Evelyn Gray builds a house of sound and storytelling from the rubble of her experiences.

Evelyn Gray has always had a knack for turning small details into entire worlds, and her new solo project I Am Building A House might be her most vivid one yet. Inspired by the imagined lives of residents inside an abandoned apartment block, it’s a story-driven release full of red bricks, fig leaves, fractured communication, and DIY ambition, brought to life with miniature sets, illustrations, and a growing cast of collaborators. We caught up with the London-based artist (and Tapir! member) to talk about her debut single ‘Clotheslines’.

For those unfamiliar with your music, can you tell us who you are, where you’re from and about the music you make?

My name is Evelyn Gray from london but originally plymouth/various other places.

What inspired you to explore the lives of the inhabitants in the abandoned apartment block for your new project, I Am Building A House?

It’s a project I've been thinking about for years and started writing for soon after the first Tapir! Album. It really started coming together around the time I started my transition and during a long period of trying to find a place to live. 3. 4. Can you share more about the creative process behind your debut single ‘Clotheslines’ and how it reflects the themes of the project? The song came from a place of frustration and confusion - the fictionalised character of the inventor represents a struggle with navigating communication and systems in place. Because some of the songs were written a long time ago the project feels like a retrospect of sorts. This is just one of the many themes of the story and comes from a much earlier part of an ongoing journey - i’m looking forward to working on the more “joyful” aspects of the project!

How did you approach collaborating with Yuri Shibuichi and Hywel Pryer again, and what unique elements did they bring to your new sound?

It’s always a joy working with them. For this song I really wanted to integrate an electronic element using acoustic samples to help build the world. Yuri performed a live percussive take using the knobs and pedals of an organ in his studio.

What visuals or imagery do you envision accompanying your music, particularly for the ‘I Am Building A House’ project?

Red bricks and fig leaves! I’ve been writing a novel of sorts to accompany the songs with illustrations of each room. I’m working with my friend Charlie to create a miniature building - we’re hoping to create little moving vignettes for each room/character.

Considering your background with Tapir! How does your solo work differ in terms of artistic expression and personal storytelling?

More of the same but different? The project with Tapir! took a whole world of people to create and is special and unique because of the artists I was fortunate enough to work with. That album felt like blissful escapism where this one, whilst still somewhat fictional and narrative, the base feels more grounded in realism. A lot of the songs from the first album came from a place of confusion where now I find I'm writing from a more assured and settled place of clarity.

How do you feel your experiences from documenting the abandoned apartment block have influenced your songwriting and lyrical content?

I enjoy writing in a fictional sense and find that having a concept/narrative to explore helps make the writing process more fun and introspective, especially if you’re writing from a more personal place. There’s a song in the project that came from putting myself in the shoes of a much older woman whose dog passes away. If you’re able to tap into your imagination, creative writing can be a lot of fun and can also be a good vehicle for wider outlooks on life.

What role does community play in your music and artistic journey?

I couldn’t do anything without it! I’m hoping that this song and our upcoming show will act as a springboard of sorts to enable more collaboration on the project. I will be making hand stamped brick postcards that people can purchase to be a part of ‘building’ this house if you will. Because it’s entirely self funded and DIY It means recording and releasing songs as we are able to make them. I believe artists should be paid for their work so I only want to carry on building if it’s feasible - the silver lining is having full control over the finances and it means the doors are open to more collaboration as the project grows. I also work at The George Tavern which has always been a community hub for me. I really believe that places like these can be transformed into spaces that not only showcase talent and cater for bigger institutions but can nurture and enable artists to create.

Are there any particular challenges you've faced while creating this new music, and how have they shaped your approach?

Like most artists the thing that gets in the way is lack of funding but I get a kick out of trying to make things work with what you have; some of the most creative ideas come from a place of having to cut corners. Call me proud but I also find it extra rewarding when people have to come together to make something happen!

What can fans expect from your live performances, especially as you debut your solo work at upcoming shows?

It’s a growing thing, I've never been too much of a fan of being a person with a guitar in front of a crowd playing sad songs which is why I love integrating dance and performers that can do things I’m unable to do - I feel as though some of the more comedic and joyful aspects of songs I write can be lost without it! I’ve currently been performing and recording with Suzie and Sophia who are amazing musicians and bring so much to the songs but I'm hoping to integrate more theatrics to the live show as it grows and if we’re able to find the budget.

What do you love right now?

The last of us part 2.

What do you hate right now?