'Emergency' Alert! The Making of Hevel: From First Notes to Future Hits, What’s Next for the Artist?
By. Alicia Zamora
In the vibrant world of music, artists often face the unique challenge of balancing their creative endeavors with the demands of everyday life. In an exclusive interview with Alicia’s Studio, we sit down with the talented musician Hevel, who opens up about his inspiring journey in the music industry. Hevel shares insights into how he navigates the complex relationship between his education and his passion for music, offering a fresh perspective on the pursuit of artistic dreams amidst external pressures.
Throughout our conversation, Hevel emphasizes the importance of authenticity in artistry. He shares valuable advice on the significance of focusing on one's own path rather than falling into the trap of comparison. In an era where social media can easily distort self-perception, his words serve as a reminder to embrace individuality and creativity without being swayed by others' successes. Hevel’s commitment to staying true to himself resonates deeply and is sure to inspire many young artists who might be struggling to find their footing.
As Hevel approaches a pivotal moment in his career, he reveals his excitement about upcoming projects, including a new single set to release on February 14th. This release marks a significant milestone leading to his highly anticipated album. With experimentation at the forefront of his creative process, Hevel is poised to captivate audiences with his evolving sound. Join us as we delve deeper into his journey, exploring the passion and perseverance that drive his music forward.
Diving In
Alicia: Hi! We can start off with an introduction and then dive into the questions.
Hevel: My name is Jia, and I go by the artist name Hevel. I make alternative pop and indie rock music.
Alicia: Awesome! To kick things off, tell us a little about your musical journey. How did you first get into music and what was the pivotal moment you realized this was your calling?
Hevel: I don't think I had a pivotal moment where I had the realization that music was what I wanted to do. I think it started off with me doing and making stuff. I was making covers at first, and then [making music] became natural that it only made sense that I should start making original music. It snowballed into something bigger than I could manage.
Alicia: If you could describe your sound in three words, what would they be and why?
Hevel: Hmm… Three words… I’d say foreigner, pop, and music. I think my background as a foreigner to the West or in the U.S. specifically gives me a unique perspective on pop music, whether it comes sonically, sound-wise, lyrically, conceptually, or whatever the case might be. It’s like a reinterpretation of my reinterpretation of what I think pop music should sound like or what good pop music sounds like to me.
Alicia: Every artist has influences. Who were some of the first musicians that made you think, "I want to make music like that"?
Hevel: I would say musicians that made me want to make music. I think the first time that I wanted to take music seriously was when I listened to that one Frank Ocean album Blonde. I think it’s pretty cool and a pretty common choice for a lot of musicians. It's very influential, non-controversial take. That album was definitely the one that got me into thinking about music as a more serious medium. Ever since then, I've been trying to make stuff like that.
Alicia: When did you first start releasing music?
Hevel: I think the first official release was “Star City Cafe.” That was my first official song that I ever released. Before then, I was making stupid songs on SoundCloud and making covers. But yeah, “Star City Cafe” was my first song.
Alicia: Your new single “Emergency” has really been getting attention. What inspired the creation of the song and how does it represent your current mindset or artistic growth? Inspiration of the song.
Hevel: Sonically, I was listening to a lot of alternative pop, electro-pop and hyper-pop-y music. I was listening to a lot of artists like Tsubi Club, Ericdoa, Porter Robinson. I would say the new Porter Robinson album probably had a lot to do with it. It was what I was listening to and what I liked at the time. I was hoping that I could make something that was more representative of what I was really into. I wanted to reinterpret it so that my audience could easily digest it. I think it is representative of my artistry and my experimentation with my sound that I have been doing a lot of as of recently. I think this one was definitely me saying that I can do this and that. Yeah, it was really a fun release. I loved making it because it’s just a fun song.
Alicia: The title “Emergency” is striking. What does it symbolize for you and how do the lyrics reflect that feeling?
Hevel: Lyrically, the song is about a toxic relationship. I think it was one of those songs where the concept comes from truth, but is exaggerated for dramatic effect. It’s also just for the song to be better and be a hit
Alicia: Yeah it was so good!!!
Hevel: Thank you! It doesn't really symbolize anything deeper or anything. It's one of the songs that I made that were super catchy and single worthy. So that was like the main thought process behind making it a single.
Alicia: Sonically, “Emergency” feels like it pushes boundaries. Can you walk us through the production process and what kind of sound you were aiming for with the single?
Hevel: I was listening to a lot of Porter Robinson and I was using his work as a point of reference as I was creating the single. That was kind of what I was aiming for, which I think I kind of delivered. I think a couple of people mentioned it, which, for me, is good enough. Even if it wasn’t mentioned, I think it's still nice for me to try to explore and experiment with different stuff.
Alicia: How has the reception to “Emergency” been so far compared to what you expected? Was it what you expected, and did anything about it surprise you?
Hevel: I'm always a little skeptical and careful about releases, because this year has been a year of experimenting and trying out new things, so I'm always worried about how it'll be perceived. But contrary to what I thought was gonna happen, a lot of people did really like it even though it was a lot different to what I normally do. And yeah, people liked it and thought it was catchy.
