Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A: Growing up, I always felt ostracized in most of my surroundings which most definitely impacted my pallet both musically and lyrically. On this newest EP I just dropped entitled “ALLAMERICANVERMIN” which “APSARA” is on, I would scrap songs if it was anything like I had heard before. I want my music to sound like an outlier in the industry. I have been 100% myself since I was young, so my music HAS to reflect that.
Q: How are you planning on growing your fan base and sharing your music with the world? What message do you have for anyone who is about to discover “Evan Saukam”?
A: I think that the art of guerrilla marketing has been so lost after the advent of the social media age. The mystique behind classic artists like Michael Jackson and Ozzy Osbourne would have never been as strong if we had access to every single move they made at our fingertips. Making content for online purposes is a load of shit in my opinion. Bringing marketing back to the streets through word of mouth and public stunts will forever be more timeless and captivating. I could care less about making a reel that’s good for the algorithm. Let me burn my image into peoples’ minds through artistically potent performances.
Q: Who is the most inspiring artist for you right now? And where do you find inspiration for making music?
A: Ye is the absolute GOAT. I was recently lucky enough to see him in Tampa and I was floored by his performance. No other artist has changed the landscape of music in the 21st century more than him. The quality of his art allows him to stay on top despite controversy. I think that’s what really inspires me as an artist. The art of counterculture.
Q: Can you tell us about the story or message behind the song, “APSARA.”?
A: The song is an ode to my great grandmother who was victim of the Cambodian genocide. I believe that some of my earliest memories are of her coming to visit me in my crib as a baby. I can recall a ghost lady emerging from my wall and looking over me. With the direct link between sleep paralysis and astral projection, I think that may have also been my first out of body experience. “APSARA” is a direct recount of that. We started the song right before heading to NYC which is where I had gone to the Met in Manhattan and was able to see a room full of Cambodian artifacts, some of which were stolen. At the time, the song was only a 2 minute instrumental and I probably listened to it for about a half an hour while I read everything piece of information in that exhibit. When we got back to Nashville I probably wrote the song in like 5 minutes. It just fell out of me.
Q: How would you describe your sound in one word for potential listeners?
A: New
Q: Did you face any challenges while writing or recording “APSARA”?
A: While I did write it really fast once I actually put pen to paper, it was one of those ones where I couldn’t have written it without living the experiences. It really feels like I had to go through my whole life before I could have created that.
Q: What is the message of your music? And what are your goals as an artist?
A: My music is designed to liberate the people through all facets. Spiritual, mental, and physical. Helping the people reach freedom is the ultimate goal. That along with unity.
Q: Who is your dream artist to collaborate with? (dead or alive)
A: Probably David Bowie in this current moment. There are countless names that come to mind, but he was most definitely one of the few artists that crossed all mediums, genres, and cultures.
Q: What is your advice for people interested in pursuing music as a career or for those trying to enter the industry?
A: Stay true
Q: If you could go back in time and give a younger you some words of wisdom, what would they be?
A: Keep learning
