A brief chat with Etana

Yellow Scene: IRise is your fourth album – how do you think you’ve evolved in that time?

Etana: The vocals are bigger. The lyrics, to me, are much deeper than before. If you listen to the first three albums, you can see the growth in everything – in the writing, the arrangements and everything. It’s just bigger to me than the others. They’re all fine productions, I just feel this one is a little bigger.

YS: You’ve done amazing work helping children orphaned by Ebola – how did you get involved?

E: I’ve always been a part of different charity organizations, always a part if something that is helpful to someone else and especially children. Two organizations called regarding the Ebola campaign, and people thought that it was fitting for me to join in with them. My “Better Tomorrow” song was also pitched to them. That song came from a story about a little boy who was searching in the dump for food, and for plastic bottles.

YS: Have you played Colorado before?

E: Yes, once or twice in Denver. I always have a good time in Colorado – I love it there.

YS: What are your plans for the set?

E: I’m coming with my own band – usually, when I’ve been before, I ended up in some places with a pick-up band. This time, we’ve been touring and working together for two years now. It’s just a better show. We’ve all grown together now, so we’re coming as a stronger unit.

YS: When this tour’s over, what’s next?

E: After finishing the US tour, I’m going over to the EU and also London. A few places around the UK. Then I’m coming back to the US, then back to Europe again.