Erik Evy breaks down his artistry and what's next to come..
We love to discover new music and are so happy we had a chance to interview this artist. We asked Erik Evy a few short questions about his artistry and what to expect next. Here's what he had to say..
What's your favorite venue to attend/perform and why?
"Subterranean Chicago has been my favorite venue so far! I have been to 3 big shows there, and I have attended their open mics every Tuesday night. It is the longest running hip hop open mic in Chicago and I have been able to work on my stage presence and freestyling. I had my first official show on June 7th. Great environment. This venue makes networking so easy, there are two levels and the artists typically hang out on the upper level. Makes for a secluded spot to network. More venues to come!"..
What's your favorite song/project you've been apart of?
"Looking back, I think my favorite collaboration has been Hoo Kairs (Feat. Juss Law), this was my first collaboration and what I love is he brought another level out of me. I believe it is one of my best written songs, and he concludes the song with a completely different energy. It's about letting go and traveling. Most recently, collaborating on the "Quarter Life Crisis" Music video was a big moment. This was the moment I discovered I had true confidence on camera. Sam Haro and Danny Dominguez shot the video, and I cant wait to see where my creativity goes next."..
Did anyone influence you to start doing music?
"Yes, it was a mix of Chicago acts like Chance, Saba, Kanye, but Mac Miller was probably the first big influence who told me I could really do this. It goes back to their progression. I never connected with the Chicago drill scene but these artists proved that you can have a sound that is true to you. I have found comfort that there are plenty of stories like Rick Ross, 2 chainz who saw their careers take off later. To me, it's a confirmation that we have so much time. Not everyone is Bieber with mass stardom at 18. Now that I am in the music scene, there are countless of rising artists who I learn from. That has been the biggest unexpected gem."..
Who does what? Tell me about your team. Do you handle it all? Producer/Engineer/Writing etc.
"I do the writing, recording, and the arrangement of the vocals. Producing has been beat licenses purchased off YouTube. (Stoic, Pilotkid, Lucas Quinn have been the 3 I use most often) and then Dolapo Inc mixes my work. For marketing, Destin Theus helps me with marketing and planning. I am a huge believer in having a cohesive story and Destin helps elevate my vision. Photography has been Danny Dominguez and Sam Haro."..
NEW EP "Matinee" SET TO RELEASE JULY, 2022. Follow Erik Evy on Spotify to keep up!
What advice would you give up and coming independent artists?
"Set up a studio at home. The upfront money placed in equipment, sound proofing etc will be way cheaper than paying per session in a professional studio. That way when you get random inspiration sitting at home, you are able to jump on it. And youll be able to host other artists coming over to your place to work! My second piece of advice would be to network, network, network. You can learn something from every artist and every show you attend. At first, most of your fans will be other artists, and you will need their support to grow."..
What differentiates you and your art from other artists/musicians?
"The storytelling and relatability. In this day, authenticity matters more than perfection. I am not the type to be in clubs and rapping about girls, money, and the extra shit, so if I can deliverer stories that relate to people I will have a long career. Overall I believe my style is minimalistic too. Not a ton of extra bells, I want my voice to carry weight and that has forced me to elevate my confidence on the mic. There is no room to hide behind the beat. Plus you're developing friends!"
Can you explain your new Music Video "Quarter Life Crisis"?
"This is a song about turning 25 years old, and the changes that are going on as we start to hit adulthood. It is a motivational message to keep pushing. the beat was so hard, we had to shoot the music video at night."..
What can we expect next from you?
"I have a 3 song EP called "Matinee" that will be out in early July. This serves as the bridge between my first project, and the new project that will be this fall. I want to guide my listeners to understand where I am coming from, and that's why "Matinee" idea fits perfectly. The afternoon show before primetime "