Evan Castle comes from one of those places that has neither been celebrated or vilified. Its attitude of blue-collar determination has created a vacuum of creation and expression, which has ironically become the inspiration for his latest project, Evan Castle and the Southern Tier. Born and raised at the forgotten tip of Appalachia in Western New York, Evan was raised in a sparsely populated community that often seems to be just behind the places that are just behind the times. This safe and quiet environment is where Evan first began to create music and find his voice.
Castle relocated to Tennessee 3 years ago to pursue music. In stark contrast to the place he had just left he decided to settle in a city with a thriving music and arts scene; Nashville, TN. The industry town provided a needed creative spark allowing him to collaborate with other artists and develop his writing. After a few years, however, he yearned to create the sort of authentic music that he grew up watching his father play in the local bars. And so, Evan returned home to write and record a body of work with lead single, Passengers.
With Passengers and future releases, Evan Castle and The Southern Tier aim less to place themselves comfortably within a defined music scene but, rather, to create a defined mood. A creative decision to utilize analog recording for all instruments provides a warmth and depth throughout his work. Seductively simple guitar licks create a sound that recalls classic rock of years’ past while lead single “Passengers” is reminiscent of early Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers.
Evan Castle & The Southern Tier often sound as if they are evoking a different time. In reality they evoke a different place. A place without the luxury of being forgotten because it was never known in the first place.
