Meet Evan Engisch | Musician & Engineer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Evan Engisch and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Evan, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
My ‘career’ path went from musician to spacecraft engineer, back to musician, but has always been driven by an innate desire to create something bigger than myself.

I have actual baby photos of me playing drums and piano in diapers, so creating music was always there. My father ran a recording studio from an A-frame attached to my childhood home, so I grew surrounded by musicians. I adopted a determination to carve a place for myself in that world.

I ended up derailed for 10 years after discovering ‘spaceship builder’ was an option. Got an engineering degree, and spent many years designing components for rockets and spacecraft. Engineering scratched the same itches that creating music does, and I essentially view engineering as ‘applied art’.

I had been releasing music as New Aesthetic for years alongside my day job, but half-hearted creation was never in my nature. Mid-2024, satisfied with my engineering contributions, I decided it was time to give New Aesthetic a proper all-or-nothing go.

I left engineering, and have since dedicated my time to building a world for my art to live in. I feel I’m just beginning to find my audience, and it’s quite exciting!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My approach to New Aesthetic has always been: build the world first, then invite people in. At every stage, I’ve created art to the absolute limit of my resources and abilities of the time.

In four years, I’ve gone from recording in my living room to working in legendary studios with producers credited on my favorite Interpol and Foo Fighters records. I hired a 36-piece orchestra for a song last year, and as I write this, a lifelong hero of mine is mixing my new live EP.

I picked up music video production to promote my work. My first videos were low budget, entirely solo. Now, in just the last year, I’ve filmed in four different studios with a total of 41 actors, dancers, and musicians across a series of music videos, plus a forthcoming live performance video.

I’m quite proud of the lengths I’ve gone to bring these ideas to life, and am continually amazed with other artists’ willingness – and excitement – to be involved.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m an ‘aimless walker’ type, so my tours revolve around engaging scenery to wander.

Manhattan Beach – my favorite part of LA. The Strand walkway, a miles-long beachside paved path, is unmatched in beauty. There’s a particular bench in Bruce’s Beach where I’ve written a lot of New Aesthetic lyrics. My favorite ocean view. It gets a shoutout in my song Where the Waves Conspire.

Venice Canals – gets the most consistent “WOW!” response from visitors. An often overlooked marvel.

Comedy shows at the Largo – my favorite “let’s get out tonight” activity. Immaculate vibes every night.

Mount Hollywood Trail – ends at the best view in all of LA. Tell your guests to bring hiking shoes!

Palisades Park – best sunsets in LA. Perfect end to a good day.

For Food:

Doomie’s, Hollywood – my go-to vegan comfort food. Basically punk/metal themed, staff to match. I love it dearly; likely been there more than any other place in LA.

Mao’s Kitchen, Venice – amazing ‘mom-and-pop’ Chinese food right under the famed Venice sign. Owner and staff are so kind.

RICE, Manhattan Beach – best vegan sushi. I eat veggie, but I’m told the ‘real’ sushi is equally impressive.

Manhattan Bread & Bagel, Manhattan Beach – undisputed best bagel in LA.

Pompadour, Beverly Hills – best, and prettiest, pastry shop in LA.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Recently, Lincoln Jones’ work as director of American Contemporary Ballet has inspired me more than any other LA native. He’s an astounding choreographer with a ‘music-forward’ approach that speaks to me deeply.

His ballets look how they sound. He’s pulled together the best crew of dancers and musicians I’ve seen in such a context. He also strictly stages ballets with no actual stages, performers on the same level as the audience. They’re like the ballet equivalent of a punk house show.

I discovered his work while searching for a ballet dancer to pose for the cover art of my latest record, A Life in the Arts. I hired a dancer from his company, and later reached out to him for advice on a separate project. Much to my surprise, he immediately responded with a long voice message of kind insight.

He’s built a world for his ballets to live in, something I admire and aim for in my own art.

Website: https://newaestheticmusic.com/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/newaestheticmusic

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanengisch/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NewAestheticMusic