Mikal Evans has a folk rock sound of a woman in charge.
After a stint with acoustic players, Revival, laying down the keys and violin,
she decided to go solo and perform music a little more her own style. Her morose
and sultry voice drive her acoustic rock sound, reminiscent of a Tom Waits
structure but with sweetly melodious vocals, simultaneously taking influences
from the indie rock movement as much as singer/songwriter genres.
For Evans, influences are dated back to when she was growing up in Moore, South
Carolina. That is where she first heard her father record bands in a converted
schoolhouse gymnasium (previously owned by the Marshal Tucker Band), and that's
where she found music to be her calling. She bought a guitar at 16 and began
writing songs immediately, picking up gigs around her hometown and just
generally honing in on her craft.
After college, she moved to Washington, D.C., signed to Gypsy Eyes Records, and
began playing all over the district with Timothy Bracken for months. Before
heading into the studio, the duo added the drum work of Jerry Busher (French
Toast) and bass stylings of Ashish Vyas (Thievery Corporation). However, this
band was unable to tour due to side projects.
As for her solo efforts, Evans' debuted with an EP, "A Jailhouse...A Kingdom,"
released June 2008 by D.C. based Gypsy Eyes Records. The tracks are etched with
an Appalachian influence and often accompanied by mysterious lyrical content
that demands a second listen.
Since her debut release, Evans has been living in New York City where she
frequents venues such as the Rockwood Music Hall in the Lower East Side and
Spike Hill in Williamsburg. Her first LP "Build a Cannon", released February
2012, echoes the southern feel of her first release in songs like "Holding on
to" and "Home", while taking the bite of stronger indie rock influence. Her
first attack at producing, "Build a Cannon" is laced with those dark guitars
tones, haunting lyrics, and an edge we didn't hear in her first release.
The DCist wrote: "Evans' style is best summed up by an observation from one
audience member: "This reminds me of a really good P.J Harvey song". To her
credit, Evans has sincerity by the bucket. Like her raspy voice, her melodies
seem to prize honesty over prettiness."
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![Build a Cannon by Mikal Evans [Build a Cannon by Mikal Evans]](http://he3.magnatune.com/music/Mikal%20Evans/Build%20a%20Cannon/cover_200.jpg)
Build a Cannon
![A jailhouse, a kingdom by Mikal Evans [A jailhouse, a kingdom by Mikal Evans]](http://he3.magnatune.com/music/Mikal%20Evans/A%20jailhouse%2C%20a%20kingdom/cover_200.jpg)
A jailhouse, a kingdom
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