We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Evan Gehr. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Evan below.

Hi Evan, thanks for joining us today. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?

The journey of generating revenue from creative work often begins with one critical moment that can be both exhilarating and daunting. My first sale was back where my career began (Charleston, SC). I had been learning my craft for about a year or so before I was introduced to an artist hailing from up north. This artist became my first client/customer. One day we were all in the studio and I played some recent beats I made at that time for him; He liked several and ultimately purchased 4 hip hop/trap beats from me. this first sale was not just a financial milestone but also a pivotal moment in my career/sound taking shape. This allowed me to realize my work/art had value in the real world and that my worth was determined by the work I was/am willing to put in on a constant basis.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My journey begins in Charleston, South Carolina, a city rich in history and culture, known for its well-preserved architecture and vibrant arts scene. Growing up in Charleston provided a unique backdrop for me becoming interested in music. The city’s diverse musical heritage includes influences from African American spirituals, jazz, blues, and folk music. This cultural melting pot inspired many young musicians (myself included) to explore all of the various genres and styles of our respective times.

As a child in Charleston, I was exposed to local festivals, live performances, and community events that celebrate music, food, fishing, sports, etc.

My journey into music would actually begin with early exposure to instruments, classical music, rock, and folk tunes. As a little kid I remember making melodies on the harmonica my dad gave me. I also played and learned the kazoo, viola, and violin when I was in elementary school. Charleston has many schools that offer music programs that introduced me to different instruments such as the cello, piano, bass, etc. Additionally, I had private lessons when I was younger for classical string instruments.

I got into the music industry after being taught how to program beats by a high school friend. At that time I had no formal licensing or name associated with my work. In an early studio session of mine I introduced myself to a gentleman named Shawn. He was a local edm and trap producer in Charleston. He asked for my name and I said “My name is Evan” and that I had no producer name yet. He said he was working on an ep (extended project). It was at this exact moment he looked at me and told me I should be called ep (but this now stood for EvanthaProducer). After getting my newfound name/identity and being taught more on how to create and finish beats, I connected with some new friends. They were all over the country/world and at that point I began to network through them and land high profile link ups, collaborations on beats, and some cool tracks!

I recently have moved my energy in the last year to the root of my passion: Working on an independently released compilation album with artists I have connected with over the years. I also have tasked myself with creating and designing sound kits for producers and sound enthusiasts of all backgrounds to enjoy. My next to projects in the pipeline will be that album previously mentioned (titled “Episode 1”), and a soundkit utilizing audio from video games that had 16 bit graphics (“16 Bit Kit” is on the way some time late 2024). It will be to bring the techniques of modern day a nostalgic influence that aims to please all listeners,

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

One of the most rewarding aspects of making beats for me is the opportunity for creative expression. Knowing that my work contributes to a larger cultural movement is deeply satisfying, my beats get to resonate with the appropriate audiences and impact the listeners’ lives (hopefully in a positive way!).

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

To me, one of the most critical ways to support artists and creatives is through financial assistance. This would ideally be achieved through increasing funding for the arts via government grants, private donations, and crowdfunding platforms. Our Government can (and in certain instances has) establish(ed) grant programs specifically designed for artists, which can/could help cover living expenses, project costs, and materials for productions. Additionally, we should be creating more tax incentives for the artists, companies, and creatives that contribute to fine arts. This would hopefully lead us to an increased investment in creative projects on the individual and corporate scale.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/epbeats
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evanthaproducer/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@epbeats