Georgia-raised singer-songwriter Seth Ennis has carved an ardent fanbase for himself since the release of ‘Woke Up in Nashville’ in 2017. Having taken a hiatus from music, Ennis returned this year with the single ‘I Still Do’ followed by ‘U-Turn.’ Here, we interview Seth about the release, his new music and why he feels so confident in his new music.
Hey, how are you doing Seth?
Not bad thanks!
We were just saying, we can’t wait to finally be able to have gigs and cross the Atlantic again. How has the last year been for you in terms of releasing new music again – has it felt refreshing? Have you also found the last year a creative space to adapt as an artist?
It’s been crazy. I mean, over the pandemic, all I’ve been doing is creating music – that’s all there is right now, so it’s been really good. It’s been really fun. I’ve been writing with a bunch of other artists, because they’ve been in town, obviously and that’s been great. I’m really excited about some things that are coming out.
At the beginning of the pandemic the big thing was doing Zoom writes – it was the absolute worst, because you’re talking over each other and there’s the latency, especially when somebody is running a track or singing something and you’re a little bit off. It was not something that I was very good at.
I’m kind of glad we never really properly viewed it as ‘normal.’ Congratulations on the release of ‘U-Turn,’ we’ve been loving it and it’s so good to hear you come back with new music. Can you talk about the evolution of that song and why you chose the songs you did as your lead-out tracks for this year?
Yeah, so that was actually a song that I played on tour with Dylan Scott, and it obviously wasn’t out yet, but people would always love it. They would always tweet me or DM me and ask ‘when will U-Turn be out?’ for years. When I decided I was going to put music out again, I was going to come out with that one first and then decided that ‘I Still Do’ was the one, because I just wanted something that was really loud and in your face. It was funny because I was hoping that people would love that song, but then comment ‘where’s U-Turn’ and that kind of happened. It built up the anticipation a little more for ‘U-Turn.’
They played into your hands! Obviously you’re going to be a father soon – do you feel that that has affected the way you’re writing and creating music going forward?
Oh, absolutely, I’ve heard songwriter friends talk about this before, when you have a kid or find out you’re having a kid, it opens up this whole new part of your brain and your heart for writing. That definitely has happened for me, I’ve written a lot of dad songs over the last couple months and I’m probably going to be putting a couple out soon.
It’s nice to hear that. Obviously, you’ve taken this hiatus and I really loved your statement that you wrote on social media – it was so refreshing to see an artist talk so honestly and be so frank about the journey that they’ve been on. It’s so important for your fans to see that and see that authentic side. How much do you think that your music has changed sonically and how you are approaching your releases?
It feels like the music I’m putting out now is what I wanted to sound like. I think before I was trying to keep within these parameters and now it’s like I’ve removed those and I’m just like ‘let’s go and see what happens’. You have to find your fanbase and I think the best way to do that – and the most honest way to do that – is just to do what you think is cool. I get messages from people who say, ‘I don’t like country music, but my friend dragged me to the show and I like your music’ – I found those fans in that weird genre-blurred line.
Country as a genre is so diverse these days. People say that they’re not fans of country music, because they’re thinking of the traditional stuff – it’s so broad and diverse with all these new voices who are bringing unique and new fresh sounds into the genre.
It’s not even like the first time that this has happened. I remember when people said that Florida Georgia Line weren’t going to work and when people said, even further back, that Vince Gill wasn’t going to work. You can’t find anybody now who doesn’t think that he’s country. I just don’t want to be scared of looking back one day and being like, ‘Dang, what would have happened if I had made the music I actually wanted to make.’ I think, right now, I’m freely making music and whatever happens happens.
Speaking of leading out with ‘I Still Do,’ were you pleasantly surprised by the response and seeing how ardently fans had stuck by you over the years?
Yeah, for sure. Honestly, when I put out that statement, I was kind of nervous about it, to be honest, because I didn’t know if people had forgotten about me, or if they even cared anymore, if I needed to say anything at all. Then I was like, ‘You know what, the people that listen to my music and have encouraged me through all this and come to my shows, they deserve honesty from me.’ I’m trying to be sonically and lyrically honest. I just wanted to be honest, as an artist, with my fans.
I think that statement will have impact in its authenticity. People see all the sides of you as a person and that’s really important.
For sure, I think the support on that was the biggest thing for me, even more so than when ‘I Still Do’ came out, knowing that people still have my back and are still here for me, and want to make me feel good as an artist.
For the rest of the year, obviously things are getting back to normal, have you got more live shows and more music coming out?
Yeah, so I do have a baby coming in the fall and so I’m going to continue to release music, but as far as touring, I don’t know, it’s going to be tough to leave here with the baby. I mean, I’m itching to get on the road, as soon as I can, I’m going to be out.
Of course, well congratulations and we can’t wait to hear the new music when it’s out. Thank you for taking the time to chat with us today and we can’t wait to see you in the UK before too long!
Thank you so much, appreciate the time.
