EVALINA - Biggest Fan (Official Video) + 10 Questions

Following on from her latest singles 'Rough Patch’ & 'Happy You're Happy', which were featured in Wonderland, Wordplay & Under the Radar, added to Spotify editorials Fresh Finds & Fresh Finds Pop & named as BBC Introducing's Record Of The Day, 'Biggest Fan' solidifies EVALINA as a tour-de-force pop star, boasting impressive vocals that could out-riff the biggest diva's in the world & melodies that that will stick in your head until the end of time. Co-written & produced by Hannah Koppenburg (Eurythmics) & Max Cooke (Ellie Goulding) & continues the playful tongue & cheek lyrical style that EVALINA has come to be known for in her songs ‘I Already Told My Mama What You Did’ & ‘I Threw A Party (Excuses)’.

'Biggest Fan' sees EVALINA transition into a sexier, more R&B leaning sound, reminiscent of & inspired by Mahalia, JoJo, Ariana Grande & Tori Kelly, it tells the story of wanting someone to treat you right but when they're too nice, you get the ICK & it results in an endless cycle of self sabotage in relationships. This song is relatable because every girl wants to find someone who's absolutely obsessed with them, but when they actually experience it, unconsciously push them away.

EVALINA says 'When I wrote this song 3 years ago I was actually experiencing this exact situation with my ex, it’s only in hindsight that I realise it was a premonition of what was to come'.

On “Biggest Fan”, EVALINA demonstrates why every radio station needs more songs with sultry tones, heavenly harmonies & ad-libs that crescendo into a jaw dropping climax. The London based songstress leaves us ravenous for more R&B infused pop, flexing her impressive vocal agility & wickedly devious penmanship, demanding that we listen to what she has to say. With a vocal range seemingly spanning out of this world & circling into Mariah Carey’s otherworldly orbit, EVALINA takes us back to a time when the chills we felt in our gut after hearing a perfectly executed run were enough to indicate that a star had just been born.

EVALINA sat down with Wordplay Magazine to answer our infamous 10 Questions:

1. So tell me, how did it all begin? What sparked your love for music?

Growing up I always loved singing! I didn’t have much family influence over music growing up as my parents work normal jobs and there’s nobody musical in the family - I just used to listen to mainstream radio, my first favourite singer was Rihanna. She made me wanna be a pop star.

Ever since I was younger I’ve always been a dreamer and knew I wanted to be a pop star but I was super shy and awkward in school. One day me & my mum saw an advertisement in the local church hall for Saturday morning musical theatre classes and she signed me up! I think she thought it would be good for building confidence & making friends (and allowing her some free time whilst my dad took my brothers to rugby lol) little did she know I would fall in love with music & performing.

When I was about 7 I used to put on these ‘performances’ at my parents friends house when we’d go round and I'd belt out songs for them in their hallway. I remember one of them said to my parents ‘you should apply her to the BRIT school’. Fast forward a few years; one of the girls at my performing arts Saturday school (Talia Mar) got into BRIT, I’d always thought it was something you had to pay for but when I found out it was free, when I was old enough to go, I applied and got in!

I went there for 4 years & studied Musical Theatre so I could have the ‘triple threat’ experience - but always knew I wanted to be a singer.

I would see people in the Music strand going to studios and working with producers but 15 year old me just had no idea how to get into that world. At the time my instagram account was called ‘evalinasings’ and all I posted was videos of me singing and playing piano. I started finding producers from Spotify song credits and following them on Instagram and spamming them with likes trying to get noticed (lol) eventually I received a DM from this production duo called ‘Laconic’ they’d seen my profile and my singing videos and loved my voice, they invited me (& my parents) to their studio in central to sing for them. I ended up going into artist development with them for a couple of years and by doing sessions with them and other writers, I also discovered my love for songwriting. I was very lucky to have that experience at a young age and have been building & growing ever since.
 
