Holly Stephey And TJ Evans Rock n Roll!

You may not yet know her name, but TJ Evans is no stranger to music. Her musical heritage includes great uncle Peter Bocage, one of the great trumpeters of New Orleans history,  and piano giant Eddie Bo. TJ’s grandmother was an opening act for Ray Charles, and her mother spent years touring as a vocalist with George Clinton’s Brides of Funkenstein.

With the release of her latest singles on May 31, Evans continues in that long family tradition. Recording “Paradiso” with her uncle Cordell “Boogie” Mosson of Parliament Funkadelic, TJ showcases her unique, soulful sound. She also recruited legendary MC Grandmaster Jay to collaborate for “Shakey Ground.” These two tracks hint at great things to come from an artist coming into her own.

TJ Evans began playing music at the age of 14, influenced by not only by the soulful R&B of artists like Luther Vandross and Patti LaBelle but also the crunching rock of Pantera and Metallica. Before embarking on her own music career, the Indianapolis-based guitarist spent time as a freelance music journalist, traveling the Midwest to interview and photograph such artists as George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, Amuse, Remember Paris, and Every Avenue.

With a passion for rock and roll, R&B, funk, and blues, TJ has fused together her own kind of soulful rock. A tall, lanky figure with visible tattoos, the audience hardly knows what to expect when she grabs her guitar and gets on stage. Her gritty vocals, raw guitar and deep grooves quickly dispel any thoughts that her sound is anything but her own.

Off stage, TJ Evans can appear to some as quietly reserved, despite her travels, her passion and her sincere belief in what matters to her most. But there’s a good reason for that silence - her music has already said it all.