Sian Evans

Songwriter~ Vocalist ~ Recording Artist ~ Performer ~ Multi-instrumentalist

“Sure Sian’s got a great voice, dexterous guitar chops, is a looker and charming as hell, but what about the positives” – Tim Rogers (UamI)

“One of the most promising artists in the Brisbane independent music scene. Sian has that amazing ability to sound live as she does on record” – Tyrone Noonan (George)

"the definition of..." FILM CLIP LAUNCH MAY 22

A world flavour with an undercurrent of Gypsy/balkan groove in a contemporary pop twist, featuring a small orchestra; the tiny opus scored by Evans herself, is something of a Montagues and Capulets feel or the opening scene from Edward Scissor hands, "the definition of..." in predominantly 6/4 time, a nice Latin bridge to twist. Inspired by a lifetime of name misspellings and mispronunciations as an aussie kid with a traditional welsh name.

Media Release - the definition of - single re-release & film clip Launch

Brisbane’s belle of folk, alt-country and blues is celebrating ten years of her debut LP, re-releasing the title track single with its own never before aired film clip this coming May 22.

It’s been 12 years since a young Sian Evans made a valiant shift from regional Far North Queensland to the bigger smoke of Brisbane, armed with a costume and instrument trove, her then toddler son and a pyxis of songs she’d penned between the ages of 18 and 22. Her musical journeys continue to traverse the continent, performing some of the country’s premiere festivals across multiple acts. With an impressive back catalogue of supports earlier in her career comprising CW Stoneking, Tim Rogers, Ash Grunwald, Toni Childs, Claire Bowditch and Katie Noonan to name a few, the singer-songwriter has worked on and off stage or in studio alongside some of Australia’s finest, scooping a slew of industry accolades and honours in passage.

Her creative endeavours have spurred numerous successful projects including flood-folk & newgrass trio “The Rusty Datsuns”, to her most current project as front woman of goth-country, blues & roots outfit “The Long Johns”.

It was in 2010 that Sian made her presence in Brisbane’s music scene felt in no subtle fashion. Her self-released debut album the definition of, under the moniker “Bessy-Lou” claimed two finalist nominations and a highly commended award at the 2010 Queensland Music Awards.

The definition of was recorded over a two-year period with Aria award-winning producer Govinda Doyle, in the Northern Rivers hinterland. Showcasing her skills not only as a songwriter but also composer as she dictated her own tiny opus, Sian orchestrated the entirety of its score albeit percussion; physically performing woodwind parts from her former years of classical woodwind training, as well as guitar & vocals. Eloquent yet fierce, it sonically illustrated the depth and breadth of Sian’s talent which over time has seen the artist creating and co-writing across multiple genres and acts, evidently leaving traces of her earliest influences and most certainly highlighting her love of traditional folk, world, jazz and theatre music.

The film clip, originally created in 2011, was produced and directed by Benjamin Nichols in the kitch-esk decorated basement of her then Queenslander abode on Boundary Street in West End. It will be launched on May 22 alongside the single’s re-release from its 2010 moniker and into her rightful name (apt considering its theme was inspired by a lifetime of mispronunciation and misspellings of her own name.) Sian explains that the song is an inquiry into what the definition of a name is.

“It explores how we become and identify ourselves to our name, and how we embody time and space as this identity, evolving, everchanging, forever shifting,” she said.

The re-release marks a decade of songwriting, performing and touring in tandem with sole parenting in a capital city with no next of kin; possibly one of the most sanity thwarting and unhinged yet soul fulfilling and brave roads to travel.

“It’s a reminder and celebration of the kind of achievements that are capable with the alignment of passion, determination, and the assistance of a village who believe and support an artist's vision,” Sian said.

About

Sian Evans' journey with music and her craft has seen her transition from classical woodwind ensemble performer in her earlier years, to the evolving multi-genre singer-songwriter & troubadour she has welcomely matured into.

A songwriter first quickly followed by her intuitive ability to sing out poetic pennings with solid melodic contours in a diverse vocal spectrum of nuances from the gentle warble to the hollering banshee when called for. She has written & featured across multiple genres from Hip-Hop, Skiffle Jazz, Blues & Roots to folk & world music; her love of traditional styles can be heard, artfully woven into her works of which often share a familiar contemporary twist. Her most common writing instruments of choice are often belonging to the bluegrass family while her performances tend to capture her vocally or in her own accompaniment of 5 string banjo or guitar.

Sian’s creative endeavours have spurred successful projects in Flood-Folk, New-Grass (The Rusty Datsuns) as well as solo gypsy-jazz/roots outfit (Bessy-Lou), presently fronting Goth-Country, Blues & Roots rag-tag team “The Long Johns” made up of West End veterans including Paul Watson (Dubmarine), Skritch (Mary Trembles, Tex Perkins) & Steve Buchanan (Bullhorn).

Her talents have seen her travers the continent in multiple acts at numerous Australian premier festivals including Woodford Folk Festival, Tamworth Country Music Festival, Caloundra Music Festival, Queenscliff Music Festival, Newtown Music Festival and working with an array of artists & producers over the years such as Aria award winning producer, Govinda Doyle, Josh Schuberth (Josh Pyke), Tyrone Noonan (George), Paulie Bromley (The Beautiful Girls), Ruby Boots, Bill Chambers, Dan Biederman & Scott Greenaway (Adam Eckersley & Brook MCclymont).

Scooping a slew of songwriting award nominations and an impressive load of supports including Toni Childs, C.W. Stoneking, Ash Grunwald, Deborah Conway, Katie Noonan and Tim Rogers, she’s admirably winged some impressive feats in passage.

Earliest Influences include Texan artist “Michelle Shocked”, discovering her love of artful story telling via poetic lyrics whilst subtly introducing traditional folk tunes she would later make an earnest hobby of. Later inspired by artists such as Fiona Apple, The Waifs, The Andrews Sisters lest mentioning composers like Irwin Costal and The Sherman Brothers from childhood musical favourites; a mere few across a spectrum as wide as Doc Watson to Ella Fitzgerald, Bach and most styles in between. The belle has herself a diverse taste in sonic treasury.

Singer-Songwriter and then some, Sian stands a solid show solo but rolls often with a buddy of the acoustic kind for morale & colour. Haz hat, will travel..

Accolades;

Finalist Queensland Music Awards 2018: “Thorns”

Finalist Queensland music awards 2018: “Womble East” (The Long Johns)

Highly commended Queensland Music Awards 2018 “Beautiful Painful”

ABC country Rotation 2018 “Thorns” & “Hound Dog” (The Long Johns)

Finalist Queensland Music Awards 2016: “Cold Feet”

Finalist Australian Americana Awards 2016

ABC 612 Album of the week with EP “how time has treated thee”

Queensland Music Design Award (QMDA 2015) for film clip “Take Me Home”

2015’s Tamworth Toyota Star Maker Finalist

ABC612 Album Of the Week 2013 with “RiverBank” (The Rusty Datsuns)

Semi-Finalist 2015 International Songwriting Competition: 2015’s single “Take Me Home”