Ethan Gruska's anticipated solo debut album Slomotionary features 12 original songs produced by Tony Berg (Andrew Bird, Phoebe Bridgers, Aimee Mann), mixed by Bob Clearmountain and mastered by Bob Ludwig. In addition to Ethan on various instruments (piano, guitar and drums to name a few), the album features Blake Mills (Andrew Bird, Alabama Shakes) on guitar, Rob Moose (Sufjan Stevens, Bon Iver,) on strings and violin, Gabe Noel (Joseph, Pete Yorn) on cello and bass and Ethan's sister, Barbara Gruska (The Belle Brigade, Jenny Lewis), on percussion.
"What I hope is that people can sense the vulnerability in the writing," says Gruska of the album. "I didn't want perfect. I wanted true. I wanted honest. I didn't want to hide behind anything. That's why it's produced and arranged the way it is. It's very barren at certain moments. These songs slow down time for me, which is why I called it Slowmotionary. I needed to put myself out there musically and lyrically."
The Los Angeles Times asserts, "L.A.'s next great singer-songwriter? It might be Ethan Gruska...Slomotionary showcases an assured songwriter with an inventive melodic flair and some heavy things to say about love and family...Gruska draws the listener in with his close-to-the-bone performances."