We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Evan Bailey a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Evan, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

It all started in elementary school, slapping a cassette tape in a baby blue boombox and recording the Greg Street and the hot 8 at 8 on V-103. These mixes I’d make would become my first way of writing to beats as I entered middle school and by the seventh grade I knew I had a passion for expressing my self in ways that no conversation could convey.

Evan, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Evan Bailey and I create music and moving images. For most people I’m a videographer and for those close to me I am a songwriter and producer who directs and edits his own music videos. I lost my father at an early age and my mother worked to provide for my sister and I. Music became my diary for a large part of my life and I knew the next step was to capture it visually. I spent a lot of time consuming 90’s-2000’s music and film without realizing that I was studying the techniques present. When I began to direct and put out my own content people took notice and wanted something similar for their music and brands. It took me until the end of my college career to realize what to do with these skills. I knew that if I could provide undeniable work for a potential client then their win would be mine as well.

When I talk with my clients or potential clients my first step is understanding what it is they want to do and who they want to reach. I try to clarify that video content isn’t always the necessary move to make when reaching a larger audience. You see if I put in the work to bring an idea to life or create one for a client that doesn’t need a video, there’s a risk the results fall short of their expectations. So clear communication becomes the first and most important step, I need to understand your motives and believe in them otherwise I can’t provide anything over sub par after all this is my passion and I am an artist.

The money is never the important part for me but it is very necessary, in an industry that moves as fast as film it’s important to have up to date technology and techniques and even tho it’s cheaper than ever it’s still very expensive. I think people should have and want a clear understanding of who is creating something for them. Not every director will give you star wars and most people can’t afford it so be clear on what you want and be prepared to pay what it cost to bring it to life. There’s never any rush to creating art, be patient and move step by step.

For my work I believe the message is the most important part, we live in the microwave era where trends come and go, Fast fashion, fast food, fast music, fast art. I grew up on my parents music, songs from the 70’s and 80’s that are still getting played in 2023 by hundreds of millions of people. The message and feeling of that music is what made it timeless as well as the instrumentation. Nothing was fast but everything was focused and intentional, just like the films by Scorsese, Spike Lee, Christopher Nolan. Taking your time and saying what matters instead of what feels good or sounds slick is what I’m all about. In the past I wasn’t confident being the odd man out with my content but as I became honest with myself I began to create from such an authentic place that anyone who sees and hears my art can immediately feel my heart.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Truth. Sounds vague but there are so many issues with our society and world. Media magic works, Bill Cosby, regardless of his crimes, at one time had black people consciously aware of their options for success and many went on to become the success story of the Huxtables. We just had to see it to believe it and become it. The same thing happens when you listen to music you begin to become it. You are what you eat, you are what you consume. Creating art that forces us to look inward and address our own flaws could potentially fix the world. My mission is to provide a canvas for your reflection and awakening.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I can create and say what I feel and if no one likes it I don’t care cause I make it for me. There’s no right or wrong just expression.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @95ekbgod