Meet Kirsten Evans: Media Composer and Session Vocalist

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

Hi Kirsten, how do you think about risk?
Risk-taking is everything. You gain the opportunity to grow in uncomfortable situations, thrive whether you are acing it or improving from a failure, and you prove to yourself that you are capable of anything if you just try it out.

Risk is a daily part of my working life. Taking risks, like moving to Sweden and finding a place to live two days before I moved, has helped me on a micro and macro scale within my career so far. I continue to send cold emails to those I admire in the hope that they reply kindly whilst risking my reputation every time, and I have moved across the world and back again to take on a job on a MARVEL film that I had never done before.

Whilst my career continues to grow and I work out what I want my career to be, I continue to say yes to every opportunity that arises. I aim to try every career path within my field that I have considered doing and narrowing this list down to those that I love as time passes. I want to have a career that is unique and bespoke to me and for this, I need to take a risk to try everything at least once.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am not sure that any artist’s journey is easy no matter what medium they choose. I, in the same way as countless others, have put in many an hour to build my skills and hone my craft. After 5 years of university education, I am now at the point where I have a stable foundation for my musical voice and style. The most exciting part about having this foundation is knowing that in 6 months’ time my creative voice will have changed again and my knowledge base will have grown as a result.

The most exciting step I hope to take next is to release a 360 audio and standard version of my first album. The music will be comprised of special mixes from the music on my YouTube channel (soothing music) and will give the listener the opportunity to experience relaxing, meditative music in a way that is only now starting to emerge. I thoroughly look forward to becoming one of the early artists to release their music in a 3D/ ambisonic/ 360 format and look forward to seeing where this will take me.

The album will be coming out later in 2021 so keep your eyes peeled on my Instagram to keep up to date on the album’s progress and to find out the release date!

The best part about being creative is the continuous learning process and knowing that we are privileged enough to earn a living through our passion. Not many people get to experience this and when times are hard and my career feels like it is standing still, this is the thing I try to remember to get my motivation back!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
You have to go hiking and to the beach. My boyfriend and I recently, and accidentally, went on a 6-mile hike that allowed us to see the entire city! We only thought it was a 3-mile hike so a hike double the length was a shock but totally worth it! Check out the motorway loop if you want to see a great view of the city!

Of course, you have to go to the ocean at the beach in Santa Monica. It is great to get something to eat at the Back on the Beach Cafe and then walk all along the beach with your feet in the sand. It’s such a magical place and those who live there are very lucky to have such perfect weather all the time to enjoy all of this nature with!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would love to show recognition to my tutors and mentors that taught me throughout my composition degree and in particular, I would like to thank the head of the composition department John Hardy of John Hardy Music.

John extended endless opportunities to our entire cohort whenever he could and the opportunities that he extended to me have helped shape my career so far. On the first day of my degree, John offered me the chance to work as co-composer and session vocalist on a six-channel audio installation that would represent Wales at the world’s most renowned arts biennale, the Venice Biennale in 2017. Following this John then invited me to work with him as a coordinator and vocalist for music that now features in the Netflix original Apostle and to work with the brilliant animation company Cloth Cat Animation.

John puts every hour into his work with his students and his own film/television scoring work with his team at John Hardy Music. Not only does John have a brilliant and inviting character, but he shares his thoughts, musings, and life lessons wherever he can for the benefit of others.

Website: https://kirstenevans.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kirstenhevans/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5_udxKuklyNDo6dZ8pgu6g

Other: Soothing Music YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5_udxKuklyNDo6dZ8pgu6g Sample library company soundbake: https://www.instagram.com/soundbake/ Upcoming musicians coaching for freelancers who want to start earning a living from nothing but music: https://www.instagram.com/_uglicat/

Image Credits
41575409_10156848295206802_6344924528904241152_o, credit It’s My Shout. atmospheresandprops_photo credit Kirsten McTernan, credit Kirsten McTernan img_1603, credit Trystan Hardy