Track listing: Back Home, Everything, I Knew, I Wish, Just Want, Looking, Me Then You, One You Want, Only You, Time Is Right, To An End, When It's Over, Work It Out, You Got It

Let's get the introductions out of the way: Ehson Hashemian is a multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter from Irvine, California. He was a founding member of The Jakes, who changed their name to the now-more-familiar Young the Giant just before signing to Roadrunner Records and recording their debut album. Hashemian co-wrote their eponymous debut's biggest single, "Cough Syrup." His solo project Backwards Forwards released You Are Here in 2012, followed by a break from the music business.

"Yeah, was out of the scene for a while and stopped making music," Hashemian explains, "but when I got back into it I just kept recording songs." He's speaking to the five, yes 5, albums he's released since 2023. "I thought I’d catch up," he muses, and has plans to release two more albums in 2026! With a bio firmly in-hand, let's get down to the business of Ehson's new album Me Then You.

Sonically, Me Then You is a delightfully sweet album, rich with the amiable clear-channel guitar tone that helps define Ehson's sound. Just dropped on October 17, the lead single "You Got It" interestingly doesn't include that sound. Its keyboard/synth backing tracks lay a foundation for his vocal, which alternates between its powerful baritone quality in the verses and an almost Ghostland-ish brighter, more frantic presence in the choruses.

He points out that "most of my songs are in strophic form so the music is basically one loop and the vocal melodies change to drive the song." While that didn't jump out on my first listen, Me Then You absolutely embodies the long, hypnotic Afrobeat grooves "inspired by African music artists [including the likes of] Fela Kuti." The juxtaposition of 70s-era African arrangement techniques set against the album's crystal clear production and very Indie instrumentation make for a compelling listen--simultaneously new and old alike.

Lyrically, Me Then You centers around a theme of love, friendship, and a world devoid of hate. An emotional concept album of sorts, Hashemian pulls from his personal experiences of the ups and downs found in our lives' paths. "'Everything' is about counting on love and friendship to lift you up when life falls apart....having faced health struggles, these songs reflect perseverance and the hope that, with time, things will get better."

There is an optimism embodied across the entire album. Not so much a musical pick-me-up, as a shared understanding of the challenges you're facing, then emboldened by sage advice that there is a silver lining and you will get through it. 

Ehson Hashemian has a ton of new music to dive headlong into. And apparently there's more where this came from. Head over to ehsonhashemian.art.blog to follow, like, share, and immerse your self in his sound. It might just make you feel a little better about things.