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Get to know: Evident


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Explain who you are for those who may not know

I’m Jon, or Evident, I’m a musician out of New York. I make all sorts of music over all sorts genres but I’m most known for my rap. I’m from Albany, NY, a tough place to grow up, but I’m now living in New York, where I currently write for other artists and make my own music on the side.

When did you get into music?

I got into music early in high school. I started writing songs but I was never confident enough to put them out so I started selling them to Albany artists. When I was 16 I wrote my first big song, the artist got over 100k plays, and I realized what I was writing was really dope, and I started singing and rapping. It came naturally.

Who are your influences?

Surprisingly my influences aren’t the usual for most up and coming rappers. People usually say they are heavily influenced by Nas, Jay, Big, but I’d say my biggest influences are newer artists. Guys like Jon Bellion, Kanye, Cole. I love all music though, so I’d like to think that everything and everyone I’ve ever listened to shaped me into the artist I am today.

What motivates you to grind?

I’d say my biggest motivation is the fact that I haven’t succeeded yet. I want to influence artists the way Jon Bellion or Kanye influence me. I’m also really competitive. If I’m ever not in the mood for music or at writers block I’ll listen to a “rival’s” music and top it.

What are you working on?

I do everything myself, except for the beats, so I really am constantly working. Currently I’m experimenting with different sounds, because I really haven’t found my own. But, the next to things to come out of me are probably the Adolescence project, and maybe as a bonus my cover of Psycho Pt. 2 by Russ.

How did you come up with your single Adolescents?

I really noticed that in my last songs I never really talked about where I come from. As a rapper with a white skin color, I know that I have to prove that not everything was easy for me, and If I don’t theres a lot of fans that won’t respect me. I understand cultural appropriation and privilege, but the song really explains that I didn’t have much of that growing up. I was always the poorest in the high school, got kicked out and was still the one of poorest at the next. My mother worked two jobs to support me when my father left and we had to move in with my grandmother for a very long period of time. It explains some of the struggles I’ve overcome, but not all. I’m saving my full story for my debut album.

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Where did it come from?

I think the best way to answer this question is to say, it came from Albany. I’m a product of Albany, and I’m proud of that.

What’s next for you?

I think I’m at the stage where this is really becoming a career. This isn’t something I just do on the side anymore. It’s really starting to become my main job, my main priority. December 17th is my first show back in the Capital District and I hope that it’s as surreal as I have been hoping.

Anything you would like to say to your fans?

My fans are amazing. I know I’m not out here with millions or even thousands, but the ones that I have are amazing. I’m at the point where I can be personal with mostly everyone, so keep DMing me, I love the conversations I have with the listeners. And to by biggest fans, my mother and grandmother, Kelly and Claire, thank you for everything, I love you, see you soon.

Check out Evident via Soundcloud 

Stay tuned. 




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