EVA AVILA

Give Me The Music

When then 19 year old Gatineau singer Eva Avila stepped in to the spotlight in 2006 she set out to accomplish and embrace her life long dream of becoming an artist.  She immersed herself in the process and worked hard to define herself in the industry. 

Her debut album Somewhere Else was the launching pad for much success to follow.  The album debuted # 6 on the Canadian Album Charts, garnered her three hit singles including the Double Platinum digital single 'Meant To Fly', which quickly reached #1 on the Single Sales Charts and earned her a 2007 JUNO Nomination in the Category 'New Artist of the Year'. 

On the album, Eva worked with high profile artists all of whom gave her insight into the music industry including Chantal Kreviazuk, who penned Eva's driving first single "Meant to Fly", and Cyndi Lauper, who produced "This Kind Of Love" - a mentoring opportunity many artists could only dream of.

Eva embarked on national tours to perform for her fans and was included on the bill of a number of high profile and festival performances including One X One in Calgary, hosted by Ben Affleck. 

In conjunction with her very hectic music schedule, Eva was signed to FORD Models and became the first ever Canadian face linked to the Maybelline New York brand and fronted high profile campaigns for Sony Electronics and the launch of Spring Shoes.

Eva's powerful vocals also caught the ear of Disney executives and landed her the opportunity to be the voice for Canada, You're a Lifetime Journey, the music for the film O Canada!, at Epcot's Canada Pavilion at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

With such a busy schedule you would think that the young chanteuse would need a break, but nothing was going to hold Eva back from doing what she loves most, which is making music.  "Every free moment I had I would make appointments with different people in the industry to try and learn as much as I possibly could," admits Eva.  "I wanted to explore and experience all kinds of musical and writing styles, just for the heck of it.  I wanted to make sure I was doing everything I could to find my sound and direction for the new album.  I couldn't wait to start working on my next project."

The 21 year old singer is now back with her sophomore album Give Me the Music set for release, October 28, 2008 and determined to prove that she has staying power.

 

Give Me the Music is a collaboration of songs that showcase Eva's growth but maintains the influences that make the singer her own truly unique artist.  When asked to describe the sound, Eva gushes "True, soulful and new."  It is a fusion of all elements reflecting her personal style blending pop and R & B with an organic and soulful Motown flavor. "This album is definitely more mature musically and content wise and it's more on the organic side. Some of the songs convey a certain topic or message that would not have been relevant personally, two years ago.  This album is about me evolving as an artist and as a person who increasingly knows what she wants out of her career and her life," Eva explains.

Recorded in Toronto and Los Angeles, Eva worked with a stellar team of talent including Producer Matt Wallace (Maroon 5, Chantal Kreviazuk) and Mix Engineer Mark Needham (Killers, Metro Station, Michelle Branch).  The recording process for Eva was very positive "I had such an amazing time making this record, Matt and I both have a serious attitude towards music but also have a great sense of humour so there was great chemistry going on," reflects Eva.  "The team was very open to my input and ideas; they insisted that I be happy with the way each song sounded before moving on.  The experience was very relaxed filled with laughter which fostered a creative and inspiring environment."

A big accomplishment for Eva on Give Me The Music was having a much larger role in the creative process than she did on her debut Somewhere Else.  From trying her hand at writing to being much more involved in the studio, Eva feels that her sophomore release truly demonstrates her development as an emerging artist.  "I was actually in the room when they were recording keys and guitar and I was able to give my input and make suggestions.  It is incredibly gratifying to know that your opinion and feedback not only matter, but are really important in the process of making a record," she explains.

The debut single and title track is one of Eva's personal favorites on the album. 'Give Me The Music' is an undeniably catchy blend of pop, soul and R & B with a more organic mature sound.  The song was an instant success at radio landing it an immediate Top 30 spot on the CHR charts and was the #1 Most Added in its first week out of the gate at CHR and HAC and remained the #1 Most Increased track in both formats in the week to follow.  "I love the energy of 'Give Me The Music', it just makes you want to get up and dance and move to the beat," Eva explains.

When asked to select her favorite tracks on the album, Eva struggles "That's such a hard question!  Maybe 'Sorry', 'Wait', 'Damned', 'Run', 'Give Me The Music', 'You don't Say No' and 'No More Coming Back'.  And 'What I Want Not What I Need'. Oh and 'Masterplan', 'No Smoke', 'Like a Bullet', and 'Say goodbye'. Oh wait… that's all of them! Tee Hee," chuckles Eva.  "I guess I hope that my fans will be able to connect with each song on the album, each song is very personal to me and demonstrates a different part of my personality, there's something on it for everyone."