Unapologetically Alive: Eraste’s Story of Authenticity Through Music
By Catherine Wong
21-year-old Eraste’s music is a passionate embracement of life– messy, chaotic, and full of heart.
INSPIRATIONAL ROOTS
Growing up in a small Texas town, her love for music was sparked by church choirs and a deep sense of worship.“My school didn’t have a choir, so I would join them with different churches around town and that really built my love for music and then when I got older, I started developing my tastes,” she said for Lost in the Manor.
Interestingly, despite her deep connection to music through worship, Eraste did not come from a family with a strong musical background. “I used to think it put me at a disadvantage because I didn’t have a family that was big into listening or learning music,” she shared. However, this lack of formal training allowed her to create music that feels deeply authentic. Without the constraints of a specific genre or tradition, Eraste was able to draw inspiration from a wide range of influences–from country to Top-40 hits–exploring music on her own terms rather than being confined by genre backgrounds.
Not only does the singer/songwriter pull inspiration from various genres, but from a wide range of artists who fuel her creativity. “Every artist I love, I take different inspiration from, and it’s so helpful to look to them as templates to create my own stuff,” she shared. For instance, "Red" by Taylor Swift is a masterclass in vivid imagery, a go-to source when Eraste is striving to make listeners not just hear, but “feel and taste and see the memories [she] experiences.” Similarly, she looks to Melodrama by Lorde as a reference for production, turning to it when she aims for “the listener to feel visceral, aching, unexplainable emotion.”
THE IMPORTANCE OF HONESTY
Eraste’s authenticity–not just with her audience, but also with herself–is one of her greatest strengths. At such a young age, she has a rare clarity about herself and her creative processes. Navigating emotions in her early 20s is not easy, but what sets her apart is her self-awareness and understanding of her own limits. “People make it seem like everything is urgent and you have to get it done immediately–like moving to one of the music hubs–but, I would say we create best when we are around the people we love and the places we like. It’s more beneficial to be somewhere familiar than pushing yourself to be somewhere everyone says you ‘should be,’” she said, when asked about navigating being a musician in her early 20s.
This grounded approach and clear knowledge of her self-worth reflect confidence in her own abilities. Rather than succumbing to the pressure of constantly chasing ‘the next big thing,’ Eraste trusts that her best work comes from a place of balance. “With my upcoming EP, I tried to keep in mind that there’s a time for a catchy radio single and an extended song where I don’t worry about changing it to keep it brief.” This blend of creative freedom and commercial awareness illustrates how Eraste is mastering the delicate balance between staying true to her artistry while also engaging with the larger music landscape.
She notes that when she listens to her favorite songs “it feels like a punch to the gut,” because in those tracks (specifically “Waiting Room” by Phoebe Bridgers) she can “feel the heartbreak, feel the honest, rare emotion.” This is the kind of raw honesty she strives to create in her music, knowing that it is this authenticity that truly connects with her listeners. Erastes unwavering commitment to her own emotions shines through her work, revealing her integrity and making her music not just relatable, but deeply felt.
MEMORY OF US
With her upcoming EP, “Memory of Us,” Eraste takes us through a chapter of her life. “I was partying constantly, dating everyone I could, and overall, being a complete and total disaster–but I was ALIVE,” she reflects. Her songwriting becomes a love letter to living unapologetically, embracing life in all its messy, chaotic glory. The lead single, “Hold Me,” represents the conclusion of this journey, while each subsequent track moves backward, unraveling the story of how she arrived at this point. As Eraste explains, “It’s been a long process deciding how to create an EP that tells the entire story, but I think it was so important to do it in reverse chronological order so people can really understand the body of work.”
For Eraste, writing “Memory of Us,” was a way of making sense of things. “Once I write about it, I feel free of it,” she explained, highlighting how songwriting serves as a powerful form of catharsis. She carefully crafted her music to “sound really big and have huge rises and swells because that’s what letting go of a feeling is like.”
Though, “Memory of Us,” is a reflection of her past, Eraste’s confidence in her future peeks through in her writing. Though she is not sure what her future holds, she strives to live her life doing what she loves without worrying about anything else. The artist has many personal definitions of success, but one thing is certain: Eraste will continue to create and share her music. “Nothing gives me the feeling of accomplishment like releasing a body of work that you gave everything to,” she says, reaffirming that her passion for music will always drive her forward. As she embraces the journey ahead, Eraste’s commitment to creating music that is both deeply personal and universally relatable ensures that her story is just beginning.
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