Evy Frearson

With her debut album in the works, singer-songwriter Evy Frearson talks to us about developing her sound, balancing music and acting and how she overcomes nerves on stage.

When did you know you wanted to pursue a career as a musician?

Music’s always always been in my house, my family are rather musical. I started writing, properly, when I was about 10, although they weren’t amazing songs! I played the guitar, and taught myself the piano. Roughly around the age of 14 was when I realised “Right, I love music so much, I think I can do this”.

When did you first release your music?

The first time I think was in 2021, my first single, which was quite different to the music I’m releasing now. It was called Overly Cautious, it was a bit more pop-y, a bit more neo-soul, which is kind of a different tone to what I’m making now.

How do you feel your music has changed in the two years since?

Originally I wanted this whole neo-soul kind of vibe, and I was writing a lot of music in different genres but I was going more for this pop sound, inspired by people like Stevie Wonder and Prince - who I’m still inspired by, because they’re amazing, but I think now I’ve gone into this more indie, alternative sound. But I’m very open to a lot of different genres! I’m always discovering new sounds and chords and writing more and more, so I think I will evolve more. Who knows, I might do funk one day! I like the idea of not being in a box. But I’ve found something that I really like at the moment, this indie, alternative, rock sound.

Where are you based?

I’m in a small town called Frinton-on-Sea, which is near Colchester. I am from there originally, but I moved to France when I was very young and grew up there, then moved back here when I was about 8. Colchester has quite a good music scene - I’ve played at CODA, The Brew House and Three Wise Monkeys, it’s very supportive and there are some amazing artists here. I’d love to move to London though, as I haven’t played any London gigs yet!

You first released your music in 2021 - was that before or after lockdown? Did you get to play live much at the time?

It was in April, so sort of towards the end. I started gigging later in that year - in 2022 I started getting somewhere, and I’ve been playing live a lot more recently.

Do you work with anyone else on your music?

I write it all myself - the music and the lyrics - but my dad helps me with producing. He’s just incredible, he’s really taught me so much. He’s taught me about mixing, so I record all my music at home and then we can listen back and bounce off each other with ideas. It’s a really good dynamic to have.

Do you write a lot at once, or does it take you a while to come up with a song?

It depends really, it’s funny because sometimes I write some of my favourite songs very quickly, really ridiculously fast, and then other times I’ll go through months of, like, not being able to get anything. I found going out and coming back from somewhere or doing something, it always helps me write, so if I’m busy or active it’s normally a time that I’m writing.

Have you studied music at all?

No, although I went to theatre school, Sylvia Young’s in London. It was more vocally we studied, although I didn’t specifically study music theory or anything like that. We did acting, dancing, singing, the whole package - it was a really fun time! I do act as well, I’m auditioning all the time. Musical theatre I’d love to get involved in more, but it’s a completely different world to what I’m wanting to enter. I want to do screen acting more than anything.

Have you done much acting so far?

I was in a film called The Current War when I was younger, and recently I did a show on Amazon called The Power - I was only in one episode, but that came out this year. I actually like to kind of create different characters for my music, so if I’m performing I think of it like an acting performance and it really helps me get over nerves.

Do you ever write your music from the perspective of a character?

I used to very much, but I feel like I’ve been delving into different parts of my personality as of recently, but it allows me to create a kind of character in a sense. It helps me a hundred percent on stage, it helps me get into a different character for each song.

What are you listening to at the moment?

Right now my boyfriend’s really got me into Jeff Buckley, and I love John Mayer, I listened to his first album when I was growing up a fair amount.

What do you have planned for the rest of the year?

I’m hoping to release an album around November time - it’s a full album, eight tracks or so. I have so much music lying around on my computer, so much in this kind of world that I’m creating now it’d be a shame not to get them all out at once.

Words: Scott Bates

Photos: Bili Keogh, Adrian Frearson

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