Fallen From Heaven: The Story of Ethan James Young

_{By Zach Collier}

Ethan James Young is a Utah-based electronic producer and songwriter. His 2024 LP, Fallen From Heaven, is one of the more intriguing and eclectic pieces of work about the complexities of faith and doubt to come out of Utah Valley in recent years.

While his post-Mormon stance on whether faith or skepticism should prevail may not appeal to everyone in Deseret – and Mormon-hymn-infused-art electronica may not be everyone’s cup of tea – I think his art is worthwhile. Critical thinkers and students of Mormon culture on both sides of the aisle will find a lot to chew on here. It blends genres and examines concepts most artists wouldn’t dare touch.

“The album mostly follows my personal feelings as I went through my faith crisis and no longer believed,” Young explains. “It’s hard to pinpoint one moment because there were multiple moments where I wish I believed more, where I was frustrated with hypocrisy inside the Mormon faith, where I worried what my family would think, etc. I think the album is more meditative hindsight than anything else.”

That bittersweet reflection over significant life changes, that yearning for acceptance despite being different, is universal – regardless of religious affiliation. In particular, the song “Tell Me I’m Good” deeply affected me. It’s a standout from the record that articulated anxieties I’ve always had.

“As a believer, I felt I had not gained my salvation because I never finished doing all I could do despite how hard I tried,” says Young about the song. “I wasn’t following all the rules and I was still sinning. When I was doubting, I felt worse because I thought I wouldn’t be doubting if I was saved or a good person.” 

The record took roughly two years to complete. While Young says he had a few beats already written, for most of the album he started from scratch. New pieces were composed based around central themes. “I tried to make the arrangement feel churchy,” says Young. “Strings, organ, piano, choir, etc.”

During his faith transition, Young’s relationship with music seemed to change. The more he learned and doubted, the more music became a way for him to feel, connect, and process.

Everything was essentially done in the box, except for live vocals, guitars, and most of the song “Don’t Give Me A Condition.” Young incorporated found sounds in some of the songs, including a scream from one of his friends that he “happened to record once.” Young mixed the songs with feedback from Todd Tran, who mastered the record. “It definitely wouldn’t sound the same without him,” says Young.

Young says this album is primarily for two types of people: the person who has experienced or is going through deconstruction, and the curious, sympathetic believer who is trying to understand. “For the deconstucter, I want them to feel validated, or understood with their experience,” he says. “It can be a lonely road figuring out what you personally believe during a faith/extensional crisis.”

We discussed this paradox in depth over the phone, and it still fascinates me: despite being a collection of songs about leaving the faith, this is also an incredibly Mormon record. It can’t be viewed in any other context that makes sense. There are certain textures and elements that feel distinctly Mormon.

“The organ is probably the most obvious one, with the hymns in the interludes,” says Young. “Maybe there is a bit of EFY, FSY, or youth theme in there with the singer-songwriter style strings, piano, and other instruments.” Young says he did play piano for a nondenominational church for a while, so it wouldn’t be surprising if contemporary Christian pop/rock music seeped through. “Regardless of what sound of the songs came out of the production and writing process, I wanted to make sure that the songs felt like faith building songs, partially to create contrast between the music and the words but also to show the earnestness and size of the emotions around faith and faith crises.”

Through it all, listeners will be treated to a thoughtful arc about trying to believe, no longer believing, and ultimately coming to terms and finding serenity. On top of it all is some gorgeous album art by Stauney Hansen. It’s a sonically and theologically challenging album, but I’m confident that this record was made for someone. It’s meant to find them, touch them, and help them. That’s the power of high concept art, and you can feel Young poured his heart into all 11 tracks.

Make sure to follow Ethan James Young on Instagram. You can stream “Tell Me I’m Good” below.