Elephant Heart is the creation of married couple, Jason and Victoria Evigan. The two express their music and its message through various collaborations.
Interview conducted on Nov. 09, 2020
By Dan Locke
At its core, Elephant Heart’s desire is to drive social change and positivity in the world, leveraging the power of their creative outputs to spread a message of empowerment through love and social impact projects. The two also founded Picture This, a non-profit created to cultivate unique friendships between children in America with those across the globe through hand-written letters and artistic expression
What is your upbringing?
Jason; I was born in the San Fran Valley in Woodland Hills/Tarzana. I have two sisters. My mom was a dancer, and my Dad was an Actor (still together), but his first passion was music. He had a little studio, and he was always writing songs around the house and recording them. So, I would always love to just hang and watch them make music. My family moved to Toronto Canada when I was in 6th grade. That year changed my life in a huge way. I started my first band and got seriously about music at that time.
Victoria: I grew up in the San Fernando Valley. My mother was a stay at home mom who babysit other children and my dad was (and still is) A USPS mailman. He walks around 9 miles a day! I have a sister, 9 yrs. older and a brother 4 years younger. We lived in Arleta until I was 9 and then we moved to North Hills. I’m thankful to have grown up in both areas because it was a melting pot of Ethnicities. I learned at a young age to make friends with other kids who didn’t speak English and I thought it was super cool. My parents were good at that, being super friendly with everyone whether it was the local Thai restaurant or our diverse neighbors.
How did you discover music?
Jason: The first time I paid attention to music was when I first heard Michael Jackson. I’d watch Thriller over and over again. IN the fourth grade I got heavy into West Coast gangster rap. Then that turned into Heavy Metal and Rock. Then I went back deep into Underground HipHop. I discovered all my music through MTV and a Tv Channel called “The Box” you would call in and request a song and then wait hours for them to play it.
Victoria: I grew up with my dad always playing the oldies station. He sang in the Choir at Church and loves to harmonize… so do I. My mom would just blast all types of music and make up workouts around the house. So, def a family that loved music, but I really went off and got big into a broader spectrum of music in Middle school. I’ll never forget someone at school giving me the Smashing Pumpkins album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness and it is rocking my world. Then I had my Korean friend showing me the K pop group H.O.T. I have always loved so many styles. I made a fake radio station with my best friend Bridget called V/B Rock. We would play everything from Aaliyah / Missy Elliot to MXPX/System of a Down
How did you start to write music?
Victoria: Jason has made music since he was 11. I was a deep music lover. Music was a huge part of our relationship. But It was never even a thought that crossed my mind to pursue it professionally. On the night of our 5-year wedding anniversary Jason was on the piano in the house & we were making up melodies just for fun. Like we did, and Jason turned to me and said. “Vic, we just built an epic studio in our guesthouse let’s go in there and see what comes out if we really tried to make a song together” We had a blast, and started to create our song Tonight’s the Night. We even posted some clips of the process on IG for fun and we were surprised by the reaction of some of Jason’s professional music peers to the song. So, after the encouragement of quite a few friends and industry peeps we decided to dive in.
Jason: When I was heavy into Gangster rap my Dad came into my room one day and said, “You need to learn an Instrument”. “Let’s go get a guitar and I’ll get you lessons” I really didn’t like this. I didn’t think there was any guitar in Rap music. I was very wrong. all the early Dre albums had tons of guitar. So, we went to Guitar Center and when I walked in my mind was blown. I became a full metal head and played guitar every day. In 5th grade there was a talent show at my school so I asked my dad if we could write a song for it. We did. It was called “Take the long way home”. My guitar teacher, my cousin Dave, my bud Josh, and my dad all formed a little band for the show. From that point on I’ve been writing songs.
Do you remember how you got your first guitar?
Victoria: In high school, I found out my dad had a vintage Gibson electric guitar with a big 60’s flower sticker on the case that he never used. I asked him if I could have it. I only wish I took the time to really learn how to play. By that time, I was already really focusing on my passion for hairstyling, sports, and obsessed with my current boyfriend.
And do you still have it? I still have my first guitar. It is an Ibanez electric. I took it apart for a science project and it’s never been able to play since. But I still have it.
Victoria: Of course
Jason- How was it to work with Madonna and Ellie Goulding?
Madonna is a legend of course. But behind the curtains, she’s just a kid who loves music. It was really fun. She knows who she is and what she wants. Ellie is rad. She’s not only an incredible singer and writer…She’s also a Boxer. I like to box too so we got to talk about that. I’ve always been a huge fan of your voice. So, it was a pleasure.
How do you stay healthy while touring?
Victoria: Wish I could say we have toured! We have played one-off festival here and there. Recently we have made huge health changes while I’m pregnant. We have been eating Vegan, with the rule of nothing processed, no oil or refined sugars. We have been feeling great! I think the way we would keep things going is to make sure to always have fresh fruits and veggies to whip up yummy things. But the dream would be to take our friend Nicki Minerivni with us because her culinary skills are next level and she has been making this, everything made from scratch, journey possible.
