Korean artist EVAN is no stranger to transformation. Formerly known as PLUMA, he’s officially stepping into a new era—both in name and in sound.
Sitting down with The Knockturnal, EVAN opened up about the bold artistic reinvention fueling his latest single “Star Below (ft. pH-1),” his musical influences, and the dreams—quite literally—that are inspiring his future.
“Star Below (ft. pH-1)” is a track that feels both fresh and nostalgic, blending chill vibes with lyrics about falling so hard for someone—someone he saw in the crowd… of a dream. The full music video brings that energy to life, following EVAN on a late-night drive where he’s simply vibing, just like the song makes you feel.
You can listen to the song and watch the music video below!
Reinvention and Growth
EVAN’s name change isn’t just a rebrand—it’s a reflection of growth.
“I spent time experimenting with different types of music and found what I really like and want to do,” he shared. “It’s different from before, so I needed to change my name. I think Evan goes better with the music I’m making now.”
The transition, though meaningful, wasn’t without its challenges. Evan admits it was intimidating to leave behind an established name—but as he put it, “high risk, high return.”
“Star Below” Featuring pH-1
Evan’s debut single under AT AREA, “Star Below (ft. pH-1,) is a dreamy pop-R&B track rooted in, quite literally, a dream.
“I was a huge star performing on stage in my dream. I saw someone in the audience who was so beautiful, so stunning—she was stealing my show, and all the spotlights turned to her. I woke up and wrote the song immediately.”
With a story from straight out of a dream, EVAN finds inspiration everywhere, even in influences from his labelmates and collaborators. Having worked with heavy-hitters like Jay Park, pH-1, and GEMINI, he says those experiences have left a lasting impact on his artistry.
“I really like working with different people because I get to see many different perspectives,” he shared. “Every time I work with other musicians, I learn a lot.”
When it comes to the artists who’ve shaped his sound, EVAN highlighted Justin Bieber, “He’s my favorite artist. Purpose is my favorite album,” adding that he even owns it on vinyl. Now that’s dedication.
Tattoos, New Label, and Looking Ahead
In our conversation with EVAN, we also got into some fun details—like his tattoos, which, fittingly, are stars. The symbolism couldn’t be more perfect for an artist entering a bold new era under AT AREA. EVAN shared that his fascination with stars started early.
Speaking of AT AREA, home to artists like GroovyRoom and Gemini, has become a creative playground for Evan. While he’s worked with GroovyRoom before, this new chapter is the first time he’s doing things fully on his own terms—as EVAN.
EVAN’s just getting started. With “Star Below (ft. pH-1)” launching this new era, EVAN revealed there is a vault of unreleased music and visuals ready to go, and we are stoked to see it!
Catch EVAN’s latest single “Star Below (featuring pH-1)” out now and watch the full conversation linked above!
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