HOLY ISLANDS BIOGRAPHY
Drummer-turned-singer Chris Evans announces solo project Holy Islands and debut EP “Happier Before”
Austin-based musician Chris Evans is a drummer-turned-singer with a deeply textured history that profoundly shapes his music. In 2019 amid the isolation and confines of the COVID-19 quarantine Evans started his solo project, Holy Islands, and began constructing his debut EP, "Happier Before," set to be released on Jan. 17, 2025. His experiences with mental health, addiction, and complicated family dynamics heavily influence his sound, which is a masterful blend of soulful, ambient, psychedelic Americana. Each track serves as a reflection on life, love, loss, personal growth, and the bittersweet journey of self-discovery. Prior to the full EP, Evans plans to release two singles off the album; “Angels” on Oct. 25, and the title track “Happier Before” on Dec. 13.
Emerging from Greenville, TX, and growing up on the literal wrong side of the tracks, Evans' turbulent family life led him to find solace in music at an early age. "Happier Before" is a deeply personal narrative, weaving together Evans' experiences as a son, father, and lover. The songs express his inner world, reflecting on life's triumphs and tribulations in an effort to connect with listeners who have faced similar challenges. The album's title encapsulates the notion that people are usually happier before life's hardships take their toll.
“As we go through life in its various stages, we forget how easy it is for a child to find delight and joy in the most ordinary things,” said Evans. “We were all happier before tragedy struck, or we tried to run away from our problems, or our hearts were broken.”
Despite facing impostor syndrome and personal challenges during the album's creation, Evans grew as an artist with the development of his new sound, transitioning from a drummer to a true songwriter and solo artist under the name Holy Islands.
The title track, "Happier Before," holds special significance for Evans, revealing new insights with each listen. The song explores all of the cutting little ways we are reminded of loss, of a relationship now gone, and the loneliness that hits you in the chest with the slightest provocation.
“Angels” reflects the emotional journey Evans went through coming to terms with the loss of his father, who had a profound but difficult impact on his life. The track is about searching for direction while grieving and embracing responsibility for your loved ones and community. “Angels” is a sonic exploration of life, death, and the afterlife.
On the track “Undone” Evans highlights his own experience with bipolar and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). “Undone” is all about the challenges of witnessing others seem to effortlessly navigate life while struggling with basic daily tasks. It delves into feelings of inadequacy while under constant pressure, and the simultaneous experience of heartache. It’s about being knocked down over and over again, but standing back up to face another round. It's a reflection on mental health, confronting your fears, and managing life's complexities while feeling like you're falling apart.
“These songs had been living inside of me for years. The others also came out quickly but ‘Undone’ was so true and personal to me that as soon as I opened up that part of myself, the words and melodies flowed out immediately,” said Evans. “Angels came about in a time of grief. My dad had recently passed, so I decided to get out of town for a few days. I rented a small cabin outside of Bandera, Tx and set up a small recording rig in the corner of the room. At the time, I had been reading about psilocybin as plant medicine to help with processing grief. So, I turned on the recording equipment and took my first dose. I began writing about feeling like I needed to let go of my father’s expectations of me while also acknowledging that I still needed guidance. Maybe It was the medicine, but for the first time I can remember, I felt freedom to be who I am, untethered from the weight of the expectations and judgements that a father imposes on their sons. Honestly, I feel like it’s a pretty universal experience; trying to live up to the ideals our parents project upon us.
Sometime after, when I took this song into the studio, I told Taylor Tatsch that I didn't think this song would be a single, so we can just get super weird with it. It’s funny now, that this song has become the first single from this project. “
Evans' unique songwriting process involves composing melodies and lyrics entirely in his head, recording them on his phone, and then developing the songs in the studio with input from his collaborators. This EP was recorded over three years at various studios, including Audiostyles Studio in Dripping Springs, Test Tube in Austin, and Neon Cowboy Studios in Dallas. GRAMMY-nominated producer Tim Palmer, who mixed the album, played a pivotal role in shaping the EP’s sound, and as a mentor to Evans. Tim’s love for the music and encouragement to push forward helped Evans to develop the EP and plan to officially release the tracks.
“Working on Chris’ music was a breeze because he writes the kind of songs I genuinely love,” said Tim Palmer. “They’re not only well-crafted and performed, but also deeply emotive, which made the process of mixing and finalizing the tracks both rewarding and immensely enjoyable.”
Evans' musical journey to date has seen him collaborate with various bands and projects, including Jonathan Jeter and The Revelators, sharing stages with celebrated acts like American Aquarium, Jonathan Terrell, Ray Wylie Hubbard, as well as a 5 year stint playing drums for Austin band, Black Books. With Black Books, he toured with the Flaming Lips in the UK and played at festivals in NYC and Austin.
Relocating to San Antonio, Evans played for regional acts such as Javi Garcia and the Cold Cold Ground, Haley Cole, and Brandon Callies. During this period, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a revelation that profoundly impacted his life and music. Seeking treatment and learning to manage his diagnosis, Evans moved to the Dallas-Fort Worth area, continuing to perform as a hired musician for artists like Cole Risner, Frankie Leonie, and AJ Legrand. During this time, he met Tyler Martin, who turned out to be an important collaborator in Holy Islands, and the two played together in several bands until Evans moved back to Austin in 2019. Once things took a turn due to COVID-19 and the lockdown began, Evans had more time to focus on his own personal sound and start work on his debut EP as a solo artist under the name Holy Islands.
Chris Evans' journey is a testament to the transformative power of music. His debut EP, "Happier Before," is not just an album but a heartfelt narrative that invites listeners to connect with their own experiences of love, loss, and redemption. Following the release of "Happier Before," Evans plans to tour, and continue writing, and recording, more music.
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