Meet Kirsten Evans | Singer + Composer

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

Hi Kirsten, why did you pursue a creative career?
I think I probably had two choices when it came to my career; pursue something academic or pursue something creative. I love learning and I love problem solving. It’s such a fantastic feeling to finally find a solution to a problem that has been sending you in circles for days. There’s something so satisfying when you realise that you have gained knowledge that has so many further applications throughout other areas of your life. It’s fascinating to learn about all of the wonderful new things there are outside of your bubble.

Connection and full expression surpass all of these feelings (at least for me) and this is something that I can only find in music. I still feel the thrills of learning and the highs and lows of creative problem solving, but you also have the opportunity to share.

There has honestly been no other moment in my professional life that has brought me more true fulfilment than the moment I realised the lady in the front row was breathing with me as I sung. After the pinnacle of the song had passed I paused before taking a breath and so did she. When she finally inhaled her breath was loud and full of emotion as she stared directly at me. You could see that this song was allowing her to relive something dear to her.

I sing in my songs and compositions (whether I am writing music alone or together with others) because this is how I get my own feelings out too. I’ve learnt that layering my voice is the most powerful tool I have in my creative arsenal and so I include this in all of my work. Layer my voice to build textures is a staple in my music and has become something that people now come to me for.

Music is everything to me.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As a composer who initially trained, and found her way into music, as a singer, I include my voice in everything I do. Whether my voice ends up in the final track or not is irrelevant; I use my voice as a compositional tool as both an instrument, as a means of conveying my ideas, and a reference for creating gesture and shaping sound,

A couple of years ago I bought a loop machine that enabled my to, seamlessly endlessly, record layer upon layer of my voice to build textures and songs. I have spent countless hours writing loops built from just my voice. I use my voice to create every element of a loop from the bass to textural elements, to chords to melody (of course). This experimentation has allowed me to understand how my voice can act so much more than a means of singing a catchy melody. I can use my voice to construct a whole track without it ever sounding like a lot of voices on top of one another. I can use my voice to make music that sounds like a film score, or a trailer, or the music you hear on an advert for an iPhone.

So, that’s now exactly what I do. Whether I am working on one of my own songs as an independent artist, or I work with collaborators (such as the talented composer Thomas Eggensberger best know for his ability to record organic sounds and instruments and transform these into intricate and emotive textures in his music) I always use my voice to add to the music. Sometimes my voice gives the track a much needed emotive boost or a more organic and natural feeling as it blends with instrumental elements, and other times it stands out as the main attraction or becomes the sound world of a track.

The best way I can express my ideas is through my voice, so why wouldn’t I use it every way I can. Without my voice I would still create good music, but with my voice I can create music that actually makes you feel something (if I do say so myself…).

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Okay so I actually do a have a friend coming to visit me and LA for the first time soon so here is the plan:

Firstly escape LAX and head straight home to dump their stuff. Get settled in for the night with food from Hoy Ka, they have the BEST Thai food! Seriously.

Next day you hit all of the tourist spots. Work your way from the Universal City overlook, to Griffith park, to the Hollywood sign, to a very quick look at the walk of fame. Drive down sunset, through West Hollywood, Beverly Hills and out to Santa Monica to catch the sunset.

Stop of at Erin McKenna in Larchmont to get a doughnut each and head to Burbank to grab food. Hit the Flappers comedy club for the late show and head home.

Quick inNout on the way to LAX and you’re done!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Over the last couple of years I have followed the work of two young entrepreneurs Grace Beverly and Steven Bartlett. Neither of them work in the world of music but both of them strive everyday to become 1% better than they were yesterday (as Beverly often puts it).

Beverly is a force of nature. She’s contoured competitive and saturated business sectors in her early 20’s and is using her influence to evoke change in the entrepreneurial landscape in the UK today.

Bartlett, amongst the other fantastic and numerous ventures he undertakes, has built a fantastic podcast that deeply questions some of the most impressive minds on the planet. You learn how these people came to be who they are and you, as a listener, are exposed to a variety of topics and opinions.

Since I have started listening to Bartlett’s podcast (The Diary of a CEO) and following the growth of Beverly’s companies and her as a leader, and individual I have found myself growing in confidence. The more knowledge I have the more I understand myself. They continue to prove themselves to be aspirational figures and I aim to be 1% better everyday right alongside them.

Website: Kirstenevans.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kirstenhevans?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Image Credits
Thomas Eggensberger