How did you two meets?
Victoria: We met at On the Rocks, the old dive bar above the ROXY on the sunset strip. We both walked up to a mutual friend at the same time and he introduced us. Let’s just say Jason waited outside to catch me leaving to snag my number.
Why did you decide to work together?
Victoria: As I mentioned before, it was organic, just for shits and giggles and not with the intention of starting something. It wasn’t until we finally gave in to the persuasion of our friends that we’re saying we were making something really life-giving and fresh did we begin to see the bigger picture. Jason had vowed to never for with a girl he was with again and I did not think I had the confidence to actually sing in front of people and have never been fond of the idea of pursuing something that had the potential to make you famous.
How is working together different from working with other people?
Jason: Victoria does not have boundaries in making music, she was never taught the “rules of songwriting” So for me it’s really refreshing to be able to express myself with no borders. We also pray before we make music which brings a very special vibe into the studio. I’ve done this before with other writers, but only a few. When we do it always sets the intention and makes for a better life filled song.
Victoria: Well I have worked with a few people only. But what I can say is so special about working with Jason is our telepathic connection. We have been together for so long and have spent so many years working on our communication. Since Jason gets my wacky brain, I can spit out an Idea that might be hard to fully grasp but he knows me so well he instantly knows what I’m talking about. I also feel (and have heard from other artists) that Jason knows how to bring the best out of people. He knows how to let people feel free to express their authentic self and knows how to empower us.
How the band did get its name?
Victoria: On our honeymoon in Thailand I’ll never forget Jason telling me about an actual elephant heart he saw at a museum. The heart was next to its Brian and he said it was a great metaphor for how the world would look different if people could lead more with their hearts than with their brains. Then he said he wanted it to be the name of his side project he would do with friends. Well, he never ended up doing that side project. Flash forward 7 years, we were showing our three songs to Toffer Brown and he looked at us and said “what the band name guys” Jason looked at me with a face like he had seen an angel and said “ OMG, this is Elephant heart” It’s like the name was waiting there all along for us to realize that together we were elephant heart. I then had friends prophetically share deeper into the meaning behind elephants. One fact is how the elephant packs are always led by a wise matriarch and hold deep family bonds. It was all very surreal, and we knew it was meant to be.
Victoria- How did you learn to sing?
Victoria: I never really “learned” to sing. I would sing along to music all the time & one year had a choir elective in high school. It wasn’t until we were about to play a show that I asked my friend Rachel Patten who has an impeccable range for a vocal coach to warm up and expand my voice. She referred me to Brek Allan. He’s epic. I always warm up with him before shows. But that’s about it! I should definitely do more practicing!
Jason: I’ve always just sang
Tell me about your first break out singles “HIYA” and “Warfare” that you had back in June of 2018?
I mean, HIYA is a powerful song. I love singing it. Jason and I have been through a lot of ups and downs in our 15 years together! HIYA was a reminder that when we stay connected to our north star keeping God in the center of our relationship, we can survive any storm. That has rung true through some super stormy weather. RIP Etta James. And Warfare was the second song we ever created. I literally needed an anthem to sing to silence the voices in my head that were trying to keep me from sharing my voice and story with the world. I had also had a friend commit suicide right before and was so upset that the darkness had tricked her into thinking she had nothing worth sticking around for. As someone who has battled depression, addictions, and rage in my past I knew these voices all too well. I wanted a song I could sing along with to remind me of the freedom I now possess.
How did you find out that Apple was using your music for their commercial?
Jason happened to show Arion and Dave Swartz from Apple EH after a meeting he had pitching other songs. Since then they have been believers in our music and have presented our music to Apple. But to have them actually take something was a surreal moment. I think we just got an email from our managers saying Apple was thinking about it, but we couldn’t say anything. It was exciting. But to see the song actually used in an Apples commercial was next level.
Tell making of your debut Album?
Jason: It was super fun. It probably took about 2 years to make the album. At the time we were having lots of parties over here, so it was really cool to be able to play songs for a room full of people and get a reaction. There was no A&R telling us what we should do or how we should make it. It was just us fully being us.
Do you think your song “Africa” is starting to show how crazed the world is becoming?
I’m not sure exactly what you mean by that. But Africa is def about life circumstances and darkness potentially robbing you of your peace, purpose, and light if you let those things get to you. It is an anthem for all of us but especially the youth to not care what the outside sources say about them, but to care about staying on the divine path.
What is your favorite track on the album and why?
Victoria: for me it’s The Thunder because it hits so hard. Some of my favorite music is telling the devil to F off. I used to love such angry music growing up but now it’s so hard for me to listen to some of the things I used to because of the words. That music kept me mad at people or the situation but never took me HIYA, ya know? hehe. I like to have a spiritual outlook on things that take me above the situation, or the person that I’m having an issue with. I try and battle those things in the spirit and have nothing but love, compassion and grace for people and circumstances.
