Meet Evan Ogden | Country Music Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Evan Ogden and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Evan, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I am originally from a small town just southwest of Oklahoma City. However I moved to Round Rock, Texas when I was twelve years old. I didn’t really know how to process that at the time so I spent a long while not thinking about my upbringing and I lost a lot of connections with Oklahoma and the friends and place that were vital to my young life. Being from out of state in a new school isn’t the easiest thing in the world to do either and I spent a lot of years feeling this dichotomy of being from two places and feeling like I didn’t really fit in anywhere in particular. I think that tension and dichotomy can be felt in my music, especially on my ‘Undone’ record. I think that feeling of unsettled sense of place manifests itself in a restlessness a lot of times. There is a desire and need to feel on the move that I also think is reflected in my music.

On the flip side of that, one constant in my life growing up was my grandparents and their farm in eastern Missouri. I credit my love of country music to my grandpa who introduced me to the country greats like Roy Acuff, Hank Williams and the Grand Ole Opry. So when I think about my love for music and who I am as a country artist, I always think of that place. Listening to those old records always is a home for me in a sense.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My music career has been a struggle but a joy. I started playing guitar in high school. by my junior year of college I got the nerve to write a song. After that first one, I was hooked. I continued to write and immediately wanted to record. By 2016 I had recorded my first record and had started playing out whenever I could.

After I moved back to Austin I continued playing any show I could get, mostly cover gigs. but in 2019 I went and recorded my follow up record, ‘Undone’ with my good friend Nathan Evans Fox in North Carolina. We spent a week recording that record and I am immensely proud of how it turned out.

Life came with many changes toward the end of 2020. I moved to Ft. Worth and in February of 2021 I got married to my wife. About a year later in February 2022 I went to Nashville and recorded my third album, again with Nathan Evans Fox. I am supremely excited about that record with should come out later this year. The music sounds fantastic and I am very proud of the writing on that record. I think it will definitely be a step forward in my music journey and I am excited about that.

Music has definitely not been easy. Its one of the toughest paths you can choose. Dealing with constant rejection and self-doubt can grind you down, but it can be incredibly rewarding. I love to play music and touch the lives of listeners. I hope that’s what my music ultimately does.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Man that is a hard thing to do, everyone’s experience of the city is so different. For me, I would say there are a couple of places to go. My favorites in town are

– Magnolia Motor Lounge – They have been an institution for live music in Ft. Worth and have helped countless artists.
– Fred’s Texas Cafe – Even though they were forced out of their original location, a pilgrimage to Fred’s in a must.
– The Stockyards are a place to see once.
– I like South Main, there are plenty of great restaurants there
– Fly By Night – I live in Burleson, so a trip down to Fly By Night for dinner is fantastic, a laid back place with fantastic food.
– The Post – they have great music and are always friendly
– The West Side – I like the grunginess of the west side, so going over there and checking out the bars and diners is a great thing to do as well.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would dedicate my Shoutout to my wife, Jessica Ogden. She is amazing. She is incredibly tough, talented, sweet, sensitive and funny. She is always an encouragement to me and pushes me outside my comfort zone.

Website: www.evanogdenmusic.com

Instagram: @EvanOgdenMusic

Twitter: @EvanOgdenMusic

Facebook: @EvanOgdenMusic

Youtube: @EvanOgden

Image Credits
Jessica Ogden (The Road Jess Traveled)