LISTEN: Alt-Pop Artist Evan Klar Shares Adventurous New EP ‘Blissful Thinking’

German-Australian alt-pop artist Evan Klar has been writing and producing music for other artists since a failed stint at a machine factory in Bielefeld, Germany where at 18, he was determined to get back to the roots of his German father and family. From there he left for London and travelled Europe as a session musician with the likes of Primary One, Charlie XCX, and Alex Metric, before relocating back to Australia. Then, in early 2020, Klar made another voyage back to the motherland, but what started as another trip back to his roots turned into a different kind of journey, as he found himself stranded at the concrete shores of Berlin, Germany with no way out but his music.

After the pandemic took over the world early into his new adventure, Klar shifted gears and focused on his own music, allowing for things to fall into place even if it doesn’t seem like it at first. What started out as a year full of restraint, ended up in a year full of releases, turning a hopeless situation into his fortune. Signing with Groenland Records / Monchique in 2020, Klar dropped a handful a singles, leading up to his newly released EP Blissful Thinking. Confronted with this big unknown, he used this chance to leave the cushy safe space of indie bedroom pop behind and venture somewhere between pop and trap, letting his sound progress naturally into a seemingly carefree, bright and relaxing sound. And when you dive beyond that surface, you discover a depth of deeply personal and inquisitive lyrics, combining the best of both worlds.

On the five track effort, Klar combines his new-found interest in mainstream pop with his clean and simple lo-fi sensibilities, rounded out by his sincere and candid lyricism – most notably on his lead single “2 Thumbs Up”. With a pitched sample leading the way for Klar’s crisp, yet velvety vocals to share his story about finding his way back to Germany, the EP’s strongest track is rich with emotion. About the song, he says: “2 Thumbs Up is an accepting high five, with a smile, to all things we should/need to address to become fully integrated with our life experience. Unresolved pain in particular.. our monsters as some might call them. I wrote this song with Hailey Collier and Nikolai Potthoff, two close friends who make me really happy. Taking care of yourself and your mental health is easily forgotten, especially when trying to create something. If I’m going to keep making art whilst swimming in my emotions everyday then I’m going to write songs that help myself and hopefully those listening.”

Amidst dark times, Evan managed to channel his sunny Australian mind into a dreamy new EP to find the best of both worlds, combining the summery vibes of down under with the electronic-infused alternative pop of his European home. Despite its darker tones, Blissful Thinking is filled with positivity, with trip-pop opener “Special”, the aforementioned “2 Thumbs Up”, and Soundcloud-hip-hop closer “Illusions” shining a brighter light than expected. “My music seems to be leaning a little more mainstream these days but I’m enjoying the changes,” Evan says, making a statement for pop as a universal language, able to understand and support everyone’s emotions.

With pop’s universally enjoyable flare and energy, and the trend-setting alt hip-hop production, Klar’s personality is able to come through clearly on the new EP, as the indie songwriter readjusts and steps into the next phase of his career. Listen to Blissful Thinking below: