The Methyl Ethel Interview - 'Are you haunted?' album release

Methyl Ethel, the Australian-born project birthed by Jake Webb in 2014, could be once described as Indie-pop. However, with the creation of his newest album, 'Are You Haunted?' Methyl Ethel has pushed the music forward into another category. The album flows with the same melodic glow you could expect, while the concept touches on a deeper subject entirely; the mortal condition. Although a casual listen could at one point have you dancing around the room, a second time through might wind you up in the fetal position with a tear in your eye. The Lyricism, heavy but inviting, touches on the milestones and milliseconds in life that escape, defeat and form us.

Turncoat got ahold of Jake Webb to learn about the creative process and influences that formed the profound piece.

How would you personally describe 'Are You Haunted?’

If we look at our lives as being a singular, individual experience. Born alone, die alone kind of thing. Then every person we’ve ever met, our parents included, are kind of these omnipresent figures who shape us. We’re haunted by all of these histories until the end. We also project these invisible traits onto people, the expectation that a person is going to act in a certain way is a sort of ghost of the real person. I think it’s interesting to think of this entire parallel universe of hopes about future self, anxiety over past self and all the imagined people that are in the world right now doing their thing, but invisible to us. It’s like, everything that exists, in a way, exists in your mind. Something like that maybe, or just a fun record with some nice piano and strings?!?

 

Did your creative process differ on the new project compared to older releases?

I spent a lot more time refining things, sitting with them, and more refining. I was also really brutal and deleted things relentlessly if they weren’t right. This time, I did everything myself, aside from mastering the record. It was really up to me, no excuses. 

Outside of music, where do you find creative influence?

I love going to spend time looking at art that I like, in the flesh. That and watching a lot of films, mostly European films. I think there is something about the visual medium that I find really inspiring. I also read a lot of books during the time I was making Are You Haunted? - I think about 12 or something - so they would’ve definitely had an impact.

’Are you Haunted?’ Is available on all major streaming platforms.

cover photo: Xan Thorrhoea