Fresh Talent: Evan Sinton
Fresh Talent: Evan Sinton
In his first year out of high school, Evan Sinton has already had much success. He has recorded an EP, released videos for his songs Tables and Chairs and Prisoner’s Cinema, and has opened for international acts Passenger and Reece Mastin. It’s clear this is just the beginning for Sinton and he has his sights set on taking his music internationally very soon.
The 19 year-old singer/songwriter won third place on the most watched local show in the last 10 years and his popularity with the audience of New Zealand’s Got Talent led Sinton to sign direct with Sony.
Evan Sinton began learning the piano at just four years old, music becoming a big part of his life from a very early age. At 12 he picked up the guitar and in his words, “got serious about writing.” He has played in various high school bands and in 2012 took out the University of Auckland Songwriter of the Year Schools’ competition, and placed as a national finalist in Smokefreerockquest with his band Intone.
Sinton’s first solo EP, ‘Phosphenes’, is rich with honest, poignant lyrics that are coloured with dramatic vocals.
“I’m a big fan of voices… ones that sing with passion, and I guess that’s what I try to recreate through my music.”
Producer Sam McCarthy (Kids Of 88) captured his emotive and distinctive style for ‘Phosphenes’. Naming influences such as Led Zeppelin, Jeff Buckley and Liam Finn, Sinton’s songs can be heard as a fusion of dark and theatrical elements, delivered from a very real, genuine place.
Sleep/Eat, like most of his songs, is filled with interesting sonic qualities that establish an atmosphere for his vivid lyrics.
“That came from a very literal thing. I came home drunk and I didn’t want to sleep or do anything else, I just wanted to write. it just came naturally and that’s what I think transpired into the song.”
Such a natural way of writing can be heard in most of his tunes, there’s an effortless, authentic quality in his music that further adds sincerity. Currently playing with Joseph Corban-Banks and Chris Phillips, bassist and drummer from The Peasants, and guitarist Jeremy Keys, Sinton is supported by very capable musicians. He is now focusing on recording a new EP, through which he wants to develop the full band sound and record essentially live takes.
“I really want to make more of a statement and do things the old fashioned way this time,” he says, evidently excited about the new songs he’s writing. He is also experimenting with co-writing, starting by working with Zu Ngubane (Loui the ZU).
