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John Evergon Warms Hearts This Winter With His Cover Of “Reflection” – Available On December 14th!
Capturing the magic of the Disney original through his own signature finger-style approach to acoustic, and his innate gift for creating memorably expressively harmonic and heartwarming music designed to tantalize the ears & dazzle the mind – John’s ability to move listeners through his performances is truly second to none. Fans of the original “Reflection” will be in awe of his innovative acoustic adaptation & the pure level of passion that he adds into every single note he plays – and for those discovering this song for the first time, “Reflection” will provide a boldly serene & peaceful introduction to John’s music.
There’s never a better time than the holidays for the magic of melody to warm the hearth of the hearts – join John Evergon this December 14th for the release of his beautiful cover of “Reflection” this winter.
Review by Jeremy Gladstone / SBS / Canada
John Evergon Dazzles & Charms With His Cover Of The Cohen Classic “Hallelujah”
While guided by the solemn aura of the core melody at the heart of the original, John expands his cover of “Hallelujah” in remarkable ways unlike any other existing version to be found. Drawing on inspiration that includes Native American culture and powerful symbols of strength & divinity, Evergon tapped directly into the pure sentiment of Leonard’s timeless tune, and he discovered his own insightful path to approach Cohen’s immaculate material by infusing “Hallelujah” with the true celebratory spirit it’s always deserved.
With superb talent, technique, and style that’s sure to catch the attention of listeners around the globe, John’s enchanting & mesmerizing instrumentation displays passion second to none, and his new version of “Hallelujah” speaks volumes about Evergon’s natural ability to adapt, thrive, and genuinely entertain in the process. Officially released in December 2020 – “Hallelujah” is out & available on all major online platforms now, giving the world a reason to rejoice at the time that it’s most sincerely needed this year.
John Evergon – “Hallelujah” – Single Review
So look…I’ll be honest with ya…over these years of mine, and especially over the past decade with all these talent shows out there on television – I ain’t gonna lie, I’ve seen & heard countless versions of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.” There’s no doubt that when it comes to the world of cover songs out there, that this song in particular, has gotta be up there in the top twenty or thirty tunes that have been attempted by the most artists & bands – and of course, there’s a reason for that – it’s an incredible song that everyone genuinely feels inside their very core. A song SO GOOD in fact, that I’ve rarely heard what I’d consider to be a ‘bad’ version of it…sure there’s some not so great ones out there, but it’s a tough tune to really get wrong…the mere selection of it as a cover reveals a humbleness in every artist & band that gives it a shot, and that’s endearing. That being said…I couldn’t often tell ya the difference between what Andrea Smith brought to “Hallelujah” any more than I could about what Michael Tyger did, or the band known as The Undercover Catepillars with their versions. What I can tell ya is that I made every one of those names up in order to illustrate the point – yes, you can cover “Hallelujah” and yes, you can probably make it sound really, really good – but will any of us remember that you did? In a song covered as expansively as this one, you’re basically volunteering to drown in the sea of sameness.
Unless, that is, your name happens to be John Evergon.
The moment I saw he had covered “Hallelujah” I was immediately interested in what I might find. How could I, or anyone else for that matter, not be? Based on the quality of his past work alone, I’d always be willing to check out what he’s got goin’ on – but the idea of taking such a…well let’s just call it like it really is here – the idea of taking a legendary artist so well-known for his lyricism, and then removing that main aspect of the song in what would undoubtedly be an instrumental version via John Evergon’s fantastic fingers…well now – THAT is interesting to me. Without words, and in his own unique style that has set him so clearly apart from everything else – it’d be next to impossible to have a John Evergon cover of “Hallelujah” come out as anything less than memorable in comparison to all the rest out there.
And yes…while I’m sure a quick Google search would reveal there are likely other instrumental versions of this tune out there somewhere, I still think it’s more than commendable to choose a song so well known by heart by everyone listening. We all know the words – and perhaps that’s what makes this version stand such an extraordinary chance of reaching a massive audience, not just the instrumental crowd. As John plays this tune, you feel that melody of the original come pouring through in all the right spots…and with the golden tones of his guitar, he puts in a performance that completely warms the heart. Full proof that this song is absolutely capable of making just as powerful of a connection through the core of its melody without a single word – Evergon shines brilliantly as he plays “Hallelujah” and gives it a genuinely celebratory & upbeat vibe, which is also quite rare to find in a version of this song. But you see dear readers, dear friends…that’s just the thing…in between the lines, the sentiment of “Hallelujah” and what Cohen was expressing was magnificently celebratory…and that’s so often left out of the sound in versions you’ll find, arguably even including his own to a degree. Aside from the fact that this is an instrumental cover to begin with, the uplifting vibes that radiate from the strings of John’s guitar are a massive part of what makes his take on “Hallelujah” so entirely memorable, and so joyously repeatable. I’m tellin’ ya…you’ll hear the beauty in the quick intro – and the moment the familiarity of what you know most begins to hit ya around the fifteen second mark, you’ll instantly fall in love with how John’s chosen to approach Cohen’s hallowed ground, and how spellbinding this version truly is.
