EVALINA will release her debut EP "Fickle Heart", a confident collection of perfectly crafted pop songs, showcasing the very best of her heartfelt storytelling & mesmerising vocals, led by the powerful new single "Too Bad", a nostalgic & deeply emotive, mid tempo power-ballad about self worth & moving on from someone who's taken you for granted. Recent support includes features in Wonderland, Clash, Wordplay, Record Of The Day, Official Charts & Under The Radar show just how much of a global appeal Evalina has. BabyStep caught up with her shortly after the release of her debut EP, here is how it went down!
1. Your debut EP Fickle Heart showcases powerful storytelling and emotional depth. How did you approach writing these songs, and what personal experiences shaped the narrative of this project?
I always go into a session with a concept or a melody (or both). I’ve got over 10,000 voice notes on my phone and each time inspiration strikes for a song, whether I’m travelling or in the shower or at 2am, I write down/voice note all of my ideas because inspiration doesn’t always strike when you need it to, so I find it helps my process when I can collect ideas and then revisit them when I need to in a writing session. I also find it difficult to write about things directly as I’m experiencing them sometimes as it can be too raw, but if I can revisit an idea/concept in hindsight with the help of great collaborators then I can gain more perspective on a situation and how I want to write about it. I draw inspiration for my music from real life situations and my own experience, as they say you should write about what you know, but I also try to keep it open for interpretation so that a listener can relate to it in their own way and feel like it's their story too.
2. "Too Bad" is a standout track on the EP, reflecting themes of self-worth and moving on from toxic relationships. Can you tell us more about the inspiration behind this song and what you hope listeners take away from it?
‘Too Bad’ is a song about when a toxic person tries coming back into your life when you’ve been healing and moving on from them. Someone who always took you for granted, never realising what a good thing they had until it's too late - and only wanting you back when they see you’re happy without them. Whether it be a romantic or platonic relationship, it's bittersweet when the person you put your heart and energy into & want to share a future with chooses to constantly take & never give. At some point enough is enough and you have to realise your worth and walk away, even if there were good times. Ultimately the bad overshadows any of the good moments that were shared. It’s about knowing your worth and establishing your boundaries when that person tries to walk back into your life. It’s funny because more often than not, these types of people underestimate you and think you’re reliant on them and that they’ve got you on their strings, when really it’s them who need you and not the other way around.
3. You’ve received great support from major platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and BBC Introducing. How does it feel to see such recognition, and how has it influenced your creative process?
I always try to create music from the heart and use it as a way to express myself and my emotions. I don’t tailor my sound or lyrics to any specific platform but I believe that by being my authentic self, I have attracted some of these tastemakers and for that I am very grateful for their continued support and appreciate it even more as an independent artist. All I ever want is to find my people and grow my musical family so I appreciate the help of these platforms, making my music accessible and discoverable to new listeners.
4. The music on Fickle Heart blends nostalgic pop with modern production. How do you find the balance between staying true to classic influences while also pushing the boundaries of contemporary pop?
I think when I’m writing, I don’t directly draw inspiration from anyone in the moment because my only intention when writing music is that I feel that it represents me and what I want to say, and speaking my truth. I think I subconsciously channel my influences rather than sit down and say ‘I wanna do something like this’. I put a lot of trust into the talented producers that I work with to do what they feel works best for the song, without getting too caught up on genre/the sonic soundscape because ultimately I feel that my way of writing and my voice is what ties all of the songs together. Something I’m trying to bring back into contemporary pop in the UK is big adlibs at the end of the song! Growing up listening to a lot of 90’s R&B and 21st Century big vocal pop stars like Tori Kelly, JoJo, Christina Aguilera, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Jazmine Sullivan, Jessie J & Whitney Houston, my favourite part of the song was always the ‘scream in to the pillow moment’ at the end of the song. I love a dramatic finish so when a song feels like it’s built up to the big emotional payoff, it really hammers the point home.
5. As you release your debut EP, what are your goals moving forward as an artist? Are there any exciting collaborations or projects on the horizon that you can share with us?
I’ve already started working on my next project, it’s super exciting and I feel that my sound has evolved since writing the songs for this EP and I can’t wait for everyone to hear my new music. Expect more vocals, more instrumentation & a deeper sense of storytelling and maturity.
I’ve got a big collaboration coming out next year with one of the biggest DJ’s in the world which I’m so excited to finally share with everyone when the time comes, it’s one of my most favourite songs I’ve ever been a part of. I’d love to keep exploring collaborations with other singers as well, maybe a duet? And also continue to explore other genres across Dance, R&B, country & indie music.
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