Mulling it Over with Evann McIntosh

Skipping down my building’s stairs to the bar below, I got swallowed into the dim hum of people conversing, drinks sloshing, and the crack of pool balls colliding. My excitement filled the room. It was here I was meeting up with Evann McIntosh: a familiar friend and genius lyricist/musician.

Evann, at just 22 years old, has published an impressive discography spanning back from 2018, earning them over 70k monthly listeners. Their self-released breakout album, 2019’s MOJO, was widely received as a success and since then, they have continued to release singles and EP’s (including the single, “Fantasy Fuel” released since the interview took place.) Through headphones and from on a stage, their voice, soulful and dusky, captivates audiences to sway and groove.

Today, I get the pleasure of peeking into Evann McIntosh’s mind and process as the world prepares for the March 6th release of their sophomore album, Fantasy Fuel. After getting us a round of beers, we found a table farthest away from the bar’s bustle and began the interview.

Evann standing and smiling in front of a black door. Snow is catching the flash of the camera light.

Evann outside the bar, leaning against a beam. Snow is catching the flash of the camera light.

Evann, deep diving into your digital footprint, your music trajectory fascinates me. Before you knew you were going to be well-received, walk me through what it was like writing and uploading your first ever release, the album MOJO, at age 16. Were you scared?

No, I didn't think anyone was going to hear it. It was something I put together in my parent’s basement. I worked with a producer who’d found some original music I’d put out on YouTube, and then we worked remotely to put it out. And then it did well on TikTok. 

Predating the global COVID shutdown, you released MOJO in October 2019, in true mid-teen feels. What did MOJO mean to you at the time, and what picture does it capture about your life from that time? 

I was very myself. I think now I think too much. Writing and thinking about what I'm going to put out and what being active online looks like at 22. It's way different than being 15 or 16 years old. With MOJO I was only thinking about being creative and having a good time.

How did that shift after you put it out? What does it mean to you now? Once you realized it was well-received, what was the trajectory of your relationship to it? 

When I made it, because I come from such a small town in a community that wasn’t fostering queer people, it was a really great outlet. Finding community. And then the shift after it came out, seeing a lot of people resonated with it– that was really cool.

Opening for the Maria's 2022 Cinema Tour, playing in the festival of 80/35, along artists like Charli XCX and Geese, being on Taco Bell's Class of 2025 playlist, and having the Growing Boys* open for you at Cole’s bar (*my local band- we laughed at this.)

When you look back at all the doors that have been opened for you, which opportunities stand out as favorites? Were there any shows, audiences, or artists you interacted with that you still marvel at? 

I don't know if I remember anyone in particular that I was like, “Wow.” I was so internal about everything. Even with those Marias’ audiences, it was sometimes like 2,000 people, and all I could think about was, “What do I look like right now? How do I sound right now? How is this going?”

It's been seven years since your first and only full album release. In the last year, you've released three singles: “Blue Movie Magic,” “Free Ride,” and “Mull It Over,” all teasing your highly anticipated second album, Fantasy Fuel. Why the second album? Why now? 

It is time. It's like three or four years in the making. It wasn't intended to take so long! It just did. I’ve just been growing, living my life, making an album.

I'm curious also, I might mention this later, but for this upcoming album... What are the differences sound-wise? The three singles carry a different sound instrumentally than MOJO. Is that intentional? 

It was super intentional. A lot of the music that I listen to is analog and features live instrumentation. The overall goal was to showcase how I’ve personally evolved as an individual and make pop music that felt a little more elevated. I brought my influences which happened to be a lot of classic rock and jazz, pop riding over that. Abraham Rounds, who produced it, knew a lot of really cool musicians in the Los Angeles jazz community who were down to play on it. Some of those musicians happened to be people I was citing as influences which was surreal.

You were able to work with people inside the room- that's huge. What a big difference in itself.

How is the anticipation of this album release of Fantasy Fuel compared to MOJO? Do you hold any different expectations with success? And how are your nerves or your excitement different? 

I'm not thinking about it so much. With MOJO I wasn't thinking about it at all– there wasn't an audience. This time I was a little bit worried when I was writing it, but now that it's been done forever, it's kind of just like, well, you know- put it out.

Evann sitting on a stool against the red bar wall.

Apart from the three singles already released from Fantasy Fuel, can you give us a hint for which track out of the seven remaining on the March 6th drop you're most excited for? 

There's a song called “Le Microscope” that I’m excited about.

Any second fav.? 

I really like a song called “Better” as well.

There you go.

Okay, and last question. March 6th is the Fantasy Fuel drop, but then on March 8th you are hosting an album release show at Chicago’s Subterranean. What should your audience expect?

To have a freaking good time.

What would you say to anyone who hasn't bought their ticket yet? 

Please, please buy your ticket, please!

Find Evann McIntosh on streaming platforms (Apple Music, Spotify) and Instagram. 

The Fantasy Fuel album will be released on March 6th.

All photos by Loveth Heard (@spicylove___)