As a writer and researcher on music, Ethan's recent work focuses on the musical aspects of language, emphasizing the overlaps between music and language that manifest themselves in sound poetry and contemporary vocal music. His research—as well as much of his recent compositional work—focuses in part on phonetics and the sonic features of the spoken voice, as well as the use of nonsensical texts in experimental musical settings.

Ethan has also taught on popular music subjects, most recently teaching courses on the development of electronic music, the music/music culture of Jamaica, and the history of alternative rock musics. He is the author of Sigur Rós' ( ), an examination of the use of nonsensical texts in the titular album for the 33⅓ series, as well as a chapter on The Blood Brothers in a recent anthology from the same series.