We recently connected with Alex Evelyn and have shared our conversation below.

Alex, appreciate you joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

With the launch of Big Al Management, I am excited to bring my passion and experience to support genre-bending creators who are pushing the boundaries. I look forward to placing power into the creatives’ hands while providing innovative tools and guidance for long-term careers.

Big Al Management is a full-service management and development company designed to empower artists and redefine the future of music. I currently represent YSA and Khrys Hatch who have had placements in Rolling Stone and a TV placement in the Hulu Original “The Kardashians.”

Alongside this venture, I am currently the radio and TV producer and show host at YoCo 96.7 FM, Nashville’s only genre-less radio station. My love for music started as a performing percussionist, but later found a passion for live production while completing my studies in Audio Engineering at Belmont University.

At the end of the day, I love music and want to use my passion to help showcase amazing music.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Since I can remember I have also loved music. I started studying music as a child from being in the choir to playing piano. Percussion was always my passion, so I attended Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts to expand my knowledge as a percussionist. Junior year of high school, I was placed in an audio and video production class where I absolutely fell in love with audio engineering. I have always been a nerd for tech so with this discovery of blending tech and music I was so excited. I went on to study audio engineering and international business at Belmont University. I wanted to pursue a career in live production but sadly the industry was still recovering from Covid 19. To my surprise, my professors had privately referred me to a position at a new radio station called YoCo 96.7FM. I was called in for an interview and hired on the spot as a tech. My job as a tech lasted for two days haha. I was promoted to producer and program director. We had just partnered with Twitch and my job was to create radio/tv shows that covered all genres. Along with producing the shows, I was now in charge of the rotation. I love discovering new artists and showcasing them to the world. A few months later, I was asked to host a show which later became a hip-hop / R&B show titled Country Sliq with myself, KO McCoy, and Dj Lando every Wednesday from 6-8 pm CST.

As I was settling into my new position in radio, I started to discover a lot of hidden gems in Nashville. Khrys Hatch was the first guest on my radio show. After the show, we stayed in contact, and I acted as creative director on his project. A few months later, he asked me to be his manager. Artist management is a field I never expected to be in but I loved his music so much and believe in him so I said why not! About four months later, I asked Khrys to help me find an artist to interview on my show, and he referred Ysa. She came on the show and I loved her music and personality. A couple of weeks later, Khrys, his band and, I were in Austin, TX for a performance and he invited Ysa to play guitar and bgv for him. Ysa and I being the only women on the trip of course connected and by the end of the trip, I was her manager.

I always said I wanted the industry to give me a name. Well when Khrys and I were in Atlanta for a session, he came up with the nickname “Big Al”. I hated it lol. From that day on he only introduced me as Big Al and it started to pick up. Everyone loved the name because you expect a guy but in reality, Big Al is a 5’7 woman haha. I couldn’t run from the name any longer so I decided to embrace it and title my company Big Al Management, LLC.

My goal with Big Al Management is to simply let the music be the focus and guide while giving the artist back their voice. I see too many people speaking on behalf of artists about what they should look like or sing about, and who they should be as an artist and it is completely degrading. As a manager, I know what my artists’ talents and dreams are but I also know who they are as people. I care about their art just as much as I care about them as a person. I am excited to bring my passion and experience to support genre-bending creators who are pushing the boundaries. I look forward to placing power into the creatives’ hands while providing innovative tools and guidance for long-term careers

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

My relationships. I never connect with someone just because of their title or position. I genuinely love meeting and connecting with people. I support artists who have been on the station by promoting them on social media and attending shows, and radio plays. Another way I have built a reputation is through my work. I am a 24-year-old black woman in a male dominant field. I am grateful to have experience in audio engineering, radio, and management because it has allowed me to work in most sections of the industry.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Treat your team members like humans, not machines. Working at a startup can be difficult at times because everyone has to wear multiple hats but I lead with grace. If I notice a member falling behind I don’t call them out, I roll up my sleeves and help. A leader in my opinion is someone who understands and values everyone and their job and creates a space for them to excel.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigalmgmt/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandria-evelyn/
• Other: LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/bigalmgmt

Image Credits
Emma Martin Noise Bomb Visuals, LLC Mintellectual Photos