We had a chat with rapidly emerging Texas-based musician Eraste following the release of her excellent new single ‘Tragedy’
21-year-old self- taught singer and instrumentalist has spent the last few years establishing her fiercely unique brand of alternative pop, winning over a raft of supporters and acclaim in the process thanks to a litany of thoughtful, instantly memorable releases.
The latest of which is the artist’s new single ‘Tragedy’, a gorgeous, synth-laden release that feels as graceful and lush as it does hard-hitting. This intensity and drive comes as much from the lyrics as it does the track itself, with themes like obsession and intensity in relationships making for a narrative of heartbreak and hardship that can feel really impactful. We love this new track, and figured that this would be the perfect time to get to know a bit more about an artist who is still just 21-years-old.
Who TF is Eraste?
WOULDN’T WE ALL LIKE TO KNOW LOL. In my first EP “crashing every party” the opening line is, “You can never really know me because I don’t really know me.” A common thread in my musical journey are themes of self-discovery and self-loathing HA. But I think the core of who I am as an artist is that I want to live life as vulnerable and open as I can be, and share those moments in my music. My writing is always auto-biographical, so when you listen you can really get a sense of who I am as a person. I like that it’s so revealing, but it’s also terrifying haha. I’m just a person trying to navigate my broken parts and share them in the only way that makes sense to me. Oh, also I am a sad girl. A very very sad girl. Haha.
How long have you been making music?
My whole life but I’ve been releasing since 2020. I remember sitting in a college class and the professor said something that really stuck with me, “If you don’t do what you feel like you were made to do, you are doing a disservice to the thing that created that in you” We could get ALL existential but I walked out of that college class and never looked back (despite the protests from my mom lol sorry sally) when the pandemic slowed everyone down I realized I wanted to chase this dream I’ve always had. I think I’ve really found my sound now, and I’m grateful I get to share it and people want to listen.
Why do you make music?
I honestly don’t have a choice. It’s just inside me you know? I always say that if I never released anything again, and never shared what I had to say again, I would still be drawn to writing and creating. A lot of artists are like “I do it for the fans! Everything I do is for the fans!” And while I get the sentiment, that doesn’t really apply to me. I make music for myself. And I think that’s what makes my music so special and relatable and intimate. It’s like I’m letting the listener in on a secret, like we are just sitting together talking about our feelings and reading my journal. I have to get my thoughts and emotions out, and if you’re born an artist you have no choice! It’s a blessing AND a curse. But the by-product of me regurgitating my AGONY onto the page and to a pop beat is that I can help people. The best thing anyone has ever said to me is “You have a gift of verbalizing a feeling that I couldn’t” and I love that it makes people feel less alone. And I think that’s why I share it, to make people feel less alone. (And because if I didn’t create I would quite literally go insane. Like I said, blessing AND a curse! But mostly a curse lol help)
What are your biggest influences?
TOP 40 BABY! Since I didn’t grow up in a musical household, I would just listen to whatever was on the radio, and so my love for pop music is a part of who I am. I vividly remember watching my sisters burn Rhianna’s new CD on our family computer (even though they NEVER let me use the CD player. Still bitter about that!) I’m honestly really grateful I learned about music from the songs topping the charts, because it made me fall in love with the idea of telling a whole story in a 3-minute song and to make hooks so irresistible anyone can enjoy it. Then once I got on the internet I fell in love with Tumblr, and albums like “Melodrama” and “Badlands” by Halsey and Lorde really changed my brain chemistry and the influence of Tumblr is everywhere in my music and visuals.
What would you say has been your best moment so far?
Signing with Cage Riot! It was so important to have someone believe in the art I was creating. When you spend so much time being the only one who believes in yourself, it means the world when someone affirms that what you’re doing is important. I had ZERO industry connections and so when I found a label that wanted to connect with me and give me the tools to succeed it was life-changing. Still is!
How would you describe your sound to somebody unfamiliar with it?
Ok. So you’re in the club, 3 lemon drops and 2 vodka sodas deep. You see your ex. You run to the bathroom. You cry. The song that’s playing in the background of that drunk vulnerable moment is me. It’s a feeling created with dark synth chords, sparkly pads, catchy hooks, and relatable lyrics. I thrive to make music that makes you feel those moments and brings you back to those memories, all while referencing the Hot 100 from the 2010s and the indie-pop of today.
What’s your dream “I’ve made it” moment?
When people sing back the words I’ve written. Some of my favorite lines I’ve ever written are from my single “habits” where I say, “people change and I should let them, GOD I’M SO FUCKING PATHETIC” and I think when I can hold the microphone out and everyone collectively shouts and releases and shares that collective experience I’ll feel like I’ve made it. There’s not a specific milestone, it’s just knowing that my words matter to people, and hearing that back would make me cry honestly.
We love your new single ‘Tragedy’, what more can you tell us about it?
Thank you so much! Oh yeah. This one hurt to write, it’s definitely one of my most revealing songs. I have this fear that I overwhelm people, that my love is too intense, that I’m always too much. One of my exes came back into my life and told me that I ruined them and that I needed to stop obsessing over them and writing about our love story. That was really hard to hear, and it kind of hit me where it hurts the most. I explored one of my deepest insecurities here, and I think picking at that wound, the rawness of the pain, really comes out on the track. I found myself bringing people into my world, making them love me and when it became too much for them they would leave and we would both be devastated. I felt like all I did was hurt everyone around me, even though that’s the total opposite of what I wanted to do. People are drawn to an intense all-consuming romance until it burns them. I felt like loving me always ended really horribly with heartbreak and betrayal, and the worst parts of myself came out when it was ending and I didn’t know how to stop it. I found it fitting that in a Greek tragedy, both of the lovers die in the end. When you love me neither of us makes it out alive. I intentionally made the track have a LOT of moving parts, I wanted the listener to feel overwhelmed with the amount of instrumentation to highlight what the words are saying. I think the huge chorus, and violins (ugh amazing) add so much to the track. It really makes you feel my desperation when I ask the question, “Why does loving me hurt so much?” I’m so happy you liked it and it resonated.
What else do you have planned for the near future?
I actually have a LOT planned for 2023. I think I’m really starting to come into my sound and I am fine tuning my songwriting more than ever. I just went through a devastating break-up and spiral era so yes expect lots of singles in the near future. Haha.
And finally, who is your biggest fan right now?
Honestly? My therapist Danica. She keeps me together, helps me grow, and keeps me from spiraling into more delusion than I already live in. We all need people who keep our delusions at a minimum!
