[INTERVIEW] EVAN GIIA Shares Her Experience at Okeechobee Festival 2023 & Insight on Her New Collaborative Single "BACK ONLINE"

Rising from the music hub of NYC, Brooklyn-native EVAN GIIA is truly a one-of-a-kind artist. When first starting her professional career, GIIA was a classically trained opera singer. Fusing this with her passion for electronic and pop music, this talented performer has helped usher in a new era of sound. In 2018, GIIA dropped her breakout anthem "WESTWORLD" joined by an infectious self-directed music video. This hit was released on ODESZA's celebrated imprint, Foreign Family Collective, and has accumulated over 20 million streams on Spotify alone.

GIIA has been running hot ever since "WESTWORLD", with memorable performances at Bonnaroo, CRSSED, Hulaween, and Coachella, to name a few. On top of sharing the stage with Louis The Child, Jai Wolf, Big Wild, and more, GIIA has teamed up with groundbreaking duo MEMBA on a number of tracks. Following up their 2022 collab "MOMENTUM", GIIA and MEMBA have dropped their new mesmerizing single, "BACK ONLINE", featuring pluko and Biicla. We got the chance to talk with EVAN GIIA on the release, her experience at Okeechobee 2023, and more!

Check out iEDM's exclusive interview with EVAN GIIA below.

iEDM: This weekend you performed an incredible set at the Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival in Okeechobee, Florida. What were some of your favorite moments from the performance and how was the experience for you as an artist?

EVAN GIIA: I had a blast at Okee. Honestly was awestruck at how my people were there for my set. The crowd was locked in from the start to the end. I loved their energy!

iEDM: Okeechobee is an amazing festival that brings people together. Did you meet any other artists there for the first time that you had a good connection with?

EVAN GIIA: I was lucky enough to play on the Foreign Family stage which is a group of my friends! It was fun to crossover with artists I haven’t seen in so long, as well as catch up with ODESZA.

iEDM: Your latest single “BACK ONLINE” is a collaboration with MEMBA, pluko, and Biicla. What led to all of you teaming up for the track and how does it embody each of your project’s identities?

EVAN GIIA: The boys all had a session together and as soon as I heard the record, I knew I had to be on the track. It’s a mix of MEMBA’s eclectic taste, pluko’s sound design, Biiclas incredible talent of finding samples and my vox. I love the song.

iEDM: From your perspective, what message does the song deliver?

EVAN GIIA: When I wrote the lyrics I was thinking of a rebirth. “Back Online” means getting back to what’s important to you and resetting after tough times.

iEDM: Let’s talk about last year’s single, “MOMENTUM.” What parts of creating the record challenged you to be creative and think outside the box?

EVAN GIIA: This song really fits in my brand. I used to be a fitness instructor so I wanted to make something with a message that helped you keep pushing. I loved message and production on that one.

iEDM: You always have incredibly creative artwork for your singles. What’s the process behind shooting these covers and choosing the final image?

EVAN GIIA: I am so proud and excited to have a creative team of my own. I always start with a mood board of all things I’ve seen lately that I love. We then narrow down my idea and create the set, followed by a shoot in LA and then we edit from afar. I absolutely love creating the visuals for my work. 

iEDM: Who are some artists you’d like to collaborate with this year and why?

EVAN GIIA: I would love to do a song with ODESZA, which feels like a long time coming, and would love to work with power houses like Tkay Maizda, Princess Nokia… and make a banger with Fred Again!

iEDM: And lastly, what are a couple of your music goals for the rest of the year?

EVAN GIIA: I am so excited for this year. I am going to focus on releasing more music than I ever have before – currently working on my album!

Photos courtesy of EVAN GIIA

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