Today, we sat down with Evie Calabasas to talk music inspiration, musical heroes and more. Be sure to check out her music below after the interview on Spotify!
Here is the interview:
What is your inspiration to write your music? Is it your surroundings?
What usually inspires me the most are the feelings and experiences my friends go through. Whenever one of them comes to me to tell me how they’ve been feeling or to bring me up to date about something that’s been going on in their lives, they know that I may end up turning that into a song. I think this is because it gives me new perspectives on how to handle certain situations, as I might have reacted in a completely different way!
Of course, it’s not always this easy: sometimes I struggle myself to put feelings into words or simply because I start the main idea but it never turns into a finished song for some reason.
Besides, I also try to write songs that are based on personal experiences, but it’s a lot harder for me to talk about my feelings and it’s usually a much longer process because I always want to make sure that what I’m saying doesn’t come off as too personal and that it can apply to anyone.
What type of music did you listen to growing up?
Growing up I listened to many different genres. My dad has always been a massive fan of 70s rock, which is something I’ve never really got into, but he did introduce me to many different kinds of music until I eventually found my go-to genres.
Over the years my taste in music changed a lot but there are artists that I’ve never ceased to listen to, such as Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran, they both contributed so much to shaping my taste in music and my path as a musician myself.
Is there someone you looked up as a hero?
There’s no single person in particular, but there are many qualities I admire in many people I know and wish I could develop myself.
I really look up to anyone brave enough to speak up for those whose voices can’t be heard. I also value persistence and resilience a lot, as it’s not always that easy getting back up once you’ve been brought down.
Musically speaking, I really look up to those artists who constantly reinvent themselves depending on whatever style best fits their personality and the idea they have of themselves at a certain moment and still manage to do great. I see many of these characteristics in Harry Styles, Paul McCartney and Stevie Nicks.
If you weren’t a musician, would you be doing today?
If I weren’t a musician, I would probably be completing my third year of university, which I am still doing, but I’m pretty sure I’d also be studying to become a chef since that’s always been a great passion of mine. I always try to come up with new recipes and be as creative as I can, which is something I really enjoy. My best friends are always happy to be my test cases and we often pretend I am in a MasterChef competition.
What advice do you have for our fans out there that want to create music?
I would definitely advise them not to give up. There’s always going to be someone who doesn’t like what you’re doing, but don’t let any of those people bring you down, especially when they don’t give constructive criticism. Keep doing what you’re doing, keep practising, keep writing and results will come.