Alicia: It was stuck in my head for a good week because usually when I do reviews, I'll listen to the song for a really long time. It was really stuck in my head that whole week!
Hevel: That was definitely what I was like listening to the song. It was one of those songs where I was trying my absolute best to make the catchiest song that I could make.
Alicia: When it comes to your songwriting process, do you start with lyrics, melodies, or a particular mood first? And how does the idea for a song usually take shape?
Hevel: It varies song by song. Most of the time, I'll have an idea of a song conceptually. And then I'll have a mood or a certain vibe that I want it to emulate to create the atmosphere. I mean, as much as I love to make songs, sometimes it's a little hard to execute the final product when I don't already have an idea of what I wanna make. So for me, I always have a concept or I have a certain thing I want to write a song about. That always helps me to get through with the process rather than sitting down every day at 9 a.m. like it's nine to five.
Alicia: No yeah definitely! What's one collaboration or artists you dream of working with in the future and why?
Hevel: I think, currently, if I continue down this path of making alternative pop music, someone like Porter Robinson would be great. I think ericdoa is also great. I mean I love a lot of music and I'm always a fan of the music first rather than being a creator myself. So yeah there's no dream collab. Obviously, it would be great if I could work or be a part of something that I like at least once or from an artist that I really appreciate. In the end, I'm just a listener too. I just love listening to music.
Alicia: Has there been a moment in the studio or during a live performance where you felt an unexpected burst of creativity that changed the direction of a song or project for you?
Hevel: I think I have a tendency of being really stubborn with things, like I always have an idea of what I want from the get-go. I also have a tendency where if it doesn't sound like what I want it to sound like, then I have no motivation to finish it and I tend to be a little stubborn with that. But recently this year, I've been learning a lot about making compromises and collaborating with people. It's been helping me get shit done, release music, which is really important. You can have an idea for a really good song, but if you don't make it, then it's not a song. It's not anything, so try not to be such a hard ass and a smart ass.
Alicia: In the early days of your career, was there ever a moment when you almost gave up on music? And if so, what kept you going?
Hevel: Every three months, I always thought about not making music. A lot of times, I'll put so much effort into something and an expectation or like preconception of what I think it should do in terms of numbers. I'd always get disappointed because I put so much effort into things and then the result isn't proportionate to what I think it should be. In the beginning, I didn't have the same level of drive so I’ve been kind of on and off in my music career. “Star City Cafe” had done really well but then I couldn't really follow it up with anything. There was another time I made an album with my friend Sunny Zero, and then that was super fun! We put a bunch of effort into that – poured our heart and soul into it. And then, people don't really listen to albums a lot, so after that, I kinda had a little bit of a slump where I was not making music for a little bit. It’s normal to think about not wanting to make music or quitting. It's like the thing where you say you're gonna not do anything. You're like, “Oh, I'm gonna stop smoking or stop drinking.” It's something like that. Although now, I don't even think about it anymore. I think about not wanting to do it, obviously, but I know that's not gonna happen because of how much I enjoy doing it.
Alicia: Oh yeah, definitely. I feel like your point is so valid though, because with anything, like with what I'm doing, when I put something out that I feel like it's my best work and people don't mind it, I'm like, “Oh damn. I felt like maybe it wasn't the best.” I feel like you have a good point; stop caring about it and just keep doing you. I think that's the best thing to do.
Hevel: Yeah, keep doing you. Comparisons are poisonous. I think everybody has their respective journeys and pace that they're given and it's unfair to yourself because you work so hard. I work so hard every day for me to be sad and upset about some stupid shit, you know?
Alicia: Exactly!!
Hevel: I think it's more about self-love, a self-love journey. After working on my self-love journey, it's been easier for me to kinda not be sorry for myself.
Alicia: How has your understanding of the music industry changed since you started? Are there any lessons you've learned the hard way that you shared with someone just starting out?
Hevel: I've been blessed enough to have the opportunity to meet new people and branch out in terms of my standing in the music industry. That only came to me after spending enough time doing enough work. I think it just takes time and I had like really good people looking out for me and guiding me throughout the process. That's always been helpful for someone first starting out. Comparison is genuinely poison and if you keep festering it, you’ll dive into a rabbit hole of misery that never stops. You just gotta stop comparing yourself. And also, stop looking at numbers because doing so will tank your self-esteem.
Alicia: That's so true. And then how has your relationship with your listeners or fans evolved since you first began making music? And has that helped shape your sound or your journey in ways you didn't expect?
Hevel: Yeah! I mean I love the interactions that I have with my listeners. I think, honestly, it has taken me quite a bit of time for me to realize that people really like my music. You could release a song and you’ll know if it gets a lot of streams, but that's just numbers on a screen. I can't really grasp what that represents in reality or how my fans interact with it. Recently, I’ve been making spaces where my fans could interact, but my listeners could interact with me in DMs or like I have a Discord server where we just talk, hang out and do events. That's really been helping me with keeping myself grounded whenever I think that I suck. They're awesome and some of them have been around for so long. They’ve been around since I started making music before I made my own songs, when I was making stupid covers. I infinitely appreciate them and I owe them the world. They are probably one of the main reasons why I'm still making music to this day.
