Ethan, who also hosts Louder on RTL Today Radio, has been developing Pilot Light around a straightforward musical idea: short, punchy rock songs with big hooks and plenty of energy.
Their latest single, So Much Worse, takes that approach further, drawing on the bouncing guitar sound of early 2000s British indie rock while exploring considerably darker subjects.
The lyrics deal with modern disillusionment, institutional failures and the contradictions of everyday life, all delivered over music designed to get people moving.
The contrast between upbeat music and unsettling lyrics was a deliberate choice.
"I am a massive fan of contrasts in music," Ethan explains in the single's press release, citing Hollywood Undead's Bullet as an early inspiration for combining dark lyrical content with an unexpectedly upbeat sound.
Speaking on the Sam Steen Show, Ethan explained how Pilot Light has encouraged him to approach songwriting differently from his other musical projects.
"This project has always been an exercise in kind of writing for radio and writing a little bit more punchy," he said, describing the approach as "don't bore us, get to the chorus."
The result is a track that moves quickly, with driving guitars, a memorable chorus and an unexpected orchestral lift towards the end.
Ethan revealed that much of Pilot Light's material begins in the early hours of the morning, when he's working alone at home.
"Usually most of these songs with this band are written at like 4am while I'm on my own in my house," he explained.
He typically writes and arranges most of the instrumentation himself before working with producer Sacha Hanlet to refine the recordings.
For So Much Worse, that process included reworking several sections and experimenting with the arrangement of the song's ending.
What began as an idea for a synthesiser part eventually became an orchestral string arrangement, giving the final section an additional lift.
The release comes as Pilot Light prepare to unveil more new material following a recent tour of Portugal.
Ethan confirmed that the band have been working towards an album, with several tracks still to be released.
Fans will get an early opportunity to hear that material when Pilot Light perform alongside Superdrive at Rockhal on Wednesday, October 28th, as part of the Rocklab Live Sessions.
The performance will also be filmed, with free admission for Rocklab members.
Ethan says the experience of touring has helped the band develop a live show that delivers on the energy of the recordings.
"I wanted it to connect live with people," he explained. "Get to the point, bam, straight into a riff, straight into a vocal hook."
Ethan also brought his guitar into the studio for a stripped-back performance of Fake It, another Pilot Light track, giving listeners a chance to hear a different side of his songwriting.
You can follow Pilot Light on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook for updates on new music and upcoming shows.
Ethan also presents Louder on RTL Today Radio, every Monday at 10pm, with previous editions available on RTL Play.
You can also listen back to the full interview with Ethan Carey, including his live performance of Fake It, on the Sam Steen Show below.
