We just spent a long time on the phone with Eric van Aro, a man who has cobbled together a wonderfully weird career singing… well, everything. From jazz to rock, blues to Latin, and even EDM. In fact, a gloriously silly song he made with Marco Soundee somehow tricked nearly 3 million people on Spotify into listening to it. We don’t get it either, but we’re proud.

The conversation meandered through the vocal genius of artists like Kurt Elling (his take on U2’s “Where The Streets Have No Name” is a masterclass) and a hilarious bit by Patti Austin on “Vocal Affectations.” These are the people Eric calls his teachers, all while insisting he is **not a singer**, but just “somebody who sings.” (A distinction we’re pretty sure only he understands, but he feels very strongly about it).

He was playing Jamie Cullum in the background, whom he considers a monstrous talent with a unique vocal fingerprint. Eric is certain he himself lacks this fingerprint. We, on the other hand, are certain he has one, which is the only reason we continue to put up with him.

To get his whole philosophy, you really should listen to the work of his mother, the legendary Caterina Valente, or that Patti Austin bit we mentioned. And yes, absolutely listen to that Kurt Elling track, which features Sara Gazarek—a singer Eric was once lucky enough to share a Hollywood stage with.

A quick confession: we are his collaborators, handling the monumental legacy of his mother’s estate, as well as his own (slightly more modest, but no less loved) creative output. So, we are close to the source.

And the source is currently finishing a new album.

Which means we are currently **suffering**.

(This is a pun, and also a literal cry for help).

We have to endure his daily crises of faith over every note, every mix, and probably the font on the album cover. He is, in the most affectionate way possible, driving us completely insane.

But we love it. And we can’t wait for you to hear what this “guy who just sings” has made.