“Bring The Light” feels both romantic and uplifting. Can you tell us about the inspiration or emotion behind it?

It’s based around the notion that we meet up again with the people who we love, and are loved by, in this lifetime and in every one of our lifetimes. That automatically brings up another notion, that of reincarnation. We bring the light to them again, and they bring it to us, and we burst into life once more.

The name Earth-O-Naut suggests a journey. Who or what are you exploring through your music?

It’s just a play on the word astronaut, really. From when I was very young, I always felt that my body is a spacesuit and who I am is inside it, like an astronaut but on the Earth. Now, that probably makes me sound like a crazy person. But I still believe it to this day. Make of that what you will. If I’m exploring anything through my music, then it’s myself. For me, music and the practice of martial arts have been constants in my life from early on and they are both absolutely all about that and also about honestly expressing yourself. Know thyself and all that… 

Your sound seems to blend jazz and soul, producing sometimes upbeat tracks and others that are more emotionally reassuring. What influences have shaped that blend?

I’m not sure any other musician has solely influenced the sound of the music that I make. I guess that people could listen to my music and say it sounds like this person or that band but that could be said about most modern-day musicians because so much has gone before and there are so many reference points. I guess that there’s a couple of things that I fell in love with early on that I’m still in love with now. The Groove and the Song. I love when something grooves. My approach to drumming is based on this. I can quite happily sit behind a drum set and just continually play a groove, not deviating that much, maybe the odd fill. It’s hypnotic. It’s really important to me for a song to groove, if it doesn’t, it won’t feel quite right. It has to flow but also be solid enough to be the framework for everything else that’s happening on top of it. I’d stick my neck out and say that consciously or subconsciously, people know when the groove isn’t right. As for the song…well, firstly, it’s all about how it/they make me feel, and secondly, how the pieces fit together, how the melodies fit, how the story is told. The craft of songwriting is an obsession. I guess that those are the things that really influence my music. With all that in mind, I think Neil Finn manages to tap into something special more often than not, and I think that he’s one of the best songwriters on the planet at the moment. So, although he doesn’t influence my music, as far as songwriting goes, that’s where the bar is set, and you have to reach for that every time. Ultimately, everything must serve the song. You have to put your ego aside and feel instead. I have a couple of mottos, one of them being – Musician Minus Ego Plus Fire.

When you write new material, what usually comes first, the lyrics, melody, or mood?

It’s different every time. There’s no rules. I may have a drum groove first, or maybe a chord sequence will make me feel a certain way and that will trigger something. I may have a particular lyric in mind, or something in particular I want to say on a certain subject. The beginnings of new material can come from anywhere, at anytime. I think that the main thing is that you just have to be open to it and not really question it too much.

You’re a drummer by trade, do the drums naturally feature in your creative process when writing music?

I’d have to say that rhythm does for sure, and that emphasis on rhythm comes from being a drummer and being able to create from a drummer’s perspective. I’d even go as far to say that when I’m playing guitar, I’ll play it like I’m playing drums, I’ll look to lock in with the drummer and my playing might mirror what the kick and snare are doing in the song.

And you have the incredible Steve White drumming on this track, as well as some others. Clearly, he’s a legend, but did you give Steve guidance as to what sound you wanted with the drums, or did you give him the full creative ‘green light’?

I sent two versions of the tracks that Steve had agreed to play on. One version with drums already on, and a version without. Fair play to him, when I was sending him the tracks, he told me that he was fine for me to give him as much input as I wanted but I knew he’d be sensitive to the songs and the feel and the emotions in there. I had zero concerns as to what he’d come up with and what he’d end up playing. I had the same mindset over the sound too. I knew he’d hear it and know how the drums should sound. I think that there was only one thing that I highlighted, there’s a track on the album called ‘Please’. There’s a gap before the electric piano solo comes in, I just said that it needed a big fill in there. He nailed it, obviously. As far as I’m aware, that was it. No drama, no fuss.

How did Steve get involved with this project?

When I released my first single ‘Call Me‘, he’d commented or messaged to say that he really liked it. After that, I’d send him the private links to whatever single was due to be released, and his response was always positive. I can’t remember exactly when it was but we were chatting and I mentioned that I’d started to record my debut album, and he said that if there was anything that I’d like him to play on, that he’d be up for it. So, by the time the album is released in the spring next year, he will have played on seven of the twelve tracks.

The tracks that you have released to date seem to offer a call to action to the listener. Is that your intention?

Not at all. I certainly don’t set out with that in mind or have that as the driving force. I just endeavour to make music from an honest place with honest intention. It has to be something that resonates with me, after that, I have no control over what anybody else makes of it or may get from it.

You’ve mentioned a tour next year. How will you translate your sound into a live setting, given all the instruments involved?

