I caught up with Etta Marcus, just over a week after the release of her debut EP, View from the Bridge. Her excitement and enthusiasm were evident from the outset until she explained that her excitement was because her mum had just bought her a new electric toothbrush!
This amusing moment on our Zoom call is a great insight into the engaging personality of the young singer-songwriter from London. Whether discussing music, guitars, performing or electric toothbrushes, Marcus has an infectious but thoughtful enthusiasm.
The Indiependent: I presume it has been a busy couple of weeks since your EP was released. How have you found it all?
Marcus: The first week was less exciting than you probably imagine. It’s both climatic—finally getting your music out there—and also anti-climatic, waiting to see the reaction. We celebrated the launch with a party where I played an acoustic version of the EP tracks. It was fun to celebrate with close friends and family and all the people involved in the creation of the EP. Matt Maltese was there and the people involved in the production of the video for Salt Lake City. For the week after launch, I didn’t have too much planned but I am already busy with the next project.
The Indiependent: You mention your private EP launch set, do you have any gigs planned?
Marcus: I am still quite new to gigging. I started doing open mic nights in pubs but so far I have only done four gigs of my own! I am going to be busy supporting Matt Maltese and also Tom Odell on tour.
The Indiependent: What can we expect from seeing Etta Marcus live?
Marcus: Just me and my guitar and a pedalboard! That’s how I started off and that’s how I feel most comfortable. Standing on stage at somewhere like Brixton Academy is a daunting thought but such an incredible venue.
The Indiependent: Are you playing with an acoustic guitar?
Marcus: No, I use an electric, a telecaster. I started off using a Gretsch because I liked the warmer tones as you would get from an acoustic. But, I have progressed to a ‘tele’ because I wanted something with a bit of a twang—something a bit different to the sound from an acoustic. On the EP I wanted a seventies-esque sound so we also used Jaguar guitars.
The Indiependent: You seem clear with what sound you wanted from the EP but given this is your debut, what statement did you want to make with this release?
Marcus: I didn’t set out with anything in mind. It was only after the first track, ‘View from the bridge’ that things became clearer. I guess music is a timestamp of where you are at that point in your life. The EP ended up being deeper and heavier than I intended and in some ways the opening track reconciles everything. “What is your view from the bridge? Are you looking from the top? Sitting on the edge? Looking up from the bottom or just enjoying the view?”
The Indiependent: So, after the first track did you set out to have a theme? What links the tracks?
Marcus: There isn’t an obvious link but I did try to get everything in order. The EP is meant to be listened to in the track order it is intended. It is not something to be put on shuffle. I do believe in listening to albums in the order that the artist created them. As for the link, I think the EP is about universal sentiments: loss, regret and false hope. I think mostly about false hope.
The Indiependent: On the EP, there is a real richness to your voice, a Lordesque quality, that only serves to highlight higher range/falsetto parts. But, at the same time, there is a real melodic quality to the music, particularly the ear-worm on “Hide and Seek”. What comes first for you, the lyrics or the music?
Marcus: Without a doubt, the music! Melody is so important to me. I can write an entire song of just the music and then add the lyrics. But, lyrics are very important. I can spend a long time perfecting the lyrics.
The Indiependent: Can you talk us through the process of creating ‘View from the bridge’ as this is your first EP?
Marcus: ’View from the Bridge’ and ‘Confessional’ I self wrote in their entirety and Matt Maltese, who was involved in helping me produce the EP, challenged me to make edits. I wrote half of ‘Hide and Seek’ at home and then finished off in the studio. ‘Salt Lake City’ was different again, as this was “birthed” in the studio while we were having a bit of fun.
The Indiependent: How are you with collaboration and being challenged given this is your music?
Marcus: I am open-minded but I also push back. It’s hard not to push back when you have written the full song. I allow them to say their piece and try and take a step back but it’s hard when it’s your work. ‘Confessional’ is where we had the most friction and clashing ideas. But, ultimately, as cliched as it sounds, it is about trusting in the process.
The Indiependent: Now you’ve expressed the pride you have in your work and writing, what’s your favourite lyric?
Marcus: That’s a difficult one. I do like the opening lines to ‘Hide and Seek,’ “ Face down in the gutter//I should stay here forever//I’m the hole in your sweater//The splinter in your finger” but I think my favourite lyric is the one which makes me laugh when I play it. The line from ‘Confessional,’ “Kicked out of school, I don’t work, I don’t brush my teeth.”
The Indiependent: I particularly like the line from ‘Hide and Seek,’ “You can wash your skin, you’ll still find me within.”
Marcus: Yes, that’s meant to capture the creepiness of that situation. Just like the line “I’ll be right next to you whether you want me.” [Laughs]
The Indiependent: I have read several references to some of your stated influences such as Jeff Buckley, Fountains of Wayne, David Bowie and Richard Hawley all of whom are cool. The singer-songwriter scene is also strong at the moment with people coming through like Holly Humberstone. How do you take those influences and differentiate yourself?
Marcus: I don’t try to be different. I think my voice and my songwriting are what should define me. I believe in going and writing what you want. It is important not to be trying to copy a particular voice or style. I also don’t want to be pigeon-holed. View from the Bridge has a certain heavy vibe but I don’t want to be known as “the sad song girl”
The Indiependent: Someone has gone out on a date and brings their date back and wants to impress them by putting on an Etta Marcus song, which song should they choose?
Marcus: I am not sure anything from View from the Bridge really works as it’s all a bit heavy. If I had to pick one it would be ‘Hide and Seek’ as sonically it’s the most uplifting. I think it’s the kind of song that fits an indie movie!
The Indiependent: And what vibe or ambience should they set to do justice to listening to ‘Hide and Seek’?
Marcus: Definitely a dark room with dim lighting. Or, it would make a good car song. Some music is definitely great for listening to in the car and this is one.
The Indiependent: Thank you for your time, Etta. Your mum records a message of advice on ‘Confessional,’ if you were to give a message what would it be?
Marcus: I think it would be similar to the message my mum gave on that track. Sometimes things can get a little heavy. Don’t let those situations paralyse you and time will heal.
Interview conducted by Andrew Butcher
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