Q&A with Ben Evolent
Joshua Tarca is known on the music scene as Ben Evolent – a happy-go-lucky singer-songwriter based in Darwin, who personifies his namesake by ‘doing charitable things for others.’ MusicNT caught up with the 2016 NT Song of the Year award winner to chat about the big win and living and writing in the Top End.
How would you describe your sound?
I guess my music is a mix of two different facets. One’s a softer folk, country, reggae and the other is what I call the distorted 'drunken blues’. I think that pretty much sums it up!
When you’re in the writing process, is there anything that gets your creative juices flowing?
I’d have to say my surroundings – I’m a product of my environment. And by that, I don’t just mean my physical environment, but my psychological environment too. Whatever I’m going through, I write about it. You never know when inspiration will come and it’s something you can’t force. I’ve written songs that have taken 20 minutes to write, I’ve also written some that have taken years.
You mentioned your surroundings have influenced your craft – how big an influence has Darwin and the Territory had on your music?
It’s been huge! I’ve always felt like the NT has really given me a go. People listen to you and the opportunities here are better than anywhere. I used to move around a lot, but this part of the world has kept me here the longest since I left home.
Speaking of which, your song ‘Next Time’ took out the NT Song of he Year Award for the inaugural Tourism NT Territory Song Award last year – what was that experience like?
That was amazing. Tourism NT have also used another couple of my songs in some marketing campaigns, so that was a nice surprise. I’m honoured they feel that my music represents the area. The prize money I won at NT Song last year has allowed me to work on an EP and release a music video. Honestly, I’m stoked!
What’s on the cards for 2017?
It’s certainly going to be a very musical year for me. I’ve just released my EP and I’d really love to get into playing some festivals. Honestly, I just feel like it’s going to be a good year – and if not, hey mate, there’s always Next Time.
Ben Evolent's EP Next Time is out now.
Sun 18 Jun | 5.30pm | De La Plage | Fri 23 Jun | 5pm | Brown's Mart | Sun 25 Jun @ MUFF | Cox Country Club
INFO facebook.com/benevolentnt
