On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I sit down with Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter, guitarist, and music director Evan Zee for a conversation that begins with musical connection and quickly opens into something deeper. I first found Evan while researching for another interview, tracing a path from Larry Goldings to Lila Forde and then to Evan. That kind of chain reaction is one of my favorite things about this show, and in this case it led to a conversation about listening, community, faith, family, and the way music can widen a person’s heart.
We begin by talking about Evan’s musical relationship with singer Lila Forde and how their collaboration grew out of church work, friendship, and time spent simply playing together. Evan reflects on the importance of “big ears” as a musician, the kind of listening that goes beyond technique and becomes a way of serving the song, the people around you, and the moment itself. What follows is one of my favorite kinds of conversations: one that starts with music but naturally opens into larger questions about how to live.
From there, Evan speaks with real honesty about marriage, fatherhood, and how family life changed his voice, his art, and his sense of purpose. He describes becoming a parent before he felt ready, and how that experience forced him to confront fear, insecurity, and the need for growth in a way that ultimately deepened his artistic expression. It is a thoughtful and moving part of the conversation, and one that gets at something I care deeply about on this podcast: how life itself shapes the music.
We also spend time talking about Evan’s long history playing in church, from starting as a teenager to later studying at USC, moving to Los Angeles, and navigating his own spiritual unraveling and reconstruction. Today, as music director at a Presbyterian church in Santa Monica, he has built a creative community around intention, trust, and “the hang.” He shares how that environment led to a new record featuring close collaborators including Lila Forde, Misha, Carl McComas-Reichl, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Tom Frazier, and Darla, and why he wanted the session to feel playful, immediate, and alive.
We close by talking about a powerful live performance in the wake of the Eaton fire, which displaced Evan and his family from their Altadena home, as well as his deep love for Joni Mitchell and the spiritual force he hears in her writing. This episode is about much more than career milestones. It is about listening as a musical value, as a human value, and as a way of moving through the world with greater presence.
Key Takeaways
- Evan Zee talks about why “big ears” may be one of the most important qualities a musician can have, both on and off the bandstand.
- He shares how his collaboration with Lila Forde grew out of church work, friendship, and hours of unpaid playing simply for the sake of getting better together.
- Evan reflects candidly on how marriage and fatherhood reshaped his artistry, deepened his voice, and changed the way he experiences music.
- He discusses his journey through faith, deconstruction, and a more expansive understanding of music as a spiritual practice.
- As a music director in Santa Monica, Evan has created a scene built around trust, intention, generosity, and what musicians call “the hang.”
- He gives insight into a new record built with a close-knit cast of players including Lila Forde, Carl McComas-Reichl, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Tom Frazier, Misha, and Darla.
- We also talk about Joni Mitchell, Pat Metheny, live performance after loss, and the role music can play in grief, healing, and community.
Music from the Episode
- Warm and Right - Evan Zee (Live in LA)
- Never Leave a Moment - Evan Zee
- Long Lost Lover - Evan Zee (Live in LA)
- Love - Evan Zee (Live in LA)
About the Podcast
The Bandwich Tapes is a podcast where I sit down with musicians, songwriters, producers, and creative people for thoughtful conversations about craft, career, collaboration, and the experiences that shape a life in music. It is a show about process, humanity, and the stories behind the work.
Connect with the Show
contact@thebandwichtapes.com
