In the Betweenness with Ethanol on “Pretty Cheap” [Video Premiere]
"There were a few experiences which largely inspired this single and the upcoming album as a whole,” solo pop artist Ethan Rozario told Wormbrain of “Pretty Cheap,” the lead single off his project Ethanol’s latest album Mirror Stage. “First, looking through my parents’ old Hi-8 tapes, I became very interested in the past those tapes showed — my own past, which I felt so disconnected from, and which still played a large part in shaping my current life.”
To listen to Ethanol is to take a bossanova-soaked R&B trip across Rozario’s keyboard and through his fuzzy psychedelic reflections. The upcoming album will be the 22 year old’s second release with fellow Richmond, VA natives Citrus City Records, who also re-issued his debut album Meet People and Learn last year. Beyond this project, he is also a member of synth-punk outfit Teenage Cenobite and keyboardist for singer-songwriter Levi Douthit.
Ethanol and Citrus City are sharing the music video today with W.W:
“Second, driving on the highway, I was drawn to the sense of being between places while moving at an incredible speed. Driving from my childhood home to my apartment, or from my apartment to a friend’s house downtown, I felt that sense of betweenness almost every time I was behind the wheel. That sense paired with the highway zipping by in long trails of light gave the impression of my own life at the time: quick movement without a stable resting place.”
Bringing this storyboard vision together with his friend Levi Douthit, the concept for the “Pretty Cheap” music video was born. “I thought that the sense of uprootedness from the past and the sense of betweenness would tie together nicely in a story where a guy drives to a party, reclusively reflects to himself while he’s there, and faces some hostility without motive.” With the help of others, the blurry stumble and dance through a kickback became the stellar video it did. “It ended up being a much larger collaborative effort than I initially thought it would be. I’m really grateful to all the hands that went into making this video, and I’m so excited to share the end result!"
Photo courtesy of the artist.
Photo courtesy of the artist.
Now a full decade into his musical journey, producing since the age of 12, Ethanol’s upcoming sophomore record Mirror Stage recalls the strangeness of existence, the arguable cheapness of life, and Rozario offers, “[the] trouble parsing the commercial spaces around me, the faces of friends, the link between me and my family, and even my own reflection. I stood in a space apart from all those things, and in that empty space I needed something to declare myself into existence. That's where I think this album largely played a role.” Stay tuned for the rest of Ethanol’s declaration this winter.
“I became very interested in the past... — my own past, which I felt so disconnected from, and which still played a large part in shaping my current life.”
W.W: What is Wormbrain?
ER: What is Ethanol?
W.W: Thank you for sharing with Wormbrain.
Ethanol’s Mirror Stage will be released Friday, December 3rd, 2021 everywhere through Richmond, VA label Citrus City Records.
