New Zealand-based singer Evan Sinton started out his independent music journey under the stage name 'Maala' and the songwriter says it was a conscious decision to go anonymous as he doesn't really crave for stardom.
Evan came third on the singing reality show "New Zealand's Got Talent" in 2012 and then released an EP titled "Maala" three years later, with not many knowing who the real person was behind the stage name.
"I didn't want people to think 'this is the New Zealand's Got Talent' guy's songs. I wanted to have my music stand on my own feet, and not have that kind of baggage. I am comfortable with not having that huge a success," Evan told PTI.
Since 2015, Evan has released several singles including "In the Air" and "Touch"- which brought him several accolades and immense fame. Last year, the singer dropped his first album, "Composure".
"It was by chance that I got this success. My priority is to write songs and play to an audience. Watching people sing my song is incredible; it doesn't matter if it's ten thousand people or just one person."
The 22-year-old singer chose to adapt a stage name and not go with his own, as he wanted the audience to have no presumptions about his music.
"It was a very conscious decision to have a stage name. I finished the show in 2012 and I released Maala music in 2015. I thought I had changed post the show, found a new style. And back then it was trendy to go anonymous," he says.
"I wanted to show something new after the show. I really wanted the music to talk, and not my personality to take over. Its wonderful when your music can carry itself without any name or a big story."
Evan, who is currently in India, performed in Mumbai last evening, after having already done a gig in Bengaluru.
"India is so different, I have been so busy.. It's all so hectic. I've also been on a very fast schedule," he says.
The singer, however, confesses that he was "very unfamiliar" about India but knew one thing about the country.
"I am a big fan of cricket. In the Indian team I like Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli. They play really well. Cricket is something I follow a lot."
Evan is fairly new to the music circuit and the singer says he is both "relaxed and a little nervous" before a performance.
"The night before a big gig I get more and more relaxed, I am getting comfortable with live gigs but still there is a bit nervousness. There are times when I get terribly anxious but I am strangely very comfortable with it too. My gig could crash...It has happened before, and that was an experience to remember. You learn from all of this."
The singer will be performing in Delhi today-his last stop in India- before heading back to New Zealand.
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