Eric Ethridge
As the winner of the CCMA Discovery Program, we caught up with Eric Ethridge before and after he found out about his award. Before knowing that he won, Eric noted,
I’ve always want to write with is Derric Ruttan. He’s a prolific writer and keeps pumping out hits over the years in both Canada and the U.S.. Hopefully someday I’ll get a chance to write one with him!
Immediately after he won, we asked him if he thinks he has a better chance of writing with Derric Ruttan now, and Eric said
I sure hope so, I’m a big fan!
What is your favourite songwriting experience so far?
Working with Toronto-based songwriters Travis Wood and Gavin Slate has probably been my favourite songwriting experience thus far. They’re easy to work with, they have great instincts and never settle on a line. Every time I’ve sat down with them, a great song has come out of it.
Which artists (from anywhere) do you look up to the most?
I would say that I tend look up to a specific type of artist, as opposed to any one artist in particular. I’m always impressed by artists that are genuine, have a great work ethic, and amidst their fame and celebrity, manage to remain humble. I have a lot of respect for artists that give their fans the time of day, and use their social influence to create positive change.
What has brought you here to this moment, becoming a discovery artist?
Becoming a discovery artist has been a culmination of so many different experiences in my life, and it is all still very surreal to me. I decided two and half years ago, while pursuing a career as a chiropractor, to shift my focus to my passion for singing and songwriting. I guess it was one of those “now or never” moments in my life. When you decide to follow a dream, you leave yourself vulnerable to failure and criticism. It’s terrifying! I came to the conclusion that would rather fail putting my heart and soul into something than regret never trying. So I took a leap of faith. A lot of risks, a lot of hard work from my band members and I, a lot of support from loved ones, and the kindness of some great mentors is what I believe has brought me to to this point.
How did it feel when you found out?
When I applied to the Discovery Program I knew how low the odds of getting accepted were. When I was selected as one of the top 6, I was in complete shock. I also had an overwhelming feeling of validation for the first time as artist. Often times there is a lot of self-doubt that tends to creep in as you make career decisions in the music industry. In a lot of ways this opportunity has validated my efforts, successes and failures over the last couple of years. I feel honoured that I’ve been chosen to be among such fantastic artists in the Discovery Program!
What can we expect from you over the next year?
I have recently just finished my debut single, which is set to release for the fall of 2016 on Canadian radio. We are currently in the process of putting together the Debut EP which I hope to release in the summer of 2017.
As the winner of the program, Eric receives a CMT One Shot video shoot compliments of CMT Canada, SOCAN support via a week’s worth of accommodations at Nashville House, production and recording courtesy of Barrytone Studios, cash prizing from Stingray, industry-related prizing supplied by Strut Entertainment, and more.
