Unfiltered is BACK with a brand new episode featuring Vancouver rapper, singer, and visual storyteller, Evil Ebenezer! 🎤🔥 With this video series, we connect with incredible Symphonic artists to dig deeper into their creative process, personal journeys, and everything in between. From childhood acting roles to crafting lo-fi rap short films, Evil drops real gems on resilience, independence, and staying true to your voice. Read some of the full interview below…
Unfiltered: Full Evil Ebenezer Interview
Laura Catana (LC):
“Hey SymFam! Welcome back to another episode of Unfiltered by Symphonic! This is where we go behind the scenes and chop it up with some of your favorite independent artists. I’m your host, Laura Catana, and today we’re talking to none other than Evil Ebenezer, rapper, singer, and storyteller coming out of Vancouver, who’s been killing it recently and just got to a million streams on Spotify, too. Thanks for joining us, Evil!”
Evil Ebenezer (EE):
“Hello!”
(LC):
“Let’s start with this… Has there been a recent moment, maybe in the studio or on tour, where you felt like, ‘Yeah, this is why I do music’?”
(EE):
“You know what, that feeling hadn’t hit me in a while. I’ve been doing this a long time, and sometimes you fall into just going through the motions, still making solid work, but you’re so used to it that the spark isn’t always there. But then, a few months ago, I started this new project with a producer named Two Crates from Victoria. He sent me these insane beats with such amazing samples, it lit something up in me. I was hungry again. In the studio every morning, excited. I started writing in the moment, letting spontaneous things come out. Some lines were so real or hilarious that I was laughing to myself while recording. That energy, that’s what reminded me why I love this.”
(LC):
“Sounds like a creative reset. What did that lead to?”
(EE):
“It led to eight songs in two weeks, which is fast for me. A few are already out. The project’s called ‘I’m Good’, all produced by Two Crates. That whole approach changed how I work.”
(LC):
“When fans listen to ‘I’m Good’, or any of your music, what do you want them to feel?”
(EE):
“More than anything, I want them to know they’re not alone. I’m one of them, a lonely, lost soul just trying to find his way through the night. I want people to know there’s light at the end of the tunnel. That tomorrow’s a new day. That they need to love themselves first.”
“If they can do that, they’re winning.”
(LC):
“That’s a powerful message.”
(EE):
“It’s real. When I’m on tour, people come up in tears telling me my music saved their lives. I took that for granted until I had kids. Having kids shifts your whole world; it’s not about you anymore. So when I hear that kind of feedback now, it hits different. I’ve been doing this for 20 years. To still be here, at peace with it, doing it for the right reasons. That’s a blessing.”
(LC):
“Take me back. Was there a moment when young Evil knew this was what he wanted to do?”
(EE):
“Yeah. Back in high school, before the internet. This was 1994. In Canada, we had MuchMusic, our version of MTV, and it had a show called RapCity that showcased Canadian hip hop. I’d come home from school and watch it religiously. One day, I saw this Vancouver group, The Rascals, perform. They were from East Van, just like me. Dope beats, breakdancers, cool visuals. That moment right there, I knew: I want to do that. I want to be on RapCity like The Rascals. Shout out to DJ Kemo, Red1, and the whole crew; they had a huge impact on me.”
(LC):
“Did you ever get to appear on RapCity?”
(EE):
“Funny enough, I did, technically. In 2012, while I was on tour in Toronto, they filmed a segment on me. But it never aired. [Laughs] Can’t make that up.”
(LC):
“You’ve had a long run. What’s one piece of advice you wish someone had given you when you were coming up?”
(EE):
“I wish there was a Symphonic back then. The game was way different. You young artists today, you’ve got distribution, sure, but that’s just the start. You need thick skin. People won’t believe in your dream, don’t expect them to. No one cares but themselves. And whatever you do, don’t sign with another artist. That was my mistake. Artists won’t let you be bigger than them. Ego’s a wild thing. Stay true to yourself, and don’t rely on others to support you; find that within yourself.”
(LC):
“That’s real. What’s the biggest risk you’ve taken that paid off?”
(EE):
“Betting on myself. Saying no to situations that didn’t feel right. Walking away from people or sounds that didn’t fit me. When you can stand on your own feet and say, “I’m doing this my way,” that’s when you win. You stop trying to please everyone. You focus on the people who actually love and respect you, your family, and your team. That’s it.”
(LC):
“Tell us about ‘I’m Good’, the new project.”
(EE):
“Yeah, it’s a full album with Two Crates. Lo-fi, sample-heavy, underground, takes me back to my hip-hop roots. It’s got edge, pure rap. I’ve been releasing music consistently; these tracks are around two minutes, and that’s strategic. Shorter songs fit more playlists and algorithms. It’s been working. Symphonic has been great for that, getting more eyes on my work. I drop a new song every two weeks, with visuals. My numbers are climbing; I’m at 630K monthly listeners. My goal is a million by Christmas, and 100K YouTube subs (I’m at 30K now). I believe I’ll get there. Young artists… write down your goals, talk to yourself about them, speak them into existence.”
(LC):
“So who’s been on repeat for you lately?”
(EE):
“Larry June. He’s a rapper from San Francisco. My best friend and engineer, NATO, put me on. Larry’s authentic, talks about his kids, grown-man life, but he’s still got bars and raps over dope beats. Lots of Alchemist production, who’s one of my favorite producers. Definitely worth checking out.”
(LC):
“We’ll check him out for sure. Evil Ebenezer, thank you for pulling up to Unfiltered by Symphonic. You dropped so many gems today. We appreciate it!”
(EE):
“Thank you. Appreciate you having me. Much love.”
//
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