Exclusive Interview with David Evans

Gidilounge sat down with Uk artist David Evan to find out a little about him and this was how it went:

David Evans..Is that your real name??…Can we get a little background check on you?

Yex Box. David Evans is actually my real name, even though it might seem very strange, as I’m originally from Imo State, Nigeria, but I have lived in the UK for the past few years of my life. Currently, I’m a student of Popular Music Production in the United Kingdom, as well as an independent media producer and session musician.

Your record “Brand New” is a huge hit in the UK, what next should we expect from you and how soon should we be expecting it and who would you be working with?

Brand New!! Big song that was. That was the record which got me noticed in the industry. It featured Voax, otherwise known as Azu, a Pop newcomer in the UK indie industry, and Authentiq, a rapper from Titans Ent. The Remix to the record featured the one and only Phizzle from Sturvs Records. I switched up the beat from a regular R&b beat a kind of Old School hiphop beat fused with talking drums.

It happened to be loved by many, and still holds the record for the fastest Nigerian Music Download, although I don’t consider it totally a Nigerian song.

August 1^st is the big day, the day I become an artist. I will be releasing a “Follow Me Go”, a song I produced and co-wrote alongside Seun “Oh!Sean” Bakare. It’s a beautiful new style of music I’m trying my hands on, and for the first time, I take the lead vocals on my own.

It will be available right here on Gidilounge.com and at the moment, a preview can be heard at www.Myspace.com/davidevansmusic.

After the release, “Follow Me Go” would be available for download on iTunes UK, E.U. and US only, and Amazon Mp3 worldwide.

The world can expect a lot from me in the near future as I have been working extensively with a lot of artists, Nigerian, American and British mostly, as well as having numerous meetings with record executive in order to widen my record distribution and improve record sales internationally.

Growing up, who were your musical influences?

Growing up, the only music I was opportuned to listen to was the music which my father bought, and trust me, he bought a lot. Apart from Tim Westwood, my father has the largest music collection I have ever seen. Most of these were music which he personally describes as “Old School”. These range from the classic Motown Records to Heavy D, Apache Indian and many more.

I played the Trumpet as part of an orchestra for a few years. During these years, I had to occupy my ears with the likes of Beethoven and Bach, and sometimes the like of Celine Dion.

From my music, you can tell that I had a period of my life in which I listen to Southern African Music such as Brenda Fassie and Lucky Dube, this has significantly contributed to the outcome of my recent productions.

Who would say right now has the closet similarity to your style of music, Local and Abroad?

To be honest, I really can’t say. My music is all based on the fusion of cultures. I know a few musicians who are currently exploring the same tactics. One of these is a UK based producer called Puppet Master; He makes use of popular American style synths and drums, fusing this with sounds from different cultures. He’s definitely one to look out for.

As a young and new artist coming out from the UK, what are the challenges you face breaking into the mainstream?

In this country, there is a lot of politics and involved in the music industry, and I’m sure this the case in many other countries, if not, then similar. Due to this, getting major airplay on radio stations is usually a continuous battle as most of us are signed to independent labels which do not have the millions of pounds to fund music promotion.

Apart from this, the UK industry is quite beautiful, as musicians do not see the game as a competition, but as a co-operation where we need to be united so as to succeed, so we make it a priority to help each other.

What genre would you classify your music under?

I wish I had the power to name my music as a unique new genre, this is because my music varies a lot. Although mostly RnB, its still have combinations of Hiphop, Soul, Afrobeat, Afro-Pop, and I’m currently working on a Funky House record with Authentiq.

My own classification of my music will simply be Afro-RnB. That’s if there is any such thing.

Where does David Evans see himself in the next 5 years?

My ultimate aim is to gradually build a media empire. I and a few of my colleagues recently registered our own record label “Priority Records” under the English and welsh constitution. By the special grace of God, by early 2010, we should be publishing our first compilation, and we will let one of the 5 major record companies handle it from there. In 5 years, I hope to be a successful media executive in both the music and film industry.

Before we leave, what do you have to say to your fans?

(Laugh). I don’t regard anyone as a fan, I prefer to see them as friends and supporters. I have only gotten as far as I have today because of the support I have constantly gotten from you.

I plead that you keep showing your love, the first thing you can do is to download Follow Me Go, and keep a close eye on my blog: www.Yesfollowmego.blogspot.com there is also a chance of winning £1000 simply by downloading the song. Find out how to win on my blog or simply contact me directly on www.Facebook.com/iamdavide

Many thanks to Gidilounge.com for constantly putting my music out there for the Nigerian Online community.