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One of the recurring themes of many spiritual traditions, from Christianity to Sufism, is the importance of being "in the world but not of it." The idea is that participation in public life and culture shouldn't compromise your ability to hold fast to your values. As a dedicated musician, Ethan Collister lives according to this principle.
In order to prioritize music in his life, Ethan has traveled everywhere from the Canadian prairies to the heart of New York, a wandering troubadour of the great folk tradition. Every summer he returns to his native Alberta, working as a fire lookout in the remote northern forest. From his lofty perch he spends four solitary months watching the land and writing songs, cultivating a perspective lost in the noise and rush of the city.
As the leaves begin to turn, Ethan sets out into the world once again. He comes to town with a smile and a handshake, eager to share his songs. For several years he called Vancouver home, where he built a name for himself as a gracious and captivating performer. From there he made his way east, touring the vast reaches of central Canada en route to Montrèal. There he took a job as a dishwasher, happy to scrub for his supper and still have plenty of time to spend with his guitar. The past winter found Ethan living in New York City where he recorded his most recent collection of material entitled "Folk Medicine". The record was financed by a job selling Christmas trees in Brooklyn. Currently Ethan is traveling, performing, and compiling material for a new album to be recorded in 2009.
As you might expect, Ethan's music reflects his diverse experiences. His guitar, a constant companion over the years, rings bold and true in contemplative folk and raucous protest songs alike. His lyrics are artful and direct. Like a cross between Walt Whitman and Henry David Thoreau, Ethan sings for both town and country, seeing the beauty and sadness contained in each.