Jason: I like When you Say go and follow probably the most right now. It always changes though.
Why did you picked a Fund with helps Filipino families to help?
Vic- that’s such a funny question because I can tell you we did not pick it. That is what I call a Divine appointment. We had been traveling to Southeast Asia for So many years. The place that we were getting the most “in” with. By “in” I mean, learning the language, culture, and navigation of Thailand. Sometimes I’m think “God, why didn’t you pick Thailand? I can communicate so much better there.” lol
But long story short, on our first trip to the Philippines, the Typhoon Yolanda hit just 2 months before our visit. We felt compelled to not just take a vacation and pick a spot that was not affected. We knew we had to change the purpose of this trip. We had an amazing contact named Benjo Ramos (Filipino Rambo). He took us to La Jala to love on the kids there who were affected but were not getting much attention because they were not in the epicenter. It was just supposed to be a one-off service trip. But after spending an entire day with the community I just fell in love with them. When we left to get on the boat that night, we were all surrounded by sniffling kids and we were crying too, and we ended up telling them that we would come back one day. I didn’t have the whole plan for my nonprofit yet by any means. I simply knew I wanted to be in these kids’ lives forever. It has unfolded into something more beautiful and powerful then I could have ever imagined.
What are you are feeling about streaming music?
Jason: I think it’s great that people are consuming more music than ever. I do feel like the market is over saturated and I feel like the old days of a big moment releasing an album is gone. Now it’s just about content. But good music will always be good music. I don’t think writers are paid fairly obviously but I have hope somewhere in the future that will change.
Digital vs. vinyl?
Jason Vinyl
Victoria: UGGG I will always love Vinyl, we invested in a nice record player a few years back and I have collected records since moving into my first apartment. Nothing beats the feeling of putting on a record. It slows down time and makes me feel a lot of peace. Most of the records I collect are vintage.
Any plans to tour?
Yes totally, once we pop this little baby out and feel ready, we totally want to family caravan together and tour. That sounds epic.
What song from the past is in your mind right now? And what is the meaning that song means to you?
Jason: Heal the world
Do you think before COVID-19 how much plastic is put into the ocean? How has recycling changed? (Using plastic to build a windmill)
Victoria – I feel COVID-19 has made plastic worse!! All of the disposable masks, more people ordering everything online and take out. UGGGG its gross how much plastic trash all those things create. But building a windmill out of plastic is dope, I did not know about that.
How do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
Jason: I think people have realized the power of zoom and how much can actually get done without having to drive 45 minutes to a meeting. I also feel like it slowed everything down a little so people are spending more time creating and listening.
Vic-I’m saddened to think that much of society will never fully be comfortable being in crowds again. The joy of standing, dancing, or moshing in a group of people is an epic feeling. I mean I would not mind a little more dancing room, but it’s not because I’m afraid of human contact. I think the hug, to have that moment, heart to heart with a person is soooooooo powerful. I mean I know it is. There have been studies about it. We are made for human connection, interaction, and affection. I just hope people will not live in fear forever.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
Vic- Oh you know just growing a baby inside my body!!! Also, taking care of our mini-farm of animals and doing a much-needed purge of things around our home to make way for the baby boy. I wish I could say I’ve been diving into a ton of music, but it’s been more here or there. I really think this baby could not come at a better time when I needed to handle some real-life stuff. Ohhh were also adding on to our music studios so we are deep in design and construction. Very excited to make a new album though.
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
Vic- ive dived deeper with gardening with a small group of my friends that care deeply about sustainable living. Were no pros, and have much to learn, but we are on our way to our dream of balance with the earth and nature.
Lots of people are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Are you planning to do something like that?
Vic- we would have liked to. I was so nauseous for the first two months and then with all this pregnancy prep my priorities have temporarily shifted.
Do you think it will be possible to make a living doing concerts this way?
Jason: NO, I don’t believe touring acts can sustain this way. But humans are resilient and the desire to survive is strong.
Vic- I’m sure, why not. But nothing will beat a live concert in the flesh. There is no toping that experience.
First it was an article in the New York Times, then Rolling Stones talked about it and finally Live Nation CEO said that concerts may not start again until fall of 2021. Do you think this could happen?
Vic- I really think that’s true.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
Vic- we were actually just talking about that with our friend Sam Salsburry. He has the most epic holographic camera equipment and has some really dope things in the pipeline. I can’t say too much.
How do you see yourself in the next five years?
Vic- Raising a rad little boy, spending more time with friends and family and touring, and playing epic shows and making dope art in between.
Jason: Second what Vic said. Also getting Chumba Music a household name. We are signing writers and producers and also on the lookout for inspiring artists.
Anything you would like to say in closing?
Vic- Learn to love people who think differently than you. Everyone has a past and reason for “the way they are”. Let people in and give them room to grow and change. It’s the only way to come together in peace and have some sort of understanding. I recently watched a clip of an interview from Sarah Silverman that touched on this so perfectly. Look up
Jason- Hope and love is alive
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