Music goes beyond skin deep for Ethan Regan. Piercing the surface, he’s not just singing and playing guitar; he’s laying his emotions bare, getting out those words that we don’t always say when we should, and practicing the best kind of therapy—out loud. As a vocalist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer, the North Carolina native shapes each facet of his artistry, architecting soundscapes, performing every part, and belting right from the soul. Sonically, he fuses gentle, yet heartfelt folk with alternative experimentation, going as far as to pull inspiration from rock, hip-hop, and funk. Scoring millions of streams and attracting an ardent (and growing) audience, he connects at a core level through a series of singles for Columbia Records and more to come. “When I wouldn’t understand something in the past, a lot of that manifested itself in frustration,” he admits. “After I started releasing music, a lot of the frustration went away. I could sit with things, make art, and not be upset about a situation. Instead, I’m using music therapeutically. It changed how I saw and thought about the world.” Born in Raleigh, his family settled in Charlotte by the time he turned five-years-old. In the car, dad’s iPod shuffled between Limp Bizkit and The Notorious B.I.G., while mom introduced him to alternative and classic country a la Willie Nelson. Even though they encouraged him to learn guitar with lessons, his interest in the instrument waivered until he stumbled upon a YouTube clip of Damien Rice at a festival. “He was alone with an acoustic guitar in front of a massive crowd, and I knew that’s what I wanted to do and how I wanted my life to go,” he reveals. Not long after, Ethan started to drop D.I.Y. projects as a freshman in high school. He taught himself how to produce on Ableton and shared his compositions at a prolific pace. While attending Penn State for college, he found himself at a crossroads… “I was in a place where I needed to make a choice in terms of what I wanted to do,” he states. “So, I began posting on TikTok a lot, nearly twice daily every day.” Eventually, “Durham” incited a viral frenzy. Its popularity crossed over to DSPs, amassing 1.7 million Spotify streams. “Once ‘Durham’ resonated, I realized, ‘Okay, this can sort of touch people, and it has value. I want to chase that’,” he goes on. Among many highlights, “My Fault” reeled in 1.8 million Spotify streams, while “Secrecy” surpassed 2.9 million Spotify streams. He picked up the pace in 2024 with the fan favorites “katherine,” “fine china,” and “peach tree.” Along the way, he progressed into a formidable performer on stage galvanized by hundreds of shows and dates with everyone from Rainbow Kitten Surprise to Chelsea Cutler and Jeremy Zucker. Building on this foundation, he packed houses on his first headline run in 2025. Setting the stage for his next chapter, he caught the attention of Columbia Records and signed to the label. Written, recorded, and produced by Ethan, the single “spaceman” weaves deftly plucked acoustic guitar into a tapestry of layered vocals and hazy harmonies. From the jump, Ethan’s stark honesty strikes a chord as he confesses, “I’m a little lost here. If you wanted me to make it better, why I gotta do it alone?” Without overcomplicating the emotion, he evokes bold imagery through plainspoken lyrics like, “Sunset stole my thunder” and “I wear my clothes, you wear designer.” “I allowed myself the freedom to explore different vibes in the studio that I hadn’t explored before,” he reveals. “The background vocals really drive the song. It’s basically about feeling a disconnect from a person you want to be close to. It could be due to a situation in this individual’s life, but something is keeping you separated from one another other. With the acoustic nature and vocal layering, it’s almost like I’m calling to this person through the glass. The beginning is incredibly folk, but there are big harmonies that wouldn’t be out of place in a church. It also has some hip-hop cadences and funky bass. It’s a giant step closer to how I want to sound.” For as much as this music may be like therapy for Ethan, it might also feel the same way for you. “If you listen to me, I hope you feel heard,” he leaves. “Maybe you’re hearing a song that explains a situation you felt like you could never explain or even comprehend. When I meet fans and they tell me how my songs impact them, there’s no bigger reward. I don’t need anything else out of this besides knowing someone else felt understood.”