An interview with Evie Calabasas
An interview with Evie Calabasas
What inspired the name of the band and what are your influences?
My name is Evie Calabasas. That’s actually a stage name as my real one is Evita Calabassi. I just wanted it to be as easy as possible for people to pronounce and remember so I opted for Evie, which is a nickname I’ve always gone by, and Calabasas, my surname actually originated from that. I grew up listening to many different music genres, ranging from rock to jazz, artists such as David Bowie but also totally different bands such as AC/DC. Eventually, I found my own path in music and my main musical influences are definitely Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran and Maisie Peters but also smaller artists such as Gion, Mathilda Mann and Ryan Mack.
How do you approach songwriting? Are there any themes that you are keen to explore when you start off?
It really depends on the mood I’m in, which obviously shapes the lyrics and the chord progression as well as the melody. I normally start off by writing some lyrics and then try something on my guitar to see if it works, if it does then it gets easier and I finish the song immediately, as it happens most of the times. As for the lyrics, I normally find inspiration in my own experiences or those that my friends go through. It usually comes much more easily for me to write something that’s not based on how I feel because it takes much longer and it’s definitely harder to put feelings into words.
How do you approach songwriting? Are there any themes that you are keen to explore when you start off?
It really depends on the mood I’m in, which obviously shapes the lyrics and the chord progression as well as the melody. I normally start off by writing some lyrics and then try something on my guitar to see if it works, if it does then it gets easier and I finish the song immediately, as it happens most of the times. As for the lyrics, I normally find inspiration in my own experiences or those that my friends go through. It usually comes much more easily for me to write something that’s not based on how I feel because it takes much longer and it’s definitely harder to put feelings into words.
Why do you write the sort of music that you do?
think I write this type of music because that’s what I like listening to and that’s the kind of music I listen to on a daily basis. There’s no real explanation to that, I just reckon it’s because you make the music that you want to hear yourself, isn’t it?
How do you decide what songs to perform live and how do you transpose them into that live setting?
It usually depends on the kind of atmosphere I’d like to set and the place I’m performing at. I have a list of the songs that people normally prefer and then just go with it. Of course, I also add my favourites and some covers if I have enough time. I also have to think about how I’m going to transpose them, it’s usually just me and my guitar so it ends up being acoustic most of the times. For instance, my new single OMG is electro-pop so I’m still trying to find the best way to play it live when it’s just me playing without a band.
How do you decide what songs to perform live and how do you transpose them into that live setting?
It usually depends on the kind of atmosphere I’d like to set and the place I’m performing at. I have a list of the songs that people normally prefer and then just go with it. Of course, I also add my favourites and some covers if I have enough time. I also have to think about how I’m going to transpose them, it’s usually just me and my guitar so it ends up being acoustic most of the times. For instance, my new single OMG is electro-pop so I’m still trying to find the best way to play it live when it’s just me playing without a band.
What plans do you have for the future?
My plans for the future are definitely to keep making music and try to do it in the best way possible, maybe make a living out of music. I’d love to play more live shows as soon as that’s possible and maybe get to be an opening act for bigger artists, who knows! I’m also studying at university now, so getting my degree is also part of the plans.