Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Evan Bingham. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Evan, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I learned to play music and how to create and tell stories by listening. Nobody in my family played instruments, but there was always music playing when I was growing up. Aretha Franklin, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Ray Vaughan… they’re all musicians who told incredible stories that inspired me so much to learn to play. I learned how to find my voice and style by absorbing and appreciating my favorite records.

I’m fortunate to have worked several years as a music instructor in here in Colorado Springs. It’s such a rewarding experience to pay it forward and help grow my students’ passion for music and storytelling. My experience teaching has made me especially aware of what makes a great student; both a student of music and a student of life.

I think the three greatest skills a student of any discipline can have are humility, intentionality, and positivity. I’ve encountered plenty of students who reach a base level of proficiency (like learning their first song) and decide to dismiss other techniques or areas to improve upon. My best students can acknowledge their place in their musical journey and aspire to more. Intentionality is essential because even the most daunting of tasks must start with the first step. Setting short but significant goals has helped both my students and myself along my musical and professional development. Last, positivity is arguably the most essential trait. It’s “cool” to find something to like and appreciate about everything. It’s “cool” to smile and feel invested in your growth. Unfortunately, I’ve met many people who appear apathetic about living their own lives. Approaching each day, each goal, each setback with fervor and tenacity has been the defining factor of great students; both of music and life.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Evan Bingham, I’m the guitar player and co-organizer of Noah Daniel and the Red Sleeves.

I began playing guitar around eight years old, playing in a handful of bands and groups around Colorado Springs, CO. Around fifteen or so, my focus pivoted from emulating the chops and flash of Stevie Ray Vaughan and my favorite guitar players to trying to weave beautiful stories and poems like my favorite songwriters, Elliott Smith and Elton John.

By the time I was finishing high school, I was set to release my first record, “Lovesickness,” independently under my own name. I promoted myself a bunch, landing shows in Colorado as a singer/songwriter at coffee shops, film festivals, after-dark clubs, and once for gold-record-selling country musician Sam Grow.

At the beginning of this year, Noah Daniel and I co-headlined a show at a club called Vultures in Colorado Springs. We got to talking backstage and had an instant connection and invited me to start his first band with him. Noah is such a one-of-a-kind writer, it’s been an awesome time pairing my experience playing and arranging for bands with his work. He’s the hardest working musician I’ve encountered, and his creative voice is truly remarkable. With a mix of Tyler Childers melancholy with some red dirt attitude, Noah is poised to shake up country music as we know it.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is saying something in a certain way that the listener hasn’t thought of before. Those are my favorite moments is songs, books, films… conversations, even. When someone else says something really eloquent and beautiful it serves as a temporary lens you can see your life through. I’d love to make something, be a part of a project that brings that kind of clarity.

For example, one of the many songs that does that ephemeral “thing” for me is Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run.”

-“I’m just a scared and lonely rider but I gotta know how it feels / I wanna know if love is wild, I wanna know if love is real”

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I think “hustle culture” and the commodification of art has made it quite difficult for musicians and creatives of all disciplines to thrive in society today. I struggle to think of notable artists of the past, Prince or Kurt Cobain or Bob Dylan making Tiktoks to promote their songs. Essentially, the goal of creatives is to synthesize something that connects with others. Unfortunately, musicians and poets and all artists must use these mediums to share a diluted experience of their art, often (but not always) to no avail.

I believe what we can do best to support creatives as a society is GO TO LIVE SHOWS. Go! Go to the gallery where the artist is answering questions after. Go to the stage at the town farmers market. Not only do you better and more directly support creatives in your community, you also experience the full extent of their art. I know live music connects with me way more than a Tiktok of a show; it might for you too.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://evanbingham.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_evanbingham/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHf5ROW_axc2e51DOhJ5i7A
• Other: **Please only use this content as supplementary content for Noah Daniel’s interview. As much as I am thankful for the opportunity to promote myself, he is the face and identity of our operation. Please be sure to primarily promote his work and content in this piece. Thank you!**

Image Credits

Personal: Samantha Knott
Additional: 1, 2: Nikki Setser
4, 6: Heather Wyatt
5: Haydan Wyatt