COEUR d’ALENE, Idaho – Among the many colorful characters of Coeur d’Alene, few have captured as universal recognition as Adam Foote, known by his pseudonyms Ethereal in E and the Handpan Man. Foote’s recorded music and online videos have attracted millions of viewers worldwide and established a strong local fan base.

Foote, 39, began uploading his musical musings on the handpan and tongue drum to Facebook in 2016. Videos of him playing his instruments in various natural settings surrounding Coeur d’Alene and north Idaho have also been uploaded to platforms like Instagram, TikTok and YouTube over the years. Across his platforms, Foote has amassed some 12.4 million subscribers and around 34,000 monthly Spotify listeners.

The majority of Foote’s music and videos are recorded on the shores of Lake Coeur d’Alene, with Tubbs Hill and Mceuen Park being frequent settings. Everyday, Foote uploads a short video to his platforms of him playing his own rendition of Happy Birthday, despite the fact that he doesn’t celebrate birthdays, which makes him “a dichotomy.” 

“It’s just another day; I don’t really care about birthdays,” said Foote. “Somebody told me I should post a birthday video. I was terrified because I was like ‘I’m not a singer. I don’t want people to want to hear me sing.’ And they begged me and begged me and I finally posted it and it went viral.”

Adapted from the melody of a previous original song, Foote’s birthday songs have engaged so many viewers that he decided in 2023 to post a new performance daily, and at one point was asked by singer/songwriter Alicia Keys’ sound engineer to make one for her. His videos often incorporate locals and bystanders who want to be featured.

Foote admitted that after “almost everyday for two years,” he thinks “that people are just done hearing the birthday song,” as evidenced by his decreasing audience engagement. After recording and posting videos everyday for so long, he’s found himself at wit’s end.

“I’ve just been burnt out and I ran out of ideas and out of motivation,” Foote said. “I’ve been fighting this burnout since 2022.”

To counter this, Foote has found new ways to revitalize his brand. In addition to an upcoming musical collaboration with local rapper Jawbo Sutton, he is also partnering with North Idaho College’s Communications & Marketing and the Coeur d’Alene Resort. The latter, according to the Resort’s Director of Marketing, Amy Vansickle, is “a social collab” where Foote will occasionally play at the infinity pool.

“The fact that I’m sitting here with [the Kootenai Journal], the fact that I’m working with the Coeur d’Alene Resort, the fact that I’m working with NIC is awesome,” Foote said. “[In the] big picture, things are amazing. I’m about to pay off my mortgage!”

Sitting Down With Adam

Ironically, Foote claimed people have assumed he’s homeless or even “dangerous” due to his disheveled appearance. Influenced by artists such as ZZ Top and Bob Marley, Foote sports a long beard and dreadlocks so that he might look distinct and “be memorable.”

“Somebody walking past on the trail and recognizing me is a testament to show that I have grasped their attention and they remember me,” Foote said.

I love your music

A woman while she passed Foote on a Tubbs Hill trail

I love you

A paddleboarder beneath the cliff where Foote was being interviewed

I always see you freaking filming around here… You keep grinding bro

Jacob, a local runner who paused his run to greet Foote

As rain began to fall on Foote during his interview with the Kootenai Journal in late July, he showed little concern for his equipment and remarked that his song, “The Rhythm of Rain” was recorded in more torrential conditions.

“I play in downpours with these microphones,” Foote said. “Actually, my most popular song on Spotify is one that I recorded during a rainstorm.”

Wilderness Therapy

Much of Foote’s discography includes natural sounds such as waves, streams, and bird songs to complement his playing. In his view, it aids his music in being “peaceful, calming, and relaxing.”

“My music is for relaxation,” Foote said. “I think the sounds of nature are just so relaxing”

Music has immense therapeutic value for Foote, who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Taylor University and a Master’s of Social Work from Eastern Washington University. After losing his job as a school counselor in 2019 and subsequently getting monetized on Facebook, Foote was able to fully devote himself to making music. He explained that whilst tapping his hand pan, time and “everything else fades away.”

“I like to have my hands busy,” Foote said. “I’m a naturally anxious person, and music for me is what helps me calm down…I struggle with anxiety, so much so that in the past I had trouble sleeping, and I actually had to be admitted to a psych ward and I was actually diagnosed with bipolar disorder a handful of years ago. I take medication now, I feel so much better now, but I definitely struggle with talking to strangers.”

Despite frequently meeting fans and strangers around Coeur d’Alene, Foote finds it uncomfortable to begin conversation and often relies on being approached by others.

“At the core of who I am, I am very introverted,” Foote said. “Making a video with somebody starts off with them recognizing me.”

Although Foote appreciates having relationships with locals now, in his own words, “it didn’t start out that way.” Referring to the time prior to his online popularity waning in 2023, he admitted that he “was pretty arrogant.”

“Things were going so well online that I kind of have had this attitude of ‘I don’t need Coeur d’Alene,” Foote said. “Then I started to realize it’s good for me to be active in the community… The good thing about things slowing down over the last couple of years is that it has humbled me and helped me to be more relatable and approachable to people.”

Looking Forward

With a fresh attitude and new partnership offers, Foote is looking forward to branching out and diversifying. His dream is to travel the world, however the local community won’t be losing him anytime soon. The Cleveland, Ohio native said that Coeur d’Alene is “definitely a home base” for him, despite the city’s ongoing rise in real estate value.

“I was kind of oodling over how much I could sell my house for and how much money I could make,” Foote said. “But over the last year, I’ve just started to realize how much I love Coeur d’Alene and how much of a home it has become for me.”

His mission “to bring happiness and joy through music and videos” is evident by his infectious smile and overwhelmingly appreciative feedback to his social media, including his frequent livestreams.

“The future looks bright,” Foote said. “Which is funny. I have to remind myself of that because I get really discouraged sometimes.”