A Conversation with Jared Evan – HuffPost 5.9.11

Mike Ragogna: Jared, how did you get a #1 iTunes hit in Greece with “In Love With You”?

Jared Evan: Man. It’s a really incredible story that kind of happened overnight. It started with a TV show out there called Radio Arvila which has the biggest single viewership in the country, approximately 1.5 million daily, I’m told. One of the hosts of the show named Antonis Kanakis discovered the “In Love With You” video and was apparently really digging it. He loved the song and video so much that he eventually aired it on the show. When he aired it, he didn’t let any of the viewers know who the artist was and challenged them to find out on their own. At that point, pretty much the whole country of Greece started going HAM on video and FB comments! I then stoked the flame by using social media to really connect with the fans over there, they have been so supportive. I’m actually planning on heading over there in the beginning of June to perform on the season finale of the show, and do some big concerts and radio promos. I can’t wait.

MR: When the song was featured in Entourage, what was your reaction when you saw how it was used?

JE: I was in shock that they wanted to use it. I mean that’s a show that I grew up watching and to now hear one of my songs at the ending credits was surreal. I also think the scene perfectly fit the record.

MR: What went into making your Back & Fourth mixtape?

JE: A lot of experimenting and expressing myself as an artist. Back & Fourth is a body of work that represents a lot of the things that I am. It really shows the sounds and styles that I go back and forth with throughout my music; rapping and singing, hard tones and soft tones, rock, soul, hip-hop, pop…they are all in there. It was really a project that displayed my growth as an artist. I think when I made “Radio In My Head,” I was still finding my sound. On Back & Fourth, I really found my comfort zone. Shout out to ill Factor, Jimmy Douglass, Ill Mind and Young & Reckless for making that mixtape what it is.

MR: What was it like touring with OneRepublic? Got any road stories you can share? You’re heading to the East Coast, right?

JE: Man, the tour with OneRepublic was dope! It was such an incredible time and more importantly, a really good learning experience for me. Ryan (Tedder) is a great performer, and to see him do work every night was an honor. Def a ton of road stories with those guys, including sprinting from my tour bus to the stage when my manager Matt Graham informed me that Ryan called me out to perform with him and I was not there, thankfully, I made it out before the end of the song. As for the East Coast, it’s obviously a really important place for me, it’s my home and hopefully they’ll continue to support what I do. S/O to South Dakota, Texas, Tennessee and Alabama as well, they really held me down when I was there.

MR: Did you catch any acts at SXSW when you performed there? What did you think of your own performance?

JE: Yessir! SXSW was insane. The scene down there is me all day; I loved it. I was able to catch James Blake and Mos Def perform at The Fader Fort. I also got to see Queens Of The Stone Age, Jack White… really, a lot of my idols. I was proud of the sets we did. I was able to win some new fans, which is all that matters to me.

MR: When Grey Goose named you one of 2011’s “Rising Icons,” what was the criteria and who else won awards this year?

JE: First of all, thank you to them. I’m very blessed that Grey Goose honored me with that award, it was my first award as a professional musician. The event was really dope as well, they had a drink in my name, “The Jared Evan.” The other winners included a bunch of other really talented people like Pusha T, Jessica White, Big Sean and Mel DeBarge. I don’t know what the criteria was, but judging by the winners, they were measuring “dopeness”! Won’t ever forget that, thank you again Grey Goose!

MR: Have you started work on your debut album? When will it be released?

JE: Yeah, I’m always creating music for my debut album. I mean, I naturally make music pretty much everyday and if a gem is created, I usually throw it in the album pile. It will be released when I feel the time is right, when I feel like the people are ready to hear it, that’s when I’ll put it out. Hopefully, that’s very soon!

MR: Here’s a tabloid question or two. What’s the most personal thing you can share with millions of people?

JE: I’m afraid of spiders

MR: Favorite movie?

JE: Pulp Fiction

MR: Favorite supermodel?

JE: Adriana Lima

MR: What advice might you have for fellow new artists?

JE: Don’t let anyone ever get in the way of your vision. Be who you are to the fullest and be honest. Once you do that, just make sure your music is tight!