Evan de Roeper Captivates With a Poetic Storm of Emotion and Innovation in the Spellbinding 'May: 21-26'
- STAFF
- Jul 12
- 4 min read
By: Staff
An emotionally immersive triumph, Evan de Roeper delivers raw brilliance with hypnotic finesse.
The very unique artist Evan de Roeper delivers a refreshingly unconventional body of work in his latest EP, May: 21-26. This project bends genre expectations and commands full attention. His presence throughout is magnetic, and the EP offers a distinctly stylized narrative that reflects both emotional intensity and sonic innovation. This is a release that challenges form, delivers raw vulnerability, and ultimately stakes a confident artistic claim.
We open with the track “Ground Zero,” which immediately sets the tone with twisted, glitchy synths that slowly unravel into something resembling a distorted piano line. The effect is disorienting yet deliberate. Almost without warning, Evan de Roeper enters with a blunt and emotionally loaded confession that hurls the listener into a moment of social betrayal:
“God damn how can I just sit there being spat on by friends”
The directness is jarring in the best way, holding nothing back. That lyric becomes the ignition point of the song’s emotional detonation, delivered with a powerful vocal cadence that channels both pain and defiance. The instrumental itself feels full, layered, and dramatically textured, building a dramatic space for these feelings to live and breathe. The production is rich and purposeful, never overwhelming, but instead amplifying the volatility of the lyrics with precision. What makes this even more compelling is Evan’s self-production; he masterfully creates a tone that guides the listener through every swell of frustration and moment of release.
As the song progresses, there’s a sense of complete emotional transference. His fury and hurt become your own. This is not easily accomplished, and yet Evan executes it with an effortlessness that feels deeply intuitive. Even more striking is his ability to fuse hip-hop-adjacent rhythmic flow with something akin to an impassioned spoken-word dissertation. The result is a poetic, deeply personal manifesto, equal parts confrontational and soul-baring. It’s a captivating alchemy that feels entirely his own.
Following that, we move into “Howl,” which arrives alongside an animated lyric video. Here, Evan shifts into a more tender vocal mode, letting his voice gently float above crystalline piano melodies. There’s a softness in the delivery, almost whisper-like, yet his words hit with profound emotional resonance:
“It’s like a howl / I can hear the cries in your darkest hour / all of the screams an terror / inside your head”
It’s here where Evan’s lyrical prowess is on full display, painting a portrait of someone suffering in silence and offering his presence as a protective force. The tenderness of his words and the imagery he constructs feel noble, even heroic. Like someone holding a light in the middle of someone else’s storm. This track deepens the emotional gravity of May: 21-26 and highlights Evan’s natural gift for empathy-driven songwriting. His voice becomes a lifeline, and the listener is pulled closer into his orbit.
We close with “Sayonara,” a track that seals the project with an introspective, melancholic finesse. The song opens with soft background conversations that feel like a stream-of-consciousness entry into Evan’s mind. His delivery is restrained yet devastatingly expressive, guiding us through the emotional fallout of farewell. His lyrical performance here is among his most affecting, particularly in the way he explores heartbreak with nuance and clarity. The closing moments feel more like a diary than a song, a private whisper shared with the world.
What also stunned us was the fact that Evan not only wrote and performed these songs, but mainly engineered and produced them himself in a bedroom studio. The sonic quality throughout is sharp and immersive, with a mix that is both expansive and clean. Each element, from the atmospheric foley textures to the polished vocal layers, is executed with a precision that elevates the experience. Every detail feels handcrafted, and nothing sounds out of place. The end result is a cohesive, emotionally immersive journey that rewards full attention.
We were deeply moved and thoroughly impressed. May: 21-26 is not just a strong independent release. It is a definitive artistic statement from an emerging voice with something real to say.
We’re still processing it. And we can’t wait to hear what Evan de Roeper gives us next.
Evan de Roeper’s May: 21-26 is a genre-blurring emotional outcry, masterfully produced and utterly gripping.
Originally released just one day after his 27th birthday, May: 21-26 marks a transformative moment for London-based independent artist Evan de Roeper.
Raised with a deep connection to music and self-expression, Evan spent years quietly building this EP as a document of growth. It is an audio diary that traces the emotional and artistic journey from ages 21 to 26. Inspired by the cinematic compositions of Frank Ocean’s Blonde and the moody atmosphere of The Weeknd’s After Hours, his work honors those influences while carving out a unique and unfiltered lane of its own.
Each of the EP’s six tracks was written, produced, and engineered by Evan himself, using only a Blue Yeti mic and the tools available to him in his home studio. What sets him apart is not just his resourcefulness but his instinctual understanding of sound design. From layered vocal textures to unexpected foley samples, he adds dimension to his production that feels remarkably advanced. His musical storytelling is equally potent. Each track forms part of a larger emotional mosaic, rooted in lived experience and bold honesty.
In everything he does, Evan de Roeper offers vulnerability, imagination, and a refusal to compromise. These are the hallmarks of a true creative force. We're so excited to have found him and can’t wait to hear more from the incredibly magnetic Evan de Roeper!
