It's true -- I am not dead yet!
But of course, I have some explaining to do for anyone who cares enough about me or my music / wants to read me yapping about it. If you don't care about that, this post probably isn't for you, and I wish you well nonetheless / am grateful you are here.
2026 Music Plan
First and foremost, I am releasing three (3) full-length projects this year.
- A mixtape, produced by a friend, that I mentioned 2 years ago in my first post, is first in line.
It has mostly been complete the entire time since then (this is a common theme). There is not a title or a cover for it yet, but it's done, and I'm very proud of the work that myself and my collaborator did. I expect this sometime this Spring 2026.
- Another mixtape called "July 4th Ball.", which I made from January-December 2025
It's something I made in the midst of an unproductive and musically dim year, following 2024, but I am extremely happy with it and excited for everyone to hear it. I made it as an exercise in simplicity and because I was burnt out trying to make high-effort music. This will come out July 4th, 2026.
- And finally, "I Lost So Much Time" (common theme...), the "country album" formerly known as "Soops Goes Home"
There isn't much to say about this one. An electronic, singer-songwriter, "country" (in a sort of postmodern sense) album. My longest album. My most personal, hard to create and subsequently to release, album. Something I made as part of the grieving and the losses of a parental figure and a childhood friend. I am very happy it will finally come out. It was always the plan to release this album on a very special date of personal significance to me, December 24th, so it will come out this December 24th, 2026.
Venting at this point
Pretty much, it's been some rough, demoralizing years for me and music -- and I almost gave up, tbh. Of course, I can't complain too much. In some ways, these years only deepened my love for music, as I dealt with writer's block, impostor syndrome, fear of opening up, close friends moving away and leaving music etc. I feel as though it all helped me get to where I am right now.
I set my sights very high with the work on the country album from the beginning (it began work in 2022), and that project spiralled out of control. I would have loved to get it out in 2023, to be honest, but each time I missed a deadline, the fear of releasing it became greater and greater. To be even more honest, I pretty much haven't done much major work on it past 2023. If you hear it, be aware that you are hearing a memory of a memory. The main reason I now feel comfortable to release it is because of my emotional distance from it.
This year, I would like to do my best to let the music breathe in open air and be released from my care. Hopefully, it will be enjoyable for those of you who listen.
If you're impatient
If you're upset with me for taking so long to put music out / particularly interested in hearing what I've been up to, I'm going to have a few methods of "early access."
As of right now, "July 4th Ball" is available on [untitled] for $9.99 in early access (WIP/90% complete state). The others will be up in due time!
I'm happy to send people the work in progress versions of them for a donation above $10 each over my email as well. Reach out to me at ethel@ethel1.com if interested. I am hoping this will be a good insight into the process. I take Cash App or Venmo, lol...
— Ethel