Foundations: Debut single by Daniel Etherton

Daniel Etherton recently released his debut single ‘Foundations’ and it offers much to be excited about. His heartfelt lyricism is affective but it is the polished indie pop sound of the single that shines. The Surrey-born singer-songwriter pairs his voice with a subtle but powerful guitar melody. This culminates into something you would hear at a local bar given the sense of community and warmth it brings.

‘Foundations’ is reminiscent of Rex Orange County’s ‘It’s Not the Same Anymore’ in both style and texture. Not only in sound, but Etherton even shares some vocal similarities. Etherton has also cited artists including The XX and Bon Iver as inspirations that have framed his sound.

‘Foundations’ carries a feeling of melancholy with it, lamenting the passing of time and all that is lost in the process. ‘Cherish those teenage years,’ pleas Etherton as he depicts his own “freefalling” and search for stability in life. This is mirrored in the stunning cover artwork by Mariana Loewy, further bolstering the imagery of Etherton’s messaging.

Where the song may be formulaic in places, it’s hard not to smile listening to the sheer humanity it exudes. From the outset, the track is buoyed by its authenticity. This is reflected in his approach to creating art; Etherton has stated ‘I’ve always found music, most genres, stabling and inspiring throughout my whole life.’ Etherton imbues his music with this notion in mind as “stabling” and “inspiring” are well representative of Foundation.

The single is short and sweet, making sure not to overstay its welcome as it clocks in at just over two and half minutes. Whilst this leaves you wishing for more, perhaps that is the point as this is only the beginning of what promises to be an exciting career for Daniel Etherton.

In isolation, there is no hinting that this is his debut single as it sounds far too well-crafted for that. It is rare to see an artist begin their career with such a fully formed vision and ability to execute it without concession. Recurring throughout, ‘Foundations’ is the motif of stepping stones, this appropriately characterizes Daniel Etherton as an artist. The single looks to serve as a stepping stone to a host of similarly creative and earnest melodies in his future.

‘Foundations’ is available to stream now on all major platforms.

Daniel Etherton
danieletherton.com
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Image: Jack Bool