine differ out of your earlier albums like Face Shine or Bliss?
Ehson Hashemian: The songwriting course of for the “Imagine” album was rather more fluid than the earlier albums. I wrote my first three solo albums after taking a protracted break from writing music, so my writing abilities and musicianship have been a little bit bit rusty at the moment. Nevertheless, after finishing these albums and beginning with the “Imagine” album a yr later, I felt rather more stable in my means to write down and report songs. I used to be additionally in a greater temper total, with a extra optimistic mindset, so the songs turned out to be extra uplifting and comfortable sounding.
- What music on Imagine got here to you most unexpectedly—and what was the story behind it?
Ehson Hashemian: Probably the most sudden 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 correct vocal melodies that might carry collectively and simplify the considerably difficult sound. The lyrics have been impressed by the frequent phrase that individuals are likely to say when issues go improper or are simply out of our palms. Going by means of some issue myself, anytime I might speak about it to others, the frequent consensus was “effectively, it’s what it’s.” I felt that we may do higher than simply stating “it’s what it’s” each time somebody is struggling, so I wrote an entire music on going deeper than simply stating the plain.
- You’re identified for writing emotionally resonant music. Had been there any moments throughout the making of this album that felt particularly cathartic or transformative?
Ehson Hashemian: Sure, once 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 observe that actually anybody may admire and luxuriate in. I used to be additionally very content material with my vocal efficiency on the observe, as I really feel it was a number of the most emotive singing that I’ve executed.
- Musically, Imagine 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 in case you are within the room listening to it dwell. I solely use three microphones (two overheads, one kick drum) to report the drums. The expansiveness primarily comes from the polyrhythmic guitar elements, which typically I’ll add delay to 1 layer. Discovering the correct 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 Imagine did you report your self, and did you collaborate with others on this challenge?
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 function did experimentation play within the sound design or association selections on this album?
Ehson Hashemian: Experimentation performed an enormous function in creating this album. I undoubtedly experimented rather a lot outdoors 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 Imagine that challenged your traditional strategy or pushed you creatively in new instructions?
Ehson Hashemian: Sure, virtually the entire songs challenged my traditional strategy in a technique or one other. The music “It Is What It Is” consists of one other stage of polyrhythmic guitar work that required me to actually hearken to all of the harmonics of the general sound to determine the correct vocal melodies. It took numerous focus and considering outdoors 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 dwell within the second to seize the precise sound that I wished within the vocals, so I may captivate the listener.
- For those who had to decide on one observe on Imagine that greatest defines the place you at the moment are as an artist, which would it not be—and why?
Ehson Hashemian: I believe the one observe on the album that greatest 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 individual solo catalog, how has your notion of success developed?
Ehson Hashemian: I view success as an artist and business success within the music business as separate entities. To achieve the fashionable music business, you usually must compromise your sound as an artist to attraction to a wider viewers, and often that includes following the traits of the time. Sadly, until you might be one of the well-known acts, new artists attempting to interrupt by means of the scene usually resort to gimmicks to realize fast followers, so it’s actually changing into much less and fewer concerning the artwork of creating music, and extra about who can get probably the most streams. Nevertheless, I imagine 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 folks praising different’s music, however I don’t assume that needs 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 comfortable 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 as we speak?
Ehson Hashemian: Sure, the time with the band undoubtedly helped me understand the necessity for positivity and connectivity in my music as we speak. We wrote music to uplift folks, and I nonetheless proceed to write down to uplift myself and any potential listener.
- How have your experiences outdoors of music—life, relationships, reflection—influenced the emotional core of Imagine?
Ehson Hashemian: My experiences outdoors of music fully formed the emotional core of “Imagine.” Whereas going by means of some tough occasions with my psychological and bodily well being, I needed to discover a solution to escape the sensation of helplessness and imagine in myself once more. Taking issues at some point at a time and studying to push by means of the ache is actually what the album is all about.
- Do you’re feeling freer now as a solo artist, or is the strain completely different when it’s simply your title on the duvet?
Ehson Hashemian: I undoubtedly really feel freer now, as I’m not creating music with the first focus being business success. My main focus is to only make the perfect music as I presumably can, to go away 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 certain there will probably be criticism, however I select to make use of the constructive criticism to develop as an artist, and ignore the frequent conception that you need to have hundreds of thousands of streams to be thought of profitable.
- You’ve launched 4 albums in only a few years—how do you retain the inventive hearth alive with out burning out?
Ehson Hashemian: I undoubtedly take some breaks after making a bunch of songs or an album. Nevertheless, going by means of completely different hardships in life, I are likely to see music as an escape from actuality at occasions, so the higher the music I make, the better it feels to get by means of the times. I’ll typically simply have a music thought come to me that I’ll work on, however I often simply decide 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 Imagine—not simply lyrically, however emotionally?
Ehson Hashemian: I hope they’ll discover some reduction from any hardship they’re going by means of. 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 doubtlessly dancing to a number of the songs.
- Are there any Easter eggs or hidden connections within the lyrics or preparations that longtime followers may discover?
Ehson Hashemian: Sure, a number of the songs have some references to different songs throughout the album, however only a few.
- Will we be seeing a tour or dwell performances to assist Imagine, and what can followers anticipate out of your stage present?
Ehson Hashemian: I don’t plan on enjoying dwell anytime quickly. Probably if issues change drastically, however my present mindset is to make music solely as a recording artist.
- How do you assume your Southern California roots affect the sound or temper of your music as we speak?
Ehson Hashemian: My Southern California roots undoubtedly affect the sound of my music, because the seashore has at all times been a spot for me to search out inspiration. The usually sunny climate additionally helps me keep as optimistic as potential to make uplifting songs. Aside from that, rising up with a very good group of musician pals within the space undoubtedly helped me be taught to hear critically and create my very own sound.
- If Imagine is just the start of this subsequent chapter, what’s the following dream or musical course you’re hoping to pursue?
Ehson Hashemian: I’ve truly already completed monitoring 4 extra albums after the “Imagine” album, so I will probably be regularly releasing an increasing number of music quickly. I don’t wish to bombard folks with an excessive amount of music directly, so I’ll most likely launch an album yearly or so. All of my newer work is concentrated on positivity and being as optimistic as potential, much like the “Imagine” 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
