Ally Evenson – Not So Pretty

Ally Evenson just release her new EP – ‘Not So Pretty’ on April 17, 2020.  I listened to every song and was impressed with so many things on the album.  The production, the mix, the song writing and of course that voice.  I was excited to run back through but something was sticking in my head.  There was this extra special thing that happened during the first songs’ bridge.  A harmony that felt big and weird (in a good way) and well crafted.  I had to go back.

I was drawn in so much to that bridge I started listening to the song multiple times and decided to put out a song review in hopes that you go give this title track – Not So Pretty – a listen.

Musically, the mood is set with a warm reverb’d guitar coming at you from the left and the right.  It has those guitar strokes that gave me the Room For Squares vibe.  I liked it right away.  The drums are big and fat but don’t dominate the song.  They give off the perfect character for the songs personality as they combine with the bottom end of the bass guitar that hums along underneath the electric guitar and makes those subtle but important climbs.  They are all brought together in a wonderful, ear-pleasing mix that allows Ally Evenson to showcase those wonderful harmonies and incredible natural tones of her voice. It’s almost as if she’s having a conversation with an unknown participant but then lets loose those vocals runs and little nuances that make the song and emotions, standout.  It really is just a very well put together piece of music.  It’s obvious how important the song is to her given the work that she put into the track.

The songs’ meaning is important and personal to Evenson as well.  She tells me about the songs’ meaning, “A friend who stopped being my friend.  For about eight months, he made me feel like the worst person.  He wouldn’t leave me alone.”  Evenson had to deal with someone who wanted more from the friendship than she wanted.  This is one of the oldest but sometimes scary stories of human kind.  But nonetheless, she had to endure nearly a year of verbal abuse and decided to put her emotions about it all into a song.  Ally continues, “I needed to play a song for class and instead of playing a song I’d already written I just started writing.  I thought, fuck you if you hate me but I’m not going to hate myself for being me.  For better or for worse.  Every time I play it, I feel better.”

That time in her life is now a memory and the result and future for her looks bright.  She’s writing songs, co-producing and her work with producer Elise McCoy seems like the start to a great career of making music.  Clearly, I’m a fan of Ally Evenson’s voice but McCoy’s work on this EP should not be understated. There’s some real magic on this record.

Produced/mixed/engineered by: Elise McCoy 

Lead Vox: Ally Evenson 

Background vox: Ally Evenson, Elise McCoy, Katrine Noël 

Guitars: Noah Kirrkamm, Elise McCoy, Ally Evenson

Bass: Austin Mokrenski 

Keys: Bailey Scott 

Drums: Duane Hewins

Photography: Donatella Pompeo

Artwork: Isabel Hayward

-Tommy Marz

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