Evan Introduces Himself on His Own Terms With 'Ride or Die'

About three months after officially announcing that he was leaving Enhypen, the singer formerly known as Heeseung is officially embarking today on his solo career under the new stage name Evan. His debut project as a soloist, Ride or Die, features two tracks that he participated in from ideation through topline creation, and offers a first glimpse into who Evan is as an individual and the stories he hopes to tell through his music.

With Ride or Die, Evan strips away all expectations and aims to start over and present an unfiltered side of himself. The project is defined by a commitment to pursuing the kind of music that feels most authentic to him, and it also carries the weight of serving as a reintroduction to the artist fans have grown to love over the past seven years.

Evan amassed 1 million followers within three hours of launching his Instagram account in April (he’s now around 5 million followers), and he’s spent recent days posting covers of tracks by SZA and Justin Bieber, subtly introducing listeners to the sounds and influences that inform Ride or Die.

In his first-ever interview, Evan spoke with Rolling Stone over Zoom about the path he’s chosen as a solo artist, sharing his thoughts on creative growth and the moments of self-doubt that have shaped this new chapter.

You’re starting your new chapter under the name Evan. Can you share the story behind that name? I recall fans used to think your name was Ethan for some time until you revealed that it was actually Evan, so I’m curious to know the real story.
[Laughs.] Ever since I was young, a lot of people called me Evan. Whenever I would go overseas, or when taking English classes, my name has always been Evan. From what I remember, I think my mom gave me that name. I decided to use the name Evan because I wanted to present this music while carrying that sense of authenticity and purity, and my plan is to continue promoting under that name going forward.

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What would you say have been some of your main inspirations behind this project? I’m sure there’s been a lot on your mind recently.
While preparing “Ride or Die” — it could be considered a genre that is unfamiliar to me, but I started to develop an interest in rock. “Ride or Die” is a song that came from that. In that process, I started listening to more rock bands and got a lot of inspiration from them. 

Is there anything you found yourself paying extra attention to for this project given your involvement?
I think I tried to focus on making sure it doesn’t come off as overly deliberate or forced. I wanted to show what I naturally became interested in, in a raw way, and chose tracks that have that sentiment richly infused in them.

What’s something you learned about yourself as an artist while making this album?
[Smiles.] There were a lot of moments where I learned so much. I was really proud and thankful to myself when I discovered that I can put together music without taking too much time. Previously, to write one song, I would take three months, even a year if on the longer side. I would overthink, and it would take a while. But now, when working on a song, if it’s quick it could be three hours, up to six hours — that’s something I learned about myself.

Do you think that happened naturally through practice?
I have a lot of good colleagues around me. I think through making music with those people, because they are around to help me, it was possible. [Smiles.]

To that point, you worked with some new collaborators, for example, Apro and Ian Jeffrey Thomas. How was that experience? 
I can’t say how many sessions we had, but we had so many sessions within a short time frame. With a variety of producers, topliners — I really enjoy getting fresh inspiration from new people. I remember feeling excited and energized each time I would hear a new demo or a song in a style I haven’t explored before. 

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Was there any advice or encouraging words that struck you from conversations during the preparation process for this release? 
To have more confidence? “That’s who you are.” That moved me…  I’m not the type of person who easily feels self-satisfied. [Smiles.] I often find myself questioning my skills. Whenever that would happen, hearing those words would inspire me. 

Are there any fun stories from the production process you can share?
[Laughs.] I don’t know if this is fun per se, but when working on “Ride or Die,” the producer kept calling us “crazy guys,” saying we seemed insane. I would request for the sound to be really intense in a certain part of the song. So he kept saying we were crazy. 

What’s the biggest lesson you learned while creating this project?
Something I learned recently is… I guess you’d call it organic? Natural? There’s something really appealing about a band session just existing in its own form. I’ve mostly been exposed to music that’s been refined and completed, so I hadn’t really felt the appeal of a live band sound before. Through this project, though, I gained a new appreciation for the artistry and coolness of a band. 

Aside from your Instagram, which launched a while back, I saw that all of your other social channels recently launched, garnering a lot of attention and interest from fans. How does it feel? We’re now in the phase of teasers and photos coming out.
I looked at the reactions a little. I saw fans giving me more love than I deserve. I’m so, so thankful, it’s hard to say anything else. I want to continue giving it my all and stay dedicated.

Speaking of fans, what do you hope they feel during their first listen?
When hearing these two songs… I chose songs that explore emotions and themes people can resonate to in their everyday lives, so I hope it feels familiar to listeners. And whenever they hear the songs, I hope it makes them want to listen even more. 

Looking forward to your career, these two songs mark your official solo debut. They carry weight in that sense. How do you want these songs to be remembered?
With “Ride or Die,” what I want to say is that it was the first song that came out from a session of a song camp that was specifically for making a digital single. It’s particularly meaningful because it reflects both my journey of preparation and this debut. And “Overflow” is a song that I wrote when I was going through really hard times and was emotionally exhausted. When you hear the hook of the song, the message is to have hope. I think these two songs will become a really special memory when I look back on them. 

Is there a line you’re drawn to from these tracks?
[Laughs.] It might be a bit predictable, but “You are my ride or die.” There’s a sense of strength that that sentence gives. Just hearing that sentence, you can sense what someone is trying to convey. 

What kind of artist are you striving to become? 
It might overlap with what I said earlier, but in the end, I’ve given a lot of thought into becoming an artist who can provide messages of hope and love. 

I’m curious to know then, where you get hope and these emotions from? 
Hmm… I think an obvious one is my fans… I get so much love and hope from them. But since I’m still in preparation phase, I haven’t had a lot of opportunities to face them quite yet. So I’m really eager to see them.

Continuing off of that, what would you say you’re most excited about in this new chapter?
Looking ahead… I’m grateful that I’m able to focus so much on music right now. If I continue on this path, I believe that all of these moments of hard work will eventually add up, and that one day I’ll become a more mature artist. That’s the hope and dream that keeps me working hard.

You also have performances at the Busan One Asia Festival and also KCON LA coming up. How are you preparing for those?
With the Busan One Asia Festival, and KCON, I’m so thankful they are having me…  I’m in a situation where I have to make a strong impression with two songs, so I’ve been thinking about how important the performance aspect is. What I’ve been thinking about is how to bring these songs to life in a way that can inspire both my fans and the wider audience.

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What has been making you happy these days?
I feel like I’ve only talked about music… [Smiles.] Malatang has been so delicious these days. The malatang that I have after a day of work… It’s so good. My schedule is packed these days, and when I’m locked in, there are times when I skip meals. So when I come home I’m really hungry. The malatang I have at that moment is like a reward to me. 

How would you describe this era of Evan in three words, and where do you hope Evan is one year from now?
[Laughs.] Evan as of right now… Hope. Inspiration. Love. I think these three words. And in a year… Hmm… I hope to create music that carries a heartfelt and sincere message. I want to make great music, but also, I hope people connect with the messages behind it. If that message can resonate with fans, help them overcome difficult times, or become a source of healing for them… That’s the kind of artist I want to be. And hopefully, I’ll be able to create happy memories with my fans.