The stereotypical artist often finds themselves torn between an innate creative drive and a lesser-preferred but necessary desire for business, but in every industry lies graceful anomalies.
Contemporary folk-rock musician and successful multi-industry businessman Eric Hirshberg is one such (very rare) example of someone who has navigated both directions to high levels of success. Hirshberg was the CEO of the video game giant Activision for almost a decade, and also pioneered a world renowned advertising agency with Deutsch LA. This would lead to various other positions in startups and endeavors along the way, showcasing his innovative business mind.
Still, his lifelong passion was music.
After leaving his role with Activision, Hirshberg would go on to release his debut album, Spare Room, in 2021. One could argue it’s a hell of a lot easier to pursue a music career and be seen and heard when you’ve likely got all the money you need and then some, but still, the proof is in the pudding, which is the music. And the latest proof resides in his upcoming album, Second Hand Smoke, due to hit universal streaming September 13th, 2024.
First released as a single last October, “Good Morning” and its 6/8 mock-waltz rhythms feel like being greeted with a nice warm coffee in bed on a Sunday morning. Stopping and starting with a little more push at every turn, guitar and vocal harmonies create an outline for a saxophone solo to sweep the track to its soft end after Hirshberg calls, “Good mornin’ / I’ll never stop tryin’.”
An anthem for those who have foregone slurred words and foggy nights, “I Love Not Drinking,” released just in time for Dry January on December 29th, 2023, pays a grand ode to sobriety and the inspiring community surrounding it. Featuring Aloe Blacc, the sing-song-like vocals resonate: “I love not thinking about / How I’m gonna get home / Or what I said / Or if this is my bed.” There’s an endless collection of beer-cracking hits, but Hirshberg’s counter tune hits a little different.
“Day One” paints a desert-like aura with slithering acoustic and cello lines before delicately shifting to a longing yet peaceful chorus that goes right back to its mysterious motif. The song discusses the orbiting nature of toxic patterns but is sure to emphasize, “Maybe one day it’ll be day one.” As the tune shifts its melodic theme, it embodies the fluidity of personal choice that allows one to put a fork in their own road.
The remaining unreleased track of the album, “Goodnight, Nobody,” plays a sweet lullaby to all things most dear, as well as the externalities that are rendered useless when the day is done. Intricate strings create a pad for the acoustic guitar to float over, marking the album’s close as the joys and disparities come together to complete their intertwined story. Hirshberg’s lyrical duality acknowledges how regardless of their perceived value, all environmental inputs contribute to something grander.
Companies like Deutsch LA and Activision saw leaps of triumph under his leadership, but Hirshberg’s ability to translate that triumphant energy into words, songs, and tight-knit communities adds another dimension of accomplishment.
Second Hand Smoke will be celebrated on September 15th at The Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles, California, Hirshberg’s home base. The album is not only a neatly executed collection of admirable melodies, but a unifying force that gives harmonious visibility to communities and the individual circumstance.