2. Who are some artists that influence you and that you want to work with in the future?

My biggest influence has undoubtedly been Tori Kelly. I discovered her on YouTube when I was 12 and just thought she had the most incredible voice. Her riffs & runs were just so crisp & clear. Aside from her singing, I also felt that I was able to relate to her in some ways. I’ve always considered her to be a bit of an underdog, underestimated. I appreciate that she has never changed herself to fit in with the industry standards placed particularly on women. She has always been true to herself and leads with her voice and lyrics. I’ve always admired her venerability & honesty in her lyrics and that’s what I’m trying to explore more of in my own music moving forward. She also just seems like a hun! A collab with her would be a dream. I also love Jojo, Jazmine Sullivan, Keyisha Cole, Demi Lovato, Ariana Grande, Nao, Adele, Sia …too many to name!! Artists that make your ears perk up because of their unique tone, or lyricism.

I also find RAYE very inspiring, using her platform to stand up for what she believes in, making noise and speaking up for songwriters in the industry as well. As well as being able to transcend genres from R&B, to Pop & Dance to Jazz and not be boxed into one. Similarly to Lady Gaga, The Weeknd, Bebe Rexah, who’ve all covered a multitude of genres in their careers from Electro-pop to country, Dark Trap R&B to 80s style ballads, I’d like to be the type of artist who isn’t restricted by genre and just write music that I like and feel best represents me at the time I write it, whatever serves the song best, I don’t care about the genre, as long as a piece of me is in there and it’s my voice telling the story.

3. What projects do you have coming up and can you give us any info on them?

I’m very excited to finally release my debut EP. The last track from this EP is gonna be out in a few weeks time and I’m moving into a slightly more emotional vibe than the other tracks I’ve released so far. I feel like it’s the right time for me to wrap up this first chapter and finally release a lil body of work, I’ve been working on so much new music & new sounds which I can’t wait to release in the new year.

I’ve also got a dance collab coming out towards the end of this year which I’m super excited about. I can’t mention any names yet, but the song has already been played all over the world in front of massive crowds at Tomorrowland, Miami Music Week, Las Vegas, Dubai - and even though it’s currently unreleased, the response already from fans has been amazing!

4. How would you describe your sound?

Although my sound continuously evolves just as I do, I would describe it as vocal driven pop, inspired by R&B, soul & dance.

5. What's your proudest moment to date so far as an artist?

Taking the leap into releasing my solo music independently & deciding to stop letting other people's opinions overshadow my own vision and intuition.

6. Do you have any advice for our readers who may be trying to play the mad game of music?

As cliche as it sounds, just be nice. Be nice to everyone you meet, whether they’re upcoming in their career or more established, or if they’re not in music & they’re serving you coffee - treat everyone as equal and never assume anything about anyone - ultimately you never know where someone is going to end up and people don’t remember the words you say, they remember how you make them feel, it’s nice to be nice.

Remember to have fun! Keep practicing & honing your craft. If you’re an artist, just release the music. Don’t put so much pressure on 1 song, release the music you’ve got and keep releasing. Not every song has to be perfect and it’s all part of your journey, you learn & find yourself as you go.Never stop networking, go to networking events, show your face, put yourself out there.

7. Are there any artists on your radar right now that we should check out?

Tyler Lewis, Spencer Sutherland, Amelia Moore, Adanna Duru, Artemas, DRIIA, Nova May, Rose Gray, Nonô, Boy Loco, Kelli-Leigh, Samira & Mayjor.

8. What albums are on heavy rotation on your Spotify playlist currently?

NAO - For All We Know & Saturn
Tom Odell - Long Way Down
Artemas - Pretty 
SZA - SOS
Raye - 21st Century Blues
Lianne La Havas - Blood 
Rihanna - Rated R
Frank Ocean - Blonde
Tori Kelly - Unbreakable Smile & TORI.
Jojo - Mad Love
The Weeknd - Starboy

9. What do you like to do when you're not making music?

I sing for fun.

10. Name Three things you can't live without when in the studio?

Water, google docs & lip gloss.