Today we’d like to introduce you to Evan De Anda.
Hi Evan , we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Evan De Anda, and I am an alternative singer-songwriter from Houston, Texas currently based in College Station, Texas.
From an early age, music became a constant in my life. Songwriting became a way for me to wrestle and to reflect on the struggles I was dealing with. Growing up at my parent’s house, I’d trapped myself in the closet of my bedroom for hours and write so that no one would hear me. A big influence to why I started songwriting in the first place is a band called “Twenty One Pilots”. They often wrote about mental health in their songs, and they taught me how to use music as an outlet for my personal struggles. In high school, I balanced school with learning how to record my music and trying to perform with my band at the time. Through my time meeting and performing with Houston musicians, I grew as a songwriter and as a performer. I gained confidence in my writing abilities through honing my craft and finding my voice through every song I started and completed. I came a long way from the middle school boy who was too afraid to show his songs to others. I went from being too scared to show my songs to friends and family to headlining local bills and performing my songs to crowds of people.
Now, I’m just as active as ever. Since last year, I’ve been playing a string of shows across the Bryan-College Station area. I am currently in the process of creating a live band to perform shows in neighboring Houston and Austin. Over the last few months, I decided to go back to producing my own music, and I am currently working to release and promote new songs by the end of the year. Finally, I am building connections with fans and fellow musicians. My time in music has taught me the importance of community. I am able to do what I do because I learned from so many people on my journey, and I have gained so much support from friends, family, and fans. I can only hope to pay it forward for others. If my songs about my personal struggles can positively impact even a handful of people, then I’d consider my work to be a resounding success.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There’s been quite a few struggles in my journey as an artist. One of the most apparent in the last few years has been a decline in local music venues. Since being in Bryan-College Station, I have experienced multiple venue closings during my time living here. These closures take away opportunities from local artists to gain experience on stage and to build local fanbases. The first venue I performed at in the area unfortunately closed down about a year after. Another has been limited resources. As someone trying to balance college and music, it’s been a balancing act to try and find the time and money to support my musical projects. It taught me a lot about setting priorities and finding discipline to complete necessary tasks even when I’m drained or stressed. Despite the challenges, I still push forward. With the closures of local venues, I ended up playing at more house shows. I love these shows because of their intimacy and their testament to how powerful music is. I’ve also been setting aside more money to pay for gear and promotion for my music. I do what I can to support this thing because of how much I’ve grown as a person from music and songwriting.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am an alternative singer-songwriter who blends indie rock, alt rock, and indie folk into my recorded and live music. As an artist, I’m constantly evolving through being exposed to new music and being constantly inspired, so I refused to stick to one box. I write and produce my own songs, and I perform all throughout the Bryan-College Station, bringing my music to others and contributing to the local scene. I write mostly about inner struggles, whether it be loneliness or extreme guilt or heartbreak. However, a constant theme in my music is that we are not defined by our problems, and that we don’t have to make an identity out of our struggles. I learned to heal from a lot of my issues due to so many artists who weren’t afraid to write about their inner demons. This is why I do what I do. If I perform at a show and I’m able to lift at least one person’s spirits, then I’d say that it was a successful gig.
Being a DIY musician requires wearing many hats. I write all my own songs. I learned audio production all throughout high school due it being cheaper than hiring a recording engineer, so I try to record all my own songs as well. Through performing live, I have to book my shows and even do talent-scouting to find local acts that fit the music I’m performing. There’s multiple cogs that I have to keep well-oiled in order to be successful as a musician.
What sets me apart from others boils down to how I’m not afraid to wear my influences and experiences on my sleeve. I grew up being in choir as a tenor, so I incorporated this into my live shows. I intentionally do op-ups in my songs to try and mesmerize crowds. I was in a pop-punk band in high school, so I try to perform fast-paced songs during my sets so that people can dance or mosh or get lost in the high-speed energy. I’ve been influenced by post-punk and gothic bands, which is why I wear eyeliner during my gigs. I love acoustic singer-songwriter music, which is why I incorporated it into my sound. Wearing all of these influences and never trying to fully emulate the guy next to me causes me to stand out from others. My hope is that whenever someone new sees me and hears me for the first time, it will leave them intrigued and wanting more.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
First and foremost, my parents have been extremely supportive in my music career, whether it be buying me my first guitar or taking me to my gigs growing up. I wouldn’t have been able to nourish my love of music early on if it weren’t for them. I would also like to thank my first guitar teacher, Coach Harris. I didn’t take guitar lessons seriously at first, and he threatened to drop me. However, he had faith in my passion, and he continued to teach me. Because of his faith in me, guitar became my primary instrument for songwriting and musical creation, and I am so grateful for him. Finally, I’m thankful for my former theatre teacher, Mr. Dan Green. He taught me how to be confident and intentional with how I go about live performance. I wouldn’t be the performer and musician I am today without his guidance and encouragement.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evan.de.anda/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@evandeandamusic