Alicia: What's one thing you wish people knew about you that they might not see from your music alone?
Hevel: Ooh, so all this time that I've been like making music, I've also been juggling school and I'm a third year university student. I'm about to graduate next year!
Alicia: Oh my god, me too! But I graduate this semester, but I'm in my third year.
Hevel: Nice! What do you study?
Alicia: I'm studying sociology with a minor in writing studies.
Hevel: Wow! That's crazy, I could never do that. I am so bad at writing. I'm studying industrial design, so I'm a design student. I think a lot of people don't know that I'm a design student. I think it provides an interesting perspective for me as a musician when I go through the creative process of making music. I think there's a lot of mirroring in everything that I do, but especially in my professional work, whether it be music or through visuals. I think I might actually be better at design than I am at music. So, yeah, I've been thinking about that a lot and I want people to know that I'm really good at it.
Alicia: That's so good though! I feel like juggling school and music is crazy. That must be a lot for you because I could barely do it with what I'm doing. Now imagine you have to write a song, I don't know if you do that at your dorm or you go to the studio and then mix and master it. That's insane!
Hevel: Thank you! A lot of the stuff that I do is at home, so I don't record in studios. I do have situations where I am in studios, but most of my solo stuff is recorded at my home studio. We’ve been working on the album. So all the three songs that have been released up to this point, “Skin,” “Frozen River,” and "Emergency” are pre-releases for my next project, which is an album that I've been working on. I've been trying to finish up this album while I go to school and try to find a job. So it's been quite a journey for me.
Alicia: That was literally the next question, but can we expect an album soon or will you be releasing more singles? What's your vision for the next chapter of your music?
Hevel: I have one song coming out for Valentine's Day. So that will be my last single and those will... all four of the songs will be a part of a project that I am working on set to release in late March or April, I think. It depends on how hard I work.
Alicia: As you plan for 2025, what are some specific goals you're setting for yourself both musically and personally?
Hevel: Definitely eat more vegetables because I eat really bad. I want to just be more healthy. I'm pretty sure that it affects my productivity as well and it sucks in every aspect of my life. I'm only thinking about how productive I can be. I'm genuinely a slave to capitalism. I want to think less about productivity and more about my health. I want to eat better and go to the gym even if I'm not getting buff or anything. I also want to be outside and get some fresh air. I wanna have more fun in life! I wanna play more games. And yeah, make the album, finish the album. I don't ask for a lot. I don't ask for much.
Alicia: That's so perfect. And then if you could accomplish one major thing in 2025, what would it be?
Hevel: Probably most definitely finish the album. I want to do a deluxe as well, and that all depends on how hard I can work. So a lot of the musicals for this year would probably just be the album and then all the material following the album. This year would be the album year where I work on the album and the deluxe.
Alicia: Do you see yourself exploring new genres or experimenting with different sounds in the near future?
Hevel: Yes, I mean I am always trying new stuff. I think I'm just trying to have fun. And I don't even think about trying to be experimental or anything. I just listen to a lot of music and I try to make whatever I like and what I think sounds great. Since my music taste always changes, you could probably expect a future project that sounds a lot more different. It could either be really different or be a more refined sound depending on what I want to do with my music career. But for now, I think my music has always been kind of changing. 2024 has been kind of a rebrand for me sonically as I was making a more rock-y sound and I think people have been really liking it as well. That's something that I'm really happy about.
Alicia: Yeah you’re really killing it like genuinely!
Hevel: Thank you! I've been trying my best.
Alicia: If you could go back and give your younger self one piece of advice before you started your music career, what would it be?
Hevel: Honestly, this hasn't been that long. I started making music in 2020 and it's 2025. I just celebrated the fourth anniversary of my first project ever. That was super fun. And looking back on it, I think back then was a time where I was really just trying to have fun. I struggle nowadays, like any musician, to really try to have the most amount of fun that I can and try to keep that spark. The more I'm bigger and more acknowledgement that I get with my music, the more it's been becoming more of a job rather than a fun endeavor. So I would definitely give the advice to have more fun when you can!
Alicia: Ending the interview off, would you like to say anything to the people who listen to your music?
Hevel: I would like to thank all of my listeners. They're like the main reason why I get to do the things that I like to do. So I'm always forever appreciative of them and they're also a big driving factor for me as well. Of course I make music because I want to make music, but also knowing that people appreciate the stuff that I do kind of encourages me even more to keep doing it. It gives me reassurance that I'm on the right path and not just like making garbage. But yeah, I mean they're so sweet. All of them are so sweet. I've been trying to do more stuff that could do more for the people that have been there from the beginning. We'll see in the future, but for this album, I'm trying to do something cool with the merchandise so I could give back and reward people for being a fan in my beginnings with something exclusive. I've been ideating on what I should do although I'm not too sure yet.
