ESHAAN takes elements of pop, indie and electronic, merging them with influences from his upbringing, to create music. Coming to him quite literally in a dream, 'Back To The Future' aims to bring listeners into ESHAAN's persistent search for a conceptually perfect world.
"Forward is backward, my dreams unanswered
I don’t belong here but something’s tryna make me stay"
ESHAAN's first ever live performance was at none other than the Sydney Gay And Lesbian Mardi Gras – making his live debut one to remember. He was joined by a multitude of fellow LGBTQIA+ artists.
We get to know ESHAAN a little more, and have a chat about 'Back To The Future'.
For those unfamiliar, tell us a bit about ESHAAN.
ESHAAN is an extension of myself, I look at him as a sort of alter ego as he is quite different to who I am as a person. ESHAAN’s goal is to convey the untold side of a story, behind the facade of that person who is always happy is some sort of sadness, so this is what ESHAAN is.
Who/what are some of your influences musically?
My biggest influences would have to be Flume, ASHWARYA, CXLOE, BROODS, Tove Lo, Troye Sivan, BANKS, RÜFÜS DU SOL and BENEE. I have employed something from each artist, whether it be their lyricism or their music itself. My end goal is to make the weirdest thing I can but have it translate pleasantly to the ear. Taking techniques from music made by RÜFÜS DU SOL, Tove Lo and Flume to make the track, whilst taking influence from the intricate and unusual lyricism from BENEE and BROODS, I feel like I’m able to create something unique that is my own.
This is your very first release. What are you most excited about when it comes to putting ‘Back To The Future’ out into the world?
I think the biggest thing that excites me is being able to slowly start constructing a world where people can escape to, for me music means more than just something you hear. It can really impact how you live in your day-to-day life. The one thing I hope my music can do, is to have the ability to be placed into any one person’s life no matter their circumstances, and I feel that ‘Back To The Future’ is the perfect first step toward this. As this is my debut I’m beyond excited to finally see people engage with my music, after what seemed like forever. I’m so eager for people to be able to share what I’ve felt, to be able to find relativity in my music.
As a queer act, is there any one particular LGBTQIA+ musician you have looked up to over the years?
It would have to be Troye Sivan. Although our music is worlds apart there is definitely an influence in there that has shaped how ESHAAN sounds. Although you said one, I do also have to mention Tove Lo and FLETCHER. I grew up with them especially whilst navigating sexuality and the acceptance of myself, so I wouldn’t be here without them.
And now, as someone who has emerged, what advice do you have for young, up and coming queer musicians wanting to get their voices heard?
Biggest thing I would say would be to stay true to yourself, never ever change how you want your story to be told because at the end of the day, IT’S YOUR STORY! There will always be someone there who listens and understands what you are trying to convey. So follow your dreams and work hard. It might not happen at the drop of a hat but I promise it will happen. Be able to take feedback and apply it into what you do and take every opportunity provided because you never know who you might meet! Don’t forget your roots and always know that the queer community is here for you. Being part of the queer community is probably the best thing, because no matter what you do, we will always be here to support you and help you grow as a person and an artist.
Where does the inspiration behind ‘Back To The Future' come from?
‘Back To The Future’ actually came to me after I had a dream of performing on a stage in front of millions of people, so while I was having that dream, my alarm went off and as I woke up I felt that euphoria get taken away. The rest of that day I felt miserable because I just wanted to go back to a future to what in my eyes, was perfect. I got home and just wrote a story of how I got there, then I wrote how I was feeling and then put some chords to it and then had a rough demo.
Why did you feel you wanted to put this concept into music, and how are you hoping listeners respond?
It just perfectly tied into what I wanted this first phase of ESHAAN to be, which is searching for perfection and navigating the uncertainty of life. I know nearly everyone has had a dream and woken up wanting to go back, so the biggest thing I hope listeners do is be able to apply it into their own lives and navigate what they are feeling alongside me.
You performed for the first time at Mardi Gras’ Fair Day. What was that like?!
Honestly CRAZY! I was so, so, so nervous because it was my very first live show and to have that be in front of 6,000 people, was crazy. But, in the end, I swallowed my nervousness and gave it my all and hoped for the best. It was amazing to have performed my first show in front of my community because as I said before, they are probably the most supportive community in the world. But yeah, to say it was wild (in a good way) is an understatement.
What’s next for ESHAAN?
We do have a very exciting year ahead of us for ESHAAN, more music to come, some really exciting live shows coming up as well, but within this next year we really just want to connect with people and have them enter the world of ESHAAN and hopefully stay while we go back to the future!
ESHAAN's debut single 'Back To The Future' is out now.
