An Eastern student who aspires to be a professional singer/songwriter got one step closer to his dream after winning the University Board sponsored Singer/Songwriter competition on Wednesday.

Ethan Kinsella, an undecided sophomore, won two hours of studio time and a photo shoot as his prize for successfully serenading the judges in the 7th Street Underground in the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

It is plain to anyone who hears him playing that Kinsella loves music.

“(Music) is a freedom,” Kinsella said. “I feel like I’m debited to the world to share (music).”

Kinsella often plays on the Doudna steps and his easy-going demeanor encourages students to come up and join him in a jam session.

Some students came in from all directions ready to sing, strum, shake a tambourine or just make noise in any way they can.

Kinsella himself did not pick up a guitar until he was in his second year of high school.

“I was never into music before them,” Kinsella said. “I picked my first E chord and it was sublime.”

Peaceful strumming in the grass is what Kinsella enjoys. He said he does not expect applause; he just does what he loves.

“I’m more concerned about what I say in my songs rather than who claps for me,” Kinsella said.

Kinsella said that his process for writing songs is not set in stone.

“Every song is a different experience,” Kinsella said. “(It) just kind of happens; it’s not something you think about.”

During the competition, he picked at his acoustic with his eyes closed, which gave the idea that his song was coming from the heart. The music that came from him was mellow but emotional in sound and lyrics, which spoke about loneliness, inner peace and people moving on.

He crooned to the audience softly, but deliberately, which made the atmosphere personal for the audience.

In between his pieces he talked to the audience about his process of writing. He gave them insight into his life; he let them into his heart.

In the end, out of three performers Kinsella was music to the judges’ ears.

Rikki Wright, a senior journalism major and a judge of the competition, said she related to what Kinsella said in his songs.

“(His music) actually touched me in a special place,” Wright said. “When he first got on the stage, he just had this presence.”

Khelan Todd, a senior communication studies major and the University Board mainstage coordinator, said he was pleased by Kinsella’s skills.

“(Kinsella’s performance) was very soulful and incredibly touching,” Todd said.

Todd said that he thought the audience enjoyed Kinsella as well.

Wright agreed and said she thought the audience was “really captivated.”

Kinsella said he hopes to be making music as long as he possibly can. He said that music is a lot of different things and he wants to be a part of it for a long time.

“It’s a long journey of who I want to be,” Kinsella said.

Felicia Darnell can be reached at 581-2812 or at [email protected].