Therapy. When asked to describe what music is that’s likely the first word out of Ether Q’s mouth. Some might say music is a paycheck whereas others would describe it as an escape. Others may even view it as an art where the instruments are the canvas for the palate of words to paint on. These are all perfect interpretations of music and there is no one right answer. For Ether Q though one thing is certain: music is the savior that brought him out of darkness and saved his life. Born, Ethan Quinn in 1990 in Brookfield, Illinois, his mother knew he was different. As an infant Ethan would be placed on his back and when no one was looking he would flip over and start crawling away. This was no small feat for an infant and this would continue throughout Ether’s life growing up as he was always drawn to travelling and finding a bigger purpose. Ether moved to Joliet, a suburb of Chicago, when he was around 5 years old. This city and its downtown scene would be pivotal in Ethan’s inspiration and drive to create music. Although initially raised on Classic Rock, Pop & R&B Ether’s fondness for Hip Hop was quickly realized when he heard some of his friends at school listening to Tupac and Jay-Z. Against his mother’s wishes he snuck a copy of the Slim Shady LP into the house and started listening to it daily. Never did he feel he related to a genre of music the way he did to hip hop. Ether’s father was rarely around growing up and that was a prominent message in the genre. To escape he would throw on his headphones and pop a cassette in and vibe for the rest of the day. This allowed him to escape the facts. As junior high approached Ether continued studying hip hop and learning about all the greats. He started rap battling at school for fun and found he was quite talented. It wasn’t until summer between 8th grade and freshman year though that he would really start writing songs and becoming the emcee he is today. The CD that sparked the desire to rap was The Hunger For More by Lloyd Banks. Ether was impressed by Banks ability to rhyme multiple syllables and flow on a wide variety of beats. “I honestly played that CD for at least a year straight every single day. It was the point in my life that I found something I wanted to be the best at and enjoyed more than anything.” Ether continued writing songs and began recording on a USB microphone at home. Although the quality was low and there was no mixing done people still commented on how well the lyrics were crafted and complimented Ether’s cadence and flow. Ether knew this would set him apart from the gimmicks that flooded the genre. His storytelling skills and relatable issues brought fans into his music despite the poor quality. Up until this point Ether considered hip hop a hobby and a therapy to soothe pain and overcome stress. The positive feedback from fans and friends alike though convinced Ether to try his hand at making a career out of this “hobby.” Ether began sifting through the thousands of pages of rhymes he had and finding beats he liked. After searching long and hard for a studio he settled on one. This was it. This was his moment to shine and go all in. Ether Q showed up at the studio nervous yet excited at the same time. He had never professionally recorded anything before. He hopped in the booth and laid down four tracks that night. One of them was to be the leading single from his debut album. The song was titled “Made It” and it set the pace for the rest of the album. Ether wanted to inspire. The concept of the album was to follow your dreams and accomplish your goals. Nobody expected Ethan to be a talented emcee and he was told he was wasting his time. As time progressed and people saw his work though mind’s changed. Had he listened to the naysayers he would have never grown into the confident artist he is today. Ether completed his album and also a mixtape at the same time in a little over a year and a half. With the help of his friends and family he independently funded the entire project. He linked up with OfficiallyIce to host and promote the mixtape and began his own promotion for his album. With an album that touches on every emotion and praises the underdog he felt he created the perfect album for everyone to relate to. The words Ether lives by every day ring true for all of us. “People’s progression is hindered by their inability to let go of the past.” Despite everyone telling him to give up and despite all his hardships he pushed through and created a masterpiece debut album. Where will it take him? Only time will tell that but one thing is certain. Although humble and down to earth Ether Q is proving he is a major force to be reckoned with in the game of hip hop. Despite lyrics being less of a priority Ether continues to push the importance of words and the healing power that music can bring. In one word though his music is, therapy.