Tampa Comes to ATL: Evalution [INTERVIEW]
BY MATTHEW DEMARKO AND ELIZABETH WINDHAM
Music festivals are a fertile homeland for growth and evolution, whether through mind expanding experiences or more love and music than a person thought possible. For Evan Cazes, after winning free tickets years ago, Sunset Music Festival was the catalyst that made him realize he didn’t want to return to a festival until he was playing one. And what better way to honor that growth than to combine his birth name with his stage name: Evalution.
With the cool confidence of a hometown hero, Evalution and his manager strolled to the Cool Down Get Down Tent. His dream of playing a festival was moments away from coming to fruition, and not just anywhere, but in the town where he was from. Starting with piano and and guitar at eight years old, he’s come a long way. But the sonics of real instruments and live music are intricately woven throughout his own. Cutting his teeth in Tallahassee the last four years at clubs like TENN and all over the Tally Strip has paid off.
Evalution and Girlfriend Amanda at Sunset Music Festival 2021 - Atlanta EDM
With his girlfriend beaming with pride by his side, Evalution was about to take the stage. But not before being hugged by most of the crowd, old friends who showed up or drove from Tallahassee to support. When he did get on the turn tables, his set was filled with plenty of festival friendly rage, but also had pleasing surprises peppered throughout. We heard Green Day’s “American Idiot” one moment, the next he was onto a stripped back sample of Outkast’s “Elevators”. The more we listened, the more his name made sense.
Atlanta EDM: What does it mean to be able to play a festival in the town where you're from?
Evalution: It's insane. This is the first festival I’ve ever played. There were so many people I knew who came out to support, it was like, literally unbelievable. And we got to be in the [Cool Down Get Down] tent, which is nice because it's hot as hell out here…on the way out it was literally so crowded that there were people hopping in from the [exit] fence…instead of the entrance because it was so backed up.
Atlanta EDM: We're at our first festival back. Was there anything that you realized about festivals when they were taken away during Corona, or anything you realized about live music in general? What it gave to you, what it gave to others?
Evalution: For sure. It really sucked not being able to play for a while. What was nice about it is not playing gave me a lot of time to focus on music production, which is super important. So now, luckily, I have a bunch of new stuff I can play because I spent so much time on it, which is really sweet. And just the whole atmosphere of festivals are different; you can kind of play more fun, out there stuff and people react to it well, so it's nice.
Evalution’s Set at Sunset Music Festival 2021 - Atlanta EDM
Atlanta EDM: We know that you play a couple of instruments, which probably differentiates you from a lot of the other DJs. Is there anything else that you feel really differentiates you in the EDM space?
Evalution: So I really try to focus on a lot of things that are missed out on [in] the EDM spectrum. It's a lot of festival music, and when I make tracks I’m like, yeah, I want this to play well in front of a crowd, but I also want to make sure people can throw it on in their car and jam to it and it plays well all the way through. So less focused on just like, short build ups, and more focus on trying to make verses, song structure and actual choruses before you go into the drops, you know? Stuff like that. I’ve been playing instruments forever, so just trying to bring some musicality into it.
Atlanta EDM: We saw in your EPK one of your earliest inspirations is Led Zeppelin.
Evalution: Yeah, I love putting the 60’s rock stuff in it because a lot of the younger kids may not know it, but then they still get into it because the drops and the buildups hype them up. So I always put, like Zeppelin, Pink Floyd; I have a Doors Remix, “Drivers on the Storm.” So a lot of 60’s classic rock. Beatles as well a lot. Stuff that just influenced me when I was growing up before I was in the EDM music really, you know?
Evalution at Sunset Music Festival 2021 - Atlanta EDM
Atlanta EDM: Can you imagine seeing Led Zeppelin at a festival?
Evalution: Yeah, Robert Plant’s still got it..he can still sing. He’s still got it at 72.
Atlanta EDM: Who’s your favorite artist that you’ve played with and why?
Evalution: Definitely Blunts & Blondes. Oh yeah, he definitely influenced my style super early on, that reggae musicality with the bass music. Nothing too heavy. It’s very vibey bass music. And he’s just a really good dude so that helps as well.
Atlanta EDM: Dream show in 2021?
Evalution: 2021 would probably be Hulaween. If we’re talking long term, Coachella or Bonnaroo. I really want to get involved with those festivals that incorporate live music as well as EDM music because that’s the perfect crowd. Same with Hula, that’s why Hula would be nuts.
Evalution at Sunset Music Festival 2021 - Atlanta EDM
Atlanta EDM: Well you’ve got this beautiful support group right here to make it happen, your manager Charles and your girlfriend Amanda. How does it feel to have your crew right by your side?
Evalution: They’re the best. My girlfriend is there for literally everything, and my manager Charles has been crushing it for me lately. Super excited, it’s awesome to have them here supporting.
Evalution and his manager Charles at Sunset Music Festival 2021 - Atlanta EDM
Atlanta EDM: Anything else you’d like to add, either about Sunset or something you’d like to say to the people of Atlanta?
Evalution: Shout out Disco Donnie, the legend, bringing back fests one by one baby. [To Atlanta], stream my music on Soundcloud, check me out on social media and if you like what you hear, then tell your local promoters to bring me out. I would love to play there.
CHECK OUT EVALUTION
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tHE mETRIC aGENCY pRESENT
eVALUTION AT MISFITS ATLANTA, aUG 26 2021