Yes. Definitely looking forward to getting to play live. It’s not that much different from most bands when you break it down regarding instruments involved. It’s drums, bass, guitar, keys and a brass section. It’s totally doable. Stone Foundation have a similar kind of set up and they sound great live and definitely do their songs justice in that environment.

What’s one instrument or sound that always finds its way into your tracks?

My voice.

The music industry today is both more open and more chaotic. How do you navigate the complexities and try to stand out without losing authenticity?

The music industry will always just do its thing. That’s not really my concern or any of my business. I have no control over what may or may not happen, who may or may not like what I do. All I can do is make my art from an honest place with an honest intention. If the music industry or listeners like it, then that’s great, and if they don’t that’s also great. That’s not being flippant or disrespectful, it’s just the truth. I have no control over any of that, and I think that it’s pointless to chase popularity, or have the desire to be the next ‘big thing’. I think that if you’re concerned with any of that, then your art and your creative process is flawed from the get go. As for authenticity, I can only be truly and honestly authentic to myself. If I’m not, everything is fucked, and there’s no point in any of it.

How can listeners and champions of music help artists like yourself gain traction and support the tours and music releases that we love so much?

Buy/stream and enjoy the music. Like/follow/share on social media. Tell everyone you can about it and spread the word organically. Come to the live shows.

If you could collaborate with any artist, living or dead, who would it be and why?

I’ll stick with the living, as it could never happen with those who have already left their spacesuits and moved on. So, I’ll say Neil Finn. I’d learn so much from him. Matt Deighton, he’s made some beautiful records and is harshly overlooked when people talk about great British songwriters, so I’d learn a lot from him too. They’re both not in my genre…so from my genre, I’d pick Melody Gardot. Her ‘My One and Only Thrill’ album is one of my favourites. Mica Millar would be great to collaborate with too. I really liked her ‘Heaven Knows’ album. Then I guess that I’d love to work with Ruby Turner, what a voice that lady has got!

What role does visual art or imagery play in your creative process?

I’m not sure how much it comes into it in that moment when something drops from the ether and into your mind and the seed is planted. Although, sometimes, something I’ve seen might stick in my mind and something will spark from that later on. I think imagery might play a bigger part after the fact, in regards to artwork. The artwork to the latest single ‘Bring The Light’ is a good example of that.

How do you define success for Earth-O-Naut; chart positions, live shows, or something more intangible?

The other stuff is great, I guess, and I absolutely love playing live but if my music resonates with people and helps them on their journey in some small way, I’d value that.

“Bring The Light” has a hopeful tone of rediscovery and grounding. Do you see your music as an antidote to the current world mood?

Well, I guess if you break the song down, it’s about eternal love and companionship. We can never get enough of that, now or in the future.

What has surprised you most about the reactions to your new single so far?

That people have resonated with the idea of reconnecting with those you love across lifetimes, and not thought that I was a crackpot for believing it! 

So, what’s next on your horizon? Any more upcoming releases, an album, confirmation on a tour next year, or any other creative projects we can look forward to?

There’s a few more singles in the pipeline before my debut album is released in the spring of 2026. I’m currently working on getting all my ducks in a row to come and play some live shows next year, definitely an album launch gig, and a small UK tour after that. In between all of that, I’m working on and producing a couple of other artists, and I’m always up for doing remixes. If anyone wants one, or is interested in working together on their material as a producer or mixing their tracks, then I can be contacted at – earthonaut@outlook.com

You have many layers of talent from vocals, various instruments and producing. Do you find that makes it easier for you to create, produce and release music all under one roof, so you have total control? And why or when do you decide to get others involved, whether that be from an instrumental pov, like involving Steve, or a producer, for example?

I’m not sure it makes it easier. It’s much more time consuming, and I have to be really focused across everything. I have to have a highly functioning shit filter too…meaning that I have to always be aware of myself if something is basically shite and it’s not working. On the flip side, it’s triumphant when I nail something and I feel like I’ve broken new ground. When something is finished, it’s very rewarding. I miss the camaraderie of having other musicians and/or a producer around but again, on the flip side, if I want to have a break for a cuppa, or I’m just not feeling it, then I can go ahead and do that without pissing anyone off. I’m more than happy to get other musicians or producers involved if I feel that they’re going to give themselves up to the song and what they bring to the table takes the songs somewhere I couldn’t take them alone.

You work with other artists on their recordings and production. How do you balance that with your own writing and recording?

It’s just about managing time, really. If I have a deadline on my own music, then that has to come first, obviously. Otherwise, I just have to be certain that I’m in a position to be able to give someone else’s material my fullest attention, as to do my job properly, their music has to get under my skin and I have to feel that I’m attuned to the feelings and emotion of what they’re creating and wanting to share with the world.

My thanks to Earth-O-Naut for their time.
You can find ‘Bring The Light‘ on Spotify and other streaming channels, and give them a follow on Facebook and Instagram.

And you can read an exclusive interview from Steve White about his involvement with Earth-O-Naut and this track very soon.