Ethan Bortnick Sets His Heart Ablaze in "arsonists"
Pianist, singer-songwriter, and producer Ethan Bortnick has just released his latest goose-bump-inducing single, "arsonists." The track is chilling yet profound and tells a story of heartbreak and a one-sided relationship.
"arsonists" immediately catches fire, jumping right in with lilting piano riffs and warm, vulnerable vocals. Bortnick sings, "Something about you already hurts / Already know we will crash and burn." As the Florida native continues to share how the person of their affection feels "familiar in all of the worst ways" and knows that they'll never feel the same towards them, driving percussion and guitar riffs disrupt the sonic scene, catapulting listeners into a space of chaotic angst.
The quiet rage in the singer's voice grows as the instrumentation begins to swirl together in a flurry of carefully crafted confusion. Bortnick laments over being left behind and caught in a cycle they can't break. He sings, "Here's to us being left in the dust / I just can't go back that way / Oh, I'd kill to be an arsonist and burn bridges without shame / You flipped a coin / I'm second choice."
The accompanying music video is a fiery piece of visual art that opens with a slowburn, literally. As Bortnick's intensity grows, so do the flames, with the melancholic singer pouring kerosene on everything around him. Then, as the song peaks, we see clips of him passionately playing the piano, completely engulfed in flames. It's a scene that perfectly captures the turmoil and chaos he feels deep in his heart, creating a moment that will surely resonate with anyone who's ever dealt with the complex feelings of love gone awry.
"arsonists" follows the success of his last single, "engravings," which served as the soundtrack to a toxic relationship he experienced during quarantine. In it, Bortnick unravels the relationship from the inside out using the piano to build a sonic soundscape that recontextualizes the failed relationship. The undeniable intensity of the underlying track juxtaposed with disarmingly sweet choruses caught the attention of tens of millions on TikTok when he posted videos of him playing the song completely live for unsuspecting viewers.
Watch the "arsonists" video below:
