Ethan Weitz - Carolina

Ethan Weitz

Carolina 
self-released; 2014

3.4 out of 5

By Ted Rogen

Ethan Weitz is a twenty-one-year-old solo artist from Virginia who is currently studying music in college. One of the most obvious things someone who is studying music would want to do is record their own music and that is precisely what Weitz did. He released a five-song album entitled Carolina that he recorded, mixed and mastered himself. He recorded it in his basement with one mic and it sounds about how you would expect. There are numerous production issues I won’t get into but the songs do give a somewhat decent representation of his capabilities.

After listening to Carolina it’s obvious that Weitz has some innate talent when it comes to technical ability on the piano. He also a decent voice and some songwriting chops. That being said Weitz is young man whom in my opinion probably hasn’t tapped into his potential yet. You can almost sense it in the songs and can tell by the inspired fleeting moments.

The songs on Carolina are soft, light and covered in a good amount of melancholy. At his best Weitz has some slight comparisons to Sufjan Stevens. You hear this on the song “Lonely Eyes,” which are revolves a lightly picked acoustic guitar and strategically placed notes on piano. Weitz’s lyrics are poetic and thought provoking. He delivers them in a hushed tone as he sings, “Lonely eyes, and the trees are singing Gloria, and my ears are ringing So let's raise a glass to America Land of hope, where the lost look up.”

One of the highlights for me was ”Outlaw,” which is the most upbeat Weitz gets. The vibe is somber and festive at the same time if that makes sense. The bass line walks across the fret board as the drum provides a steady, even beat. Overall, the style fits Weitz and I could see him getting into more straight up bluegrass in the future.

Not everything works on Carolina but at this point the good outweighs the bad. It is obvious music is an important aspect of his life and the trajectory he is on points at better things to come. 

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