Evan Boyer makes a grand splash with his debut album, “The Devil in Me,” which was just released. Compelling and layered, with standout storyteller lyrics, and gritty Americana, rock, and folk in a glorious mash-up, it draws one in. Keeping listener attention tautly held, the songs flow and fit together in the most perfect way, encouraging the start-to-finish listening that all of the best albums do. We had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Boyer recently to discuss his amazing new collection of songs.
Hi, Evan! You have a terrific new album that just came out called “The Devil in Me.” What broad strokes can you tell us about the collection?
Hey, y’all, thank you so much for having me. So, broad strokes – the album really addresses living with my many flaws and being thankful for what and who I have in my life.
One of the songs on your new album, the title track, “The Devil in Me,” is really great and stood out to me. What can you tell us about this song? What inspired you to write it and what is it about?
Oh, thank you so much, and I’m so glad you asked that question because the answer is pretty out there, ha ha. I was actually watching “The Lion King” with my son, and it got to the part where the bad guy, Scar, starts singing his song, “Be Prepared,” with hundreds of hyenas singing along. And I kind of thought, “This is pretty messed up, ha ha. This guy is basically warning everyone he’s about to kill his brother and nephew,” but, then I thought, what if I wrote a totally fictional song about the worst person I could conjure up in my mind. So, that’s how the track came about.
What was it like recording this album overall? What was the vibe in the studio, and how did this song, in particular, come together?
The first time or the second time? Ha ha. I actually recorded this album twice. The first time, I was just totally let down by the end result, so I decided to go back in with a new producer, new studio, new musicians, etc., and it couldn’t have been more different. We recorded the bulk of the album up at Panhandle House in Denton, Texas, and it was the best experience as an artist you could hope for. The vibe there breeds creativity; most nights we were there until 1 or 2 a.m. and back the next day at 10 a.m.
So, the track, “The Devil in Me,” was a pretty special recording, the most special part being the gospel singers coming in on a Sunday afternoon and singing that last hook. With very little direction, they sussed out harmonies in 20 minutes, and when they started singing, it gave me goosebumps like I’d never had before.
What do you hope this album conveys to those who listen to it?
That it’s okay to be flawed. It’s never too late to try and improve yourself, work on yourself, but not to the point where you’re down on yourself. Always celebrate who you are, no matter how flawed.
Since you started out, how has your songwriting changed – both musically and lyrically? Do different things inspire you now? Where do you tend to get your biggest inspiration from these days?
It’s funny, I actually get too inspired by whoever I’m listening to, to the point where if I’m in the middle of writing a song, I have to stop listening to music all together, because I find myself writing in the same style as whoever I’m listening to. So, if anyone ever needs a song in the style of Ryan Adams, Flatland Cavalry, or Jason Isbell… I’ve got quite a few written, ha ha.
Songwriting can be a really personal endeavor. Is it tough to share that stuff that usually might be private if you weren’t writing a song about it? Does unveiling the songs publicly, when you release a single or an EP or album, make you anxious or is it cathartic to have the songs out there?
I’d say there is always some level of anxiety that comes with sharing something you created, no matter what it is. You want everyone to like it. But at the end of the day, art is subjective, and someone may think it’s great while someone else may not. That being said, when you release an album, it’s more than just one song you’re putting out. It’s a collection of songs, it’s the album art, single art, show posters, branding, etc. So, yeah, I’d say it’s a little more anxiety-inducing, but the payoff is greater as well.
It’s not uncommon for an artist or band to be working on something new while promoting an album. Do you have anything in the pipeline to follow this album? What’s next from Evan Boyer?
So, I just had this conversation the other day. One of the tracks on the album, “Sweet Mary,” I added to the album specifically as a gift to my daughter. It’s a bit slower, there’s a 12-piece string section, and it’s exactly what I envisioned. But, when my band and I play it live, the style is totally different. It’s more of a Travis picking, brushes-on-the-snare, train beat type of version, and people are really drawn to it when we play it live. The band and I are going into the studio in early August to record “Sweet Mary” in that live style and then release it as a single later in the year.
Got any tour plans? Where can fans see you on the road?
Yes! And I feel super grateful to be able to say that because for those who don’t know, booking is hard! Ha ha. On June 13th, I’ll be supporting one of the best songwriters out there, Adam Hood, in Anna, Texas. On June 29th, I’ll be having my Dallas release party at Sundown at Granada with my friend TimLightyear, and then I’ll be on tour with Tim this summer throughout the Southern US. Everything is on my website – evanboyermusic.com.
