Chained Saint’s Ethan Kahn on school and metal career

Balancing Acts is Metal Insider’s new column, in which artists explain the challenges within the music industry by juggling day jobs or multiple jobs while pursuing their musical careers. At just 17 years old, guitarist Ethan Kahn of Chained Saint already balanced the demands of high school life with the fast-rising momentum of a national metal act. With things moving along in full swing for the group, including their new single “1000 Tons,” festival appearances at Welcome To Rockville, Rocklahoma, Louder Than Life, and upcoming slots on the Vans Warped Tour, Kahn has been navigating the pressures within the industry while keeping up with his studies. Metal Insider caught up with Kahn to hear how he’s managing to juggle both worlds.

As I entered my senior year of high school in August of 2024, I knew things would be different. While I was excited about Chained Saint finally getting to release the debut album that we had worked on for what seemed like an eternity and then entering my final year of high school, I couldn’t really anticipate how busy and unpredictable things would become, both in a stressful way and euphoric way. Especially for a 17-year-old with limited life experience in how to juggle both of these aspects of my life. It’s one thing to think you know, but ultimately, until you have first-hand experience, you don’t really know. This wasn’t exclusive to me. Everyone in the band juggled either high school or college, and they still are.

Our debut single, “Animosity,” dropped during the summer on July 12th, along with the official music video. The next two singles, “Stronger Than Stone” and “Neanderthal,” quickly followed over the following weeks, and then, literally the first week of school, our debut album, “Blindside,” was released. The WWE used “Animosity” for the WWE 2K24 video game downloadable content trailer in the middle of September, and after getting added to SiriusXM Liquid Metal the second week of October, we started to get some real traction on the album. Combining that with SAT prep, our publicist setting up many great interviews, band rehearsals, juggling friendships outside of the band, and, of course, my own family, I quickly realized that I had two full-time jobs.

I feel my situation is different from that of other artists who are a few years older than me because I currently have the luxury of living at home with my parents and brothers. I don’t have the pressure to provide financially. However, I certainly have the pressure to deliver at school to my bandmates and the record label. While I’m not expected to be bringing money per se, I am expected to finish my senior year of high school strong and keep the pedal to the metal when it comes to the band.

Everyone in the band is still a full-time student, and over the past seven months, we’ve had to adapt to make sure we can still stick to our rehearsal routine in addition to playing shows both locally and out of the state. We’ve been to Los Angeles twice, having attended Mayhem and then playing the Whisky a Go Go on January 3rd; we’ve had to navigate and be surgical about our movements. We’ve already become accustomed to taking red-eye flights and going straight to school on Monday, in addition to getting up at 5:30 AM to get ready for a morning drive-time radio interview, and then make it to school on time. The first week of April, we have the honor of opening for Mudvayne at Arizona Bike, and in May, we have the honor of opening for Alice In Chains on a series of dates and then into Welcome To Rockville. All the while, I’ll be facing final exams as I head toward my graduation on June 1st at the Hard Rock Live (how apropos) in Hollywood, Florida. Only to fly out first thing in the morning to meet the band immediately on the road.

Music is my passion, and I can’t see myself doing anything else in my life. I am grateful for every opportunity we have, and we take nothing for granted. We know we have years of grinding ahead to get to where we want to be, and we welcome it head-on. To me, at least, this is do or die. I have been learning a lot about the music business throughout this journey, and I can’t wait to hit the road this summer and see everyone at the festivals. I don’t know if I’m more excited to play the festivals or see all of these awesome bands. I think it’s fifty-fifty.