Galway based band, Evøke, are fusing genres that some people would never consider as compatible but the beauty of Evoke is that there is a method behind their madness. The self-described “Indie/pop/fusion trad band” are about to release their newest single ‘Can You Feel It’ and have secured themselves a residency in The Skeff Bar in Eyre Square, Galway (can’t recommend the cocktails in The Skeff enough); so, to say Evøke is up and coming is a bit of an understatement. The lads were kind enough to give us a sneak peek of their new single which will be featured on their upcoming debut EP which is coming this summer. These guys really caught our attention last year during Riverfest and are a really a stand out act live.
Evøke consists of 4 members Keagan Forde (lead vocalist and guitarist), Evan Forde (drummer and backing vocalist), Michael Glynn (bassist) and Dylan Crean (banjo and backing vocalist) who all hail from Loughrea in Galway which means they fit nicely into our Homegrown Heroes category. To date, Evøke has released two singles ‘Keep on Moving’ in 2018 and ‘Collide’ in 2019 which are currently available on Spotify and all other major streaming platforms. The band take inspiration from the likes of Gavin James, Dermot Kennedy, The Academic and Mumford and Sons; the influence of the last of those names can definitely be heard on the upbeat ‘Keep on Moving’ while Gavin’s influence is more apparent in the ballad that is ‘Collide.’
Evøke’s new single ‘Can You Feel It’ is released the 28th of May (tomorrow) and will be available on all major streaming services and to keep up to date with the band you can follow them on Instagram and Snapchat (@evoke_band).
So without further ado, let’s see how we feel about ‘Can You Feel It’.
Can You Feel It
E: A mid tempo pop opening belies the real Mumford & Sons influence of the more uptempo chorus found in this track. It’s definitely a unique route for Irish music to take as it blends pop, folk and some rock with aspects of traditional Irish music. The verses hide a somewhat Kodaline-esque tone to the lead vocal. My initial thought when I heard the chorus was an instant association to Mumford and Sons’ ‘Little Lion Man’, though there is very little that makes the prominent banjos similar, the use of the banjo to bring up the tempo is straight from the pages of the Mumford and Sons textbook that Evøke have clearly studied and made their own.
Never the exact same as their influences, Evøke learns from those who inspire them but utilizes techniques effectively in their own way nonetheless. The song lyrics themselves are exceptionally clever, a personal favourite of mine being “it’s a flame and I feed it oxygen”, and have a genuine depth as the meaning of the song unfolds. A big departure from their previous single Collide, ‘Can You Feel It’ is a real display of what Evøke is capable of creating.
In my personal opinion, ‘Can You Feel It’ is well worth a listen simply because of its uniqueness. Ireland has pop, rock and indie bands aplenty but nothing quite like what Evøke can offer. There isn’t really a single phrase or word that can aptly sum up the style of Evøke. They have clear influences but these all combine brilliantly to create a style and sound that is distinctly Evøke’s. The music they have created can’t be classified as pop or folk as there are clear traditional influences in the track so describing themselves as a fusion band allows Evøke to define their own genre and create the music they want to. Their sound has progressed fantastically since their last single and it is clear Evøke has a path that suits them laid out. I feel if they continue to focus on what makes them unique, they have a good chance of capturing the public’s attention and leaving a lasting mark on the Irish music scene.
N: In true EVØKE style the band entices you into ‘Can You Feel It’ from the opening chord. Honestly, out of the three singles they have released thus far, this one made me sit up straight and get ready for what I was about to listen to from the beginning. My first reaction to hearing the opening line of the first verse was, it was not what I was expecting this song to start off like and, trust me, that is a good thing. This song is lyrically beautiful and smartly composed with the clever use of their instruments harnessing the emotional backdrop to a song with a lot of meaning to it.
As Emma has mentioned above, the band clearly is influenced by Dermot Kennedy and Mumford & Son during their writing stage as these acts have aided in inspiring elements of this single, in my opinion. However, ‘Can You Feel it’ truly unlocks a genre in the Irish Music Scene that EVØKE have carved out for themselves. The band brings together numerous elements from a unique choice in musical instruments .
By using these different elements, they make them together to make ‘Can You Feel It’ something truly special for the listener. Those who like to dive a little further into a song, I suggest you listen to the song four times before giving your overall two cents on it. The first time don’t focus on anything just listen to the song as a whole. The second time listening focuses on the stunning beautiful use of instruments. EVØKE as stated above uses a guitar, a bass, drums and a banjo. This time when listening, keep an ear out for THAT Banjo solely. I always get blown away with how they incorporate the banjo into their music!
The third time listen by focusing solely on the lyrics. Personally on a lyrical level ‘Can You Feel It’ is by far my favourite song to date by EVØKE. Keep an ear out for lead singers Keagan’s use of softer vocals during the first verse and chorus in comparison to the louder vocal moments for the remainder of the song. 100% honestly here, I adore the raspy edge of Keagan’s voice in this one as he adds his own emotion when the song begins to get stronger and stronger. It adds spectacularly to the overall sound of the song. While the fourth time listening to ‘Can You Feel It’ listen to everything again. Honestly, you need to take in the entire song to truly appreciate this unique masterpiece.
For the purpose of this review I listened to ‘Can You Feel It’ numerous times and I can confirm this song truly is an earworm. You are going to be humming that melody in your head after hearing this song a few times. For some people, this song is going to register with them on an emotional level and for those of you who feel the emotions of songs when listening to them, get ready to get hit with this one like a tonne of bricks.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed ‘Can You Feel It’. It is great to see EVØKE releasing music again. My favourite of their singles to date and as stated before and I need to reiterate it: this single is the next level of their music. I am happy to report I am now even more excited for their debut EP to drop THIS Summer!
Update: You can now stream ‘Can You Feel It’ here .
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