Ethan Setiawan: Finding the Groove in Little Storms

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I sit down with mandolinist, singer, and recording engineer Ethan Setiawan to talk about his new album, Little Storms, and the musical relationships that have shaped the band behind it. Ethan talks about meeting his bandmates during his years in Boston and why chemistry, listening, and simply getting along can be every bit as important as technical ability when putting a group together. We also trace Ethan’s path on the mandolin, from learning bluegrass and old-time music as a young player to winning the National Mandolin Championship at seventeen. He reflects on the value of competitions as developmental milestones, the communal nature of bluegrass festivals, and the musicians who helped expand his idea of what the mandolin could do, including Mike Marshall and Jacob Jolliff. Ethan takes me inside the making of Encyclopedia Mandolinica, his collection of mandolin duets and trios, and explains what recording with different players taught him about working efficiently in the studio. We also talk about his experience as an engineer and mixer, the importance of stepping away from a project to regain perspective, and the value of working with an engineer you trust. With Little Storms, Ethan has also stepped more fully into the role of lead singer. We talk about recording the band live in a room together, the concentration required to sing and play mandolin simultaneously, and why he is particularly proud of the way his vocals and the ensemble came together on the record. Along the way, we discuss Ethan’s years at Berklee, the changing realities of building a career as an independent musician, and the tension between music that develops slowly and a social media culture built around short-form content. For Ethan, the heart of it still comes back to playing live, listening closely, and making music with people he trusts. Key Takeaways • Ethan believes a successful band depends heavily on chemistry, listening, and the ability of musicians to adapt to one another—not simply individual technical ability. • Bluegrass and old-time music were Ethan’s entry points into the mandolin, and after exploring jazz and other styles, he has increasingly returned to those roots. • Winning the National Mandolin Championship at seventeen gave Ethan a valuable developmental benchmark, although he sees competition as very different from the collaborative spirit of making music. • Mike Marshall has been a major influence on Ethan because of his ability to move naturally between bluegrass, jazz, Brazilian choro, and other musical traditions. • Recording Encyclopedia Mandolinica taught Ethan how to enter a studio, focus quickly, and create strong performances within relatively short sessions. • Ethan’s engineering experience has helped him make records more independently, while also teaching him the importance of leaving time between recording, editing, and mixing to regain perspective. • On Little Storms, Ethan challenged himself to sing lead while playing mandolin live with the band, an experience that changed how he thinks about simplicity, concentration, and serving the music. Music from the Episode I Didn't Try Hard Enough - Ethan Setiawan The Harbor Walk - Ethan Setiawan Whiskey Boys - Ethan Setiawan About the Podcast The Bandwich Tapes is a music interview podcast hosted by Brad Williams featuring conversations with musicians, songwriters, producers, and other creative artists. Each episode explores the experiences behind the music—from influences and collaboration to technique, creativity, recording, touring, and the lifelong process of becoming a better musician. Connect with the Show [email protected]