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EDWARD ANTHONY: INTERVIEW

[as originally published on unclearmag.com]

American recording artist, actor, and activist, Edward Anthony is excited to return to music with his upcoming album, Them. His new album is a collection of duets with his former self that explores the changes he has experienced in both his personal life and music. The release of his new album represents the beginning of a new era that will allow Edward to fully embrace his new self. Edward will continue to pursue his self-expression through music and create art, while also continuing to support the causes that are important to him, including: LGBTQ+ rights, animal adoption and rescue, and breast cancer research.

How would you describe your music to new listeners?

Edward: “I would describe it as a bit eclectic. I don’t usually know the direction I’m headed while I’m creating, so things can go a lot of different ways. It’s also always hard to describe from a listening perspective when you’ve been behind the creating wheel for so long.”

How are you feeling leading up to the release of your new album?

Edward: “A bit nervous, to be honest. This is my first project in a while and it’s a project that has a lot more personal meaning to me than anything else I’ve done, so it’s a little intimidating thinking about putting it out into the world. It also was put together in a way that I’ve never done before, so that alone creates some nerves.”

Can you tell me a little bit about your new album, Them?

Edward: “This album is a collaboration of sorts with my song archives. I wanted to create something that bridges what I’ve done with what I’m moving into. It’s a transitional state marker in a way.”

What did the writing process look like for this album?

Edward: “It was a bit different than what I’ve done before since I was unearthing ideas from years and years ago and trying to revive them from a different perspective. I had to find a middle of honoring the past while putting a new spin on it for the future.”

What does the release of this new album represent for you?

Edward: “The start of a new era, mainly. It was kind of the final hurdle in everything and a way to put everything going on into an outlet.”

Besides music, what have you found to be some helpful ways to cope with change?

Edward: “I find that the best way I’ve dealt with change is ripping off the bandaid, honestly. If I think about it for too long, I paralyze myself by overthinking. Sometimes you just have to jump in no matter how scary it feels.”

Do you feel that your creative process has changed from your older music? If so, how?

Edward: “Definitely. It’s gone through stages throughout the years. But especially after taking a break and having a lot of life things change, it’s become something very different. I look at the purpose for creating music very differently than I used to as well. It used to be either for fun or for a goal, but now it’s become more of a thing for myself.”

What do you hope your listeners will take away from the music on the new album?

Edward: “I hope someone is able to find something they can connect to within it. This was something I made to process my own emotions, but I hope someone who has felt something similar can find solace in it too.”

In your opinion, what makes music a great form of self-expression?

Edward: “It’s a way to put and express emotion directly through a written story. There’s something about music — and especially singing, for me — that allows for letting emotion out that nothing else quite does in the same way.”

Do you believe that this album has helped you with the transition from your former self into who you are now? How so?

Edward: “I think so. It was probably one of the harder things I’ve done throughout this process because it was something so personal and daunting. It was one thing to quietly go through everything, but putting it into something tangible and out there was another.”

What are you most looking forward to following the release of the new album?

Edward: “Being able to feel like I can officially start this new chapter and continue creating. This project has been almost a weight that has kept me from feeling fully new. Of course, I enjoyed it and am proud of it, but at the same time, it being officially released will feel like a weight lifted.”

If you could leave any message for your former self, what would you want to say?

Edward: “I would just say, ‘You’ll get there.’ A lot of times things can feel confusing and not right when we’re not even sure why, but taking things one step at a time and letting time do its thing can help clear things up. There’s enough time for change at any stage.”

Are there any performances and/or projects that we can look forward to in the future?

Edward: “Nothing official or set in stone yet, but I definitely plan to continue on creating.”