You may recognize Evvol as members of the former gothic-electronic trio Kool Thing. The Berlin-based group consists of Jon Dark, Julie Chance and Valentin Plessy. As the newly named Evvol, the threesome pushes forward in a new mystifying and magical chapter of music making. Having taken time out to develop solo projects, the three now reconvene more creatively advanced than ever, in both eclectic and mesmerizing cinematic sound.

We chat to Jon Dark in the run up to the release of their debut record ‘Eternlism’ and their London release show.

So Evvol evolve from former band Kool Thing, what made the group want re-construct under a new name and create a new musical chapter as Evvol?

We took a break after touring a lot with Kool Thing. It kind of ended up being about a year, and then we started to write again. And, just everything was different, what we were writing was different, the kind of sounds were different, and it just didn’t feel like the old music anymore. We just decided to start afresh.

Each band member was busy with their own solo project in-between Kool Thing and Evvol, what did you each get up to in that solo year?

I did a solo project called ATMA. All of our solo projects are available through our own label Mad Dog & Love.

My solo project ATMA was of grungy-dream pop. It was really, really simple and guitar based. After doing Kool Thing, which was very heavy in production, it was a contrasting simple idea.

Julie did a project called Under Tears which was electronic, definitely darker and moody work which had an amazing music video and our drummer, he’s always had a solo project which is called aMinus. That’s French enthused-pop. So that’s what we were up to, yeah.

Going back in time a little bit how did you three come together coming from Ireland, Australia and France?

Yeah we’re from all corners of the globe! I was living in Paris back in 2010, Julie was DJing in Paris for the weekend and we just met at a bar. We just started talking about music and everything. I don’t know exactly how it happened but we decided we would try and do music with me in Paris and her in Berlin.

After a while it was like ‘This is not gonna work…’ and Julie was like, ‘Why are you living in Paris? Like come to Berlin!?’ So I moved.

And then Valentin was also living in Berlin and when I first got here I was working in a bar and he was working there as well. So we just started talking and then I was like ‘I need a drummer!’ And he was like ‘I do drums!’

How do you feel the band has developed since Kool Thing? Evvol seems to be an even more advanced cinematic and textured sound.

We have been playing around and meeting lots of other musicians and that whole experience has really effected us and helped us to mature as performers obviously in a big way but also as writers I guess, as creative sound artists, or whatever you want to call it.

We had a fairly strict guideline with Kool Thing about what we wanted and what we were, and what sonically we were going to do. And then with this, when we went into the studio we were like ‘Lets just… who cares?! Lets just see what happens!’ and then I think because of that its allowed it to be bigger.

Do you think in going away and doing your own solo projects and then coming back together it’s kind of influenced the creative process a little bit?

Yeah, totally, totally. And I think we’re all more secure in our own creative identities I guess, so when we come together, we come together with stronger ideas. So absolutely, that has affected everything in a great way.

How much is Evvol influenced by residing in Berlin? It seems we can hear Berlin’s sweeping DJ and techno scene in your layers of sound.

Yeah, absolutely. On a practical level, Julie and I DJ a lot in Berlin. So obviously playing house and techno all the time its going to get into your brain! And we love it, we got out dancing at Berghain and stuff. But I also think that just in general, the kind of vibe of Berlin, I mean the architecture… and I it just has a very night-lifey kind of culture. Everything about Berlin, does get under your skin if you stay here for long enough, so, it is absolutely influenced by Berlin.

How did Evvol’s signing with !K7 records come around, that was quite recent wasn’t it?

It just kind of happened actually, we were set that we would go ahead with our plan but they just contacted our manager basically. They just offered it to us so, which is amazing.

Are you looking forward to the release of Eternalism? What can we expect from Evvol’s debut record?

Yeah well we’re very excited about it. It’s been ready since like the end of October I think last year. When the reality of putting it out there comes, you’ve got to wait for everything else.

When we used to put records out ourselves we kind of just threw them out there. Probably not always the wisest thing!

Anyway, we’re really excited about it. I think one thing to certainly expect from it is musically is a new scape and for it to be cinematic. We always kind of play with different things, so there’s kind of dancey songs and more kind of mellow songs. So I think that the tracks that are in line at the moment give a good idea of the range.

Evvol have been described as ‘nocturnal synth-pop’ and ‘dark-wave’ But how would the band themselves describe their sound?

I mean it’s always such a difficult question but it’s an important one as well. The answer we give when someone asks us that is, dark-electronic-pop. That’s kind of the simple, you know, three words answer. But it is difficult, I personally think that, whatever people decide to describe it as, I’m happy with that.

Have Evvol been flattered by the responses to their new music, from the likes of The Guardian to I-D Magazine?

Yeah, I mean The Guardian review was like woah! We were just… I mean that was our first bit of press and we had just started promoting the album. But it was cool; they totally, really got the music so that was amazing. And ID mag is like the best mag as well, so. That was like, yeah, it’s been great!

Are you looking forward to your forthcoming London release show, what can we expect from the set?

We can’t wait for that it’s going to be amazing. I think the set that we’re going to do… most likely we’ll do the whole album. We’re just been deciding exactly how we’re going to put it together.

But we’ve been working really hard on that. I mean it’s very hard with electronic music to get it all live and happening in the moment. It can be really difficult, so that’s our aim; to have it in the moment and as it’s happening as possible.

We’ve just got some new toys as well, some new vocal processing and stuff like that. So we’ve been playing around with that. So it’s really exciting, it really should be a good show.

Evvol’s debut album Eternalism sees release on !K7 Records July 24^th

The band play a London release show this Wednesday June 17^th at The Waiting Room

Emily Schofield

@EmSchofield94