We had a chat with rousing artist Eva Westphal following the release of ‘Adult’, the latest affirming and inspirational new release from the artist
Thanks to the relatable and endearing nature of her engrossing pop sound, Eva Westphal has grown into something of a phenomenon, writing songs that resonate deeply with listeners that can resonate with themes of mental health, sexuality, and just being resilient and authentic to yourself regardless of what that means. Eva’s alluring style and the vulnerability in the way that she wears her heart on her sleeve makes it hard not to root for the artist, with each new release unfolding another facet to her story.
The latest of these is her latest single ‘Adult’, a track that pretty much embodies everything that we have already mentioned about the artist. The track allows the artist to speak to her younger self and pretty much reassure her that 23-year-old Eva is doing great, with the stirring, cathartic style making for an emotional and rousing listening experience throughout. This track embodies everything that makes Eva Westphal’s sound resonate with so many on such a deep level, with its therapeutic and warm style not only serving to reassure her past self, but listeners who are doubting themselves and struggling who need that kind of guidance themselves. A track with such an uplifting and inspirational message can only be a positive thing, and when coupled with the endearing and thoughtful nature of the artist’s sound it makes for truly compelling listening. We love this new release and had a chat with Eva about it and what kind of things have inspired and informed such a unique and powerful sound and songwriting style.
Who TF is Eva Westphal?
Eva Westphal is me! I’m a 23 year old singer-songwriter living in New York City, and I write songs about mental health and being gay, among other topics. A lot of my songs have an undercurrent of gratitude for life, so they typically connect with fellow deep feelers and optimists. I’ve been writing since I was 13 and I’ve had the opportunity to connect with a wide audience, both here in New York and across the country and world!
How long have you been making music?
I started playing violin when I was 6, since I’m from a pretty musical family. I have four brothers and all of us play an instrument! I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember, too, and I started playing guitar and writing songs when I was 13. Ever since that day when I got my first guitar, I haven’t stopped writing!
Why do you make music?
I make music because of my younger self. I am so proud to be a recovered, healthy adult who thinks of her inner child often and makes a lot of decisions with that version of myself in mind. That includes writing songs that speak directly to her, whether they’re about coming out of the closet, or eating three meals a day, or quitting drinking. A lot of times, I make the active choice to write about all the gifts I have in my life now, just so I can imagine I’m singing to my younger self. It’s a really healing experience!
What are your biggest influences?
I love any female singer-songwriter who writes about the feminine experience, and especially lesbians and queer women who write about love. I just find the female point of view so inspiring — I wish everything was centered around the female gaze, haha!
What would you say has been your best moment so far?
In my career, I had a big “I made it” moment when I saw myself on different Converse storefronts for their 2023 pride campaign. It was surreal to see my face on a window in Soho — it was so much bigger than I expected! I also love anytime someone messages me about my songs impacting their life in any way. It’s so humbling and helps me keep going.
How would you describe your sound to somebody unfamiliar with it?
Think gay “Folklore” by Taylor Swift.
What’s your dream “I’ve made it” moment?
I would love to be on a billboard in Times square someday. Another dream is to play Radio City!
We love your new single ‘Adult’, what more can you tell us about it?
“Adult” is based upon a therapeutic exercise where I think about what I would do if I could spend just one day with my younger self. The verses describe the details of that day — like making her breakfast, walking with her to the bus, driving her to a party, and putting her to sleep — while the chorus is basically made of affirmations, like “I will shout your story ’cause you kept it quiet”. The whole song’s message is outlined in the last sentence of the chorus, where I sing “when you need somebody older to tell you ‘it’s not your fault’, I’ll be that adult”. Basically, I’m promising to be the adult I needed when I was 16.
What else do you have planned for the near future?
Without revealing too much, there are definitely more songs on the horizon, specifically ones surrounding the theme of inner child work!
And finally, who is your biggest fan right now?
A sweet human named Emma who made a meme account for me called “@evasgaymemes” on Instagram. The posts crack me up!
