The Prolific David Evans: 21st C producer

Posted on 30. Jul, 2009 by Omega Eee in 120 seconds

When asked to name top producers from Nigeria, you talk about Don Jazzy and ID Cabassa. However, there’s a name rising fast to the list. He is the ever hardworking David Evans. Pulling out one of the youngest and talented producers out of the Gym on Sunday morning was what Streetnaij had to do. In this piece, he shares his ordeal as a producer and his private life with us. He gave an insight to his new single “follow me go”. Let’s follow him through the interview.

David Evans: follow me go

Streetnaij: So, who is David Evans
David Evans: Am basically a music producer just becoming an artiste. You know, I’ve been producing music for a lot of people for a while and am also a popular music production student. Am Nigerian originally but living and working in the UK now. That’s David Evans . By the way, David Evans is my real name unlike many other artistes.

Streetnaij: How long have you been in the music industry?
David Evans: I’ve been in the industry for a very long time now cause I’ve been a special musician, played in an orchestra but on my own as a record producer, I’ve been doing this since 2006

Streetnaij: Why did you go into music… I mean what’s your greatest inspiration?
David Evans: Since I was a kid, I’ve been around music. I’ve Played music in the church, orchestra outside and while at school. Done music during competitions while in school. At one point, I figured out that I was not the best academic student and discovered that this is what I can do best. So, I said, why not take this up and have a Degree in it and work with it. That’s what took me into music as it’s the best choice for me.

Streetnaij: You planning to stay here in the UK or you planning going back to Nigeria?
David Evans: I cant say I will be going back to Nigeria. I also cant say that I will be staying here or any other place. Its all about the industry. Wherever it takes me…wherever the grass is green, I’ll be moving there. Wherever the job takes me to I go but I doubt if I will be in the UK for a very long time. Maybe in the next few years I’ll probably be gone.

Streetnaij: How many songs have you produced so far?
David Evans: I cant be precise about that but I know that I’ve done about 70-80 songs in the last three years and I still have so many written ones too.

Streetnaij: You are seen as a 21st C prolific producer, how do you do your production. I mean how do you make it the David Evans way?
David Evans: Most of my music sounds like live instrument hence you’ll notice that I use live instrument most of the times. However, recently, I’ve decided to go into the software stuff since its what is the real deal and most people don’t listen to live instrument that often. So, am doing commercial kind of music but wit an African vibe connected to it. The fact that I can play about nine instruments, makes it easy for me to make solid stuff

Streetnaij: What’s your next target as in who do you intend to work with at the moment?
David Evans: Everyone basically cause am working with a lot of people right now. To be honest with you, I really want to go on to the next step… I mean bigger industry cause am still in a niche industry not selling too many records and all that. So, my next target is to work with Americans… I mean the big Americans cause I think am almost there.

Streetnaij: Anything cooking in the studio?
David Evans: Yeah… am working on a CD and its called “Britageria” like Britain and Nigeria. All the vocals are by me and other people. All the songs in it features an artiste mostly British people. I also have my first solo single out on the first of August titled “follow me go” and you can download it from itunes, Amazon and you can catch a preview on my myspace page www.myspace.com/davidevansmusic

Streetnaij: You talk about aiming at Big Americans… who do you aim at when working in the studio. Do you say you want to aim at Nigerians with this track or beat or you want to aim at certain group of people?
David Evans: For a long time now, I never use to think about that. When someone brings a song and want me to make a beat, they tell me how they want it and I do it that way. I never use to think about a target/audience cause that wasn’t my problem. However, now that am making my own stuff, for the particular project am doing for 2010, am not aiming at Nigerians in Nigeria and neither am I aiming at British people but am kind of aiming at Nigerians in England. They can relate to the lyrics cause its kind of like the lifestyle they live. That is, the music they see on TV combined with what they hear when they go back home cause am fussing culture and a lot of things.

Streetnaij: You’ve been rising to the top with your production, do you sometimes feel under pressure to deliver?
David Evans: To be honest with you no. I just do and am not really bothered cause if one person doesn’t like it, someone else will. Everyone cant like your track so, I just do it cause I know someone out there will appreciate what I’ve done. So, I cant be under pressure cause if I am, I will sound like everyone else due to the fact that people might be looking like… oh yeah this is the kind of music that everyone likes and they do that kind of music. This will mean that everyone will sound the same. That is why I don’t sound like everyone else cause I just do my music without thinking of such.

