First and Foremost His Son: Ethan Beer Gets Vulnerable

Not every calling begins with a spotlight.

For March’s Artist of the Month, it began in a school chapel at fourteen and one teacher who chose to speak up. Years later, that quiet spark has grown into youth conferences, honest and story-shaped songs marked by faith and grief, and Shirah Night, a worship gathering now drawing hundreds of young adults across South East Queensland, Australia, hungry for unity. But the journey hasn’t been polished or platform-driven. It has been built on saying yes to rooms of ten, wrestling with doubt, and learning that numbers on a screen do not validate a calling.

In this conversation, Ethan opens up about the unseen moments that shaped him most and the conviction that before the platform, before the music, before the impact, he is first and foremost His Son.

Artists often talk about “big breaks,” but sometimes small moments matter more. What’s the smallest, weirdest, or most unexpected moment that actually shaped your career?

Ethan: A moment that truly shaped my career happened when I was 14 years old. Our school had weekly chapel services with a student worship team, and that was the first time I ever led- and the first time anyone there had heard me sing. Afterwards, my HPE teacher pulled me aside and told me I was really good and that I should keep going with singing. It was such a small, simple comment- but I still think about that moment. It showed me how powerful a few words of encouragement can be. 

We know you’ve traveled and performed a lot. What’s the strangest or funniest thing that’s ever happened while performing for a church or youth event?

Ethan: One time at a Youth Alive conference at Hillsong Church in Brisbane, all of us in the band were hanging out in the green room before we were meant to go on. The problem was, the green room was really far away- upstairs and down a bunch of corridors- and we weren’t paying attention to the time at all.

Suddenly, someone burst in and yelled, “We have to be on in one minute!” Instantly, we all panicked and took off sprinting through the building. We just managed to make it in time to start- but not everyone actually made it onto the stage. Some of the musicians were still running in and joining halfway through the first song. It was chaotic, stressful, and pretty funny looking back on it.

The Australian Christian music scene is known for being tight-knit but also tricky to break into. What were some of the early challenges you faced and how did you overcome them?

Ethan: I don’t feel like I’ve fully broken into it yet- I still see myself in the early stages. At the beginning, it can be hard to find opportunities to perform and showcase what you can do, which is why I made a decision early on to say yes to almost every opportunity that came my way. Whether it was a youth event with ten people or one with a thousand, I just kept showing up.

Over time, I’ve learned that consistency really matters- being willing to show up again and again. However, it’s about discerning which doors God is actually calling you to walk through, and then making sure you show up to those moments prepared and ready to give your best.

How has being a pastor’s kid informed the way you connect with church communities today, both on stage and off?

Ethan: Being a pastor’s kid has really shaped how I connect with church communities because I grew up seeing what ministry looks like both on the platform and behind the scenes. I watched my parents serve people faithfully, often in ways no one else saw. On stage, it reminds me that I’m not just there to perform- I’m there to help create a space where people can connect with God. Off stage, it helps me relate to leaders and volunteers because I understand the pressures and responsibilities they carry. More than anything, it’s taught me that ministry is about people first, and that’s something I always try to keep at the centre of what I do.

Your monthly worship night, Shirah Night, has grown from a small living room gathering to hundreds of young adults. What’s been the most surprising lesson or moment for you as that community has developed?

Ethan: Shirah Night has been so special over the last couple of years! I think the biggest lesson I’ve learnt through all of it has been the importance of spiritual leadership and covering. We have been able to partner with many pastors and churches now all over South East Queensland and it's been a very beautiful time of unity within the young people! We’re seeing young adults from all different backgrounds, expressions and denominations coming together as one body and worshipping one God in one heart! How special. I’m currently leading it with a small group of friends who all attend different churches!

If you could go back to the moment you first knew music and worship were your calling, what advice or encouragement would you give your younger self?

Ethan: 

Your song “Room 18” came from a deeply personal moment in your life. When you reflect on that story now, how do you see God continuing to shape that song’s purpose in your ministry?

Ethan: “Room 18” is still the most personal song for me, diving into the depths of my doubts and journey with the Lord through the passing of my mum. I still receive messages today from random people expressing how it has encouraged them in their own journey, and I think it even still encourages me when I’m having a hard day and need a reminder of God's goodness. It encapsulates the hardest battle I’ve had to face and how God is faithful to have walked me through it.

You’ve experienced both musical theatre and Christian performance spaces. How do those worlds inform different parts of your creativity today?

Ethan: I think having such a heavy background in musical theatre helped my storytelling aspect in my writing! To be able to convey a story and make a listener feel like they’re seeing the scene unfold in front of them while listening to the music! Whereas singing about Jesus comes with a message of truth and hope for all people, combining these two things I think has created a really cool and unique writing style for me. I write a lot about real world situations that people can see, feel and relate to, but always through a lens of the Gospel and what Jesus taught.

The Putting You On Segment: If you could introduce your audience to one Christian artist or song that’s currently under the radar but blew you away, who or what would it be and why?

Ethan: Anything Lily Hooten has ever put out has completely blown me away! Her writing and tone is so unique and special, I’m excited to say I’m actually collaborating with her on a new song coming out soon!

We're so honoured to have chatted with Ethan to hear his heart for worship and community continues to grow, and now he’s teaming up with Lily Hooten on a new collaboration! Keep your eyes peeled for that one 👀 This conversation is an incredible reminder that when you stay faithful in the small moments, God opens the doors to even bigger ones.

Be sure to follow Ethan here!