Streetnaij: Since your entrance into the industry, how’s life been? Has it changed you?
David Evans: To be honest my life hasn’t changed that much cause am still the same person and I still have the same friends but, due to music I have more friends now. I go places, write my name somewhere. Because I use my real name, it gets a little bit of attention but its still the same thing cause I haven’t allowed it to take over my life. My personal life still rules over the music

Streetnaij: How do you feel when people recognise you easily since you using your real name?
David Evans: That was what I said in my last interview with another magazine, I don’t really see anyone as fans I kind of see them as friends. It used to get to me back in the days but now, am quite use to it. I just thank them cause I really appreciate the stuff that they say.

Streetnaij: What song do you think is the best you have ever produced and why?
David Evans: The best song I’ve ever produced is not been heard yet. Its not been released but as for those released so far, I’ll say “Brand New Remix” cause I worked on it for such a long time and spent quite a lot of money on it. It also sounds different since no one has ever done something like that before cause it has old school hip-hop beat… I mean the really old school hip-hop beat with talking drums… it never happens but this is the first time its happening.

Streetnaij: That Track is a big tune and we rate it Highly. You often visit Nigeria, Every time you there, what do you learn about the industry as a producer?
David Evans: When I go back to Nigeria, most of the time am recording songs, meeting people and also those in the media terrain. While am in the studio, Obviously, I meet other Nigerian Producers and you get to see a lot of method they use in doing their thing. You also learn ways of managing music form the music guys and the Radio guys too. They let you know how to get your music out in Nigeria and so many more.

Streetnaij: You have a new single titled “follow me go”, tell us how you came about that track. When its going to be out and how your fans can get it.
David Evans: Its different from anything I’ve ever done. Its African music without the African music. Am not too sure on how to explain it till you hear it. Its different from anything anyone has ever done. It’s a sing along song that everyone can just sing along and clap to. it’s a beautiful song since it’s a song that can get stuck in your head. It was written by Bakare who is a musician and song writer in Nigeria. He works with ID Cabasa and the rest of the Codedtunes crew. He wrote the song and gave it to me. I did the beat. You can listen to the song on Streetnaij, myspace, Guidilounge, Sturvs everywhere. It will be on UK radio as well. But if you want to get the single, you can get it from itunes or Amazon

Streetnaij: Are you releasing it under a Record Label?
David Evans: Yeah… its under “Priority Records UK”. It’s a UK Record Label.

Streetnaij: Do you intend coming out with an album?
David Evans: Not soon cause am not really an artiste, am a producer. I’ve still got a lot of project am working on so, not anytime soon.

Streetnaij: Have you ever rejected any work because you think its not good enough?
David Evans: Not because its not good enough. Recently I rejected a project on jazz because it wasn’t my thing. It was an American Jazz proposal but am more of into RnB.

Streetnaij: So, how do you spend your spare time?
David Evans: Most of the time am working and if am not working, I have to be in School (University). There’s hardly any spare time for me as my spare time is when am working. Am not the kind of guy who plays video game and all that.

Streetnaij: You know when you trying to get your work out for Djs to help in promoting it, how do you find it from a UK perspective?
David Evans: It is actually very difficult you know because some of them for reasons I know not, just don’t want to play your music. The radio guys don’t want to talk to you and those who don’t know you just don’t care. Some of the dumb ones actually request for money to play your song. All these makes it quite difficult but we always get our stuff across somehow. You find most Nigerian Djs playing Fifty-Cent, Timberland and Timbalake rather than promote upcoming artistes.

Streetnaij: What’s your advice to them?
David Evans: I think everyone should start telling our Djs to play upcoming songs. We gain nothing from them playing songs like that of Flo-rida

Streetnaij: Lastly, what’s your message to those out there?
David Evans: I will like to tell everyone that on the 1st of August 2009, they should download “follow me go” from every possible link. Tell your friends and loved ones about it. it’s a song that both the young and old can dance to. I will also want to Thank everyone one that is helping me to the top and those that have helped me so far. You all know yourselves and I truly appreciate everything.

Tags: David Evans, Don jazzy, ID Cabasa