John Evergon is a true talent unlike any other out there in the instrumental music-scene, he’s a fascinating talent, and he’s made the absolute most of every moment he’s spent on Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.” You’ll love it – but more importantly, you’ll remember it.
FINGER-STYLE LEGEND: PORTLAND, OREGON’S JOHN EVERGON IS REMARKABLE ON ‘HALLELUJAH’
John is influenced by mainly Jazz, Blues, and Rock and this is musician who looks into life deeper than most. The self-awareness blusters through like a cleansing wind that wipes away the rubbish around and soothes our tired hearts. He is an award-winning songwriter who seems to really dig deep into your conscious and amazes with his splendid acoustic storytelling.
The emotional symmetry is beyond fathomable as his turns a song into something much more. This is an ear-warming experience that makes you stare out the window and wonder why the world is so fake when there is magical music like this around.
No vocals are needed at all on ‘Hallelujah‘ from Portland’s great finger-guitarist John Evergon. His uniquely evolved style of instrumental music is an experience that makes you appreciate the underrated musicians that spend years and years, crafting their music until they feel that the time is right. The endless search for that little bit extra bit of quality that makes them feel happy inside is tiring, but ultimately worth the many hours of lonely nights.
After all, putting out music is scary enough, you want to be proud of your creation so that your songs can be timeless and listened to by generations to come. Stream this splendid song on Spotify and find out more about the Oregon local on his FB.
Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen / UK
JOHN EVERGON wins The First Prize of the 25th Annual USA Songwriting Competition (2020) Instrumental Category - The World's Leading International Songwriting Competition
John Evergon wins the FIRST PRIZE (Instrumental Category) of the 25th Annual USA Songwriting Competition (2020) with his song “The Value of One Second” from his debut album 'Constellation of Thoughts".
Winners were chosen by a Blue Ribbon Judging Committee comprised of music industry professionals including A&R managers from record labels, publishers and producers. Songs are judged equally on originality, lyrics, melody and composition.
https://www.songwriting.net/winners
JOHN EVERGON - The winner of the Instrumental Category in the 2020 UK Songwriting Contest - The World's Longest Running & Most Popular International Songwriting Contests
John Evergon is the WINNER of the Instrumental Category of the 2020 UK Songwriting Contest (2020) with his song “Extension of the Heart” from his debut album 'Constellation of Thoughts".
The UK Songwriting Contest is one of the world's longest running and most popular international songwriting events, with entries from 84 countries last year. The UKSC judging panels have featured Grammy, Emmy, CMA and BRIT Award winning Gold and Platinum Album producers and artists.
https://www.songwritingcontest.co.uk/2020.html
JOHN EVERGON wins the 2nd PLACE in the International 16th Acoustic Music Awards (2019) Instrumental Category
John’s song ‘Extension of the Heart’ wins the 2nd PLACE in the International 16th Acoustic Music Awards / IAMA, Instrumental Category. The IAMA promotes excellence in Acoustic Music Performance and Artistry.
The songwriters come to compete from all over the world: Australia, Canada, Japan, Brazil, Germany, USA, South Africa, etc. Judging is based on excellence in music performance, songwriting/composition/song choice, music production and originality/artistry. Judges in this competition are A&R representatives of major record labels such as Sony/BMG, EMI, Warner and Universal Music.
https://inacoustic.com/winners/
JOHN EVERGON - Top 5 WINNER in the Instrumental Category of the 21th Annual Great American Song Contest (2019)
Over 1900 songwriters from 42 countries competed in 2019, making his achievement truly impressive. Judges praised this song for its “Uniquely expressive performance and highly innovative style” and provided the following comments:
“Each of these themes is brilliant in many respects. Of the batch this one stands out as the most effective. I like that the rhythm varies, and that the harmony opens up in major. Smart call in changing the groove at the end, as it gives the piece new life. Ultimately it stays very true to its musical goals and delivers through the end – an expressive experience. So is my pleasure to inform you that this song has achieved finalist status in this year’s instrumental category. Congratulations, good luck in your musical endeavors!”
https://www.greatamericansong.com/winners.php
JOHN EVERGON - FINALIST in the Instrumental Category of the 21th Annual Great American Song Contest (2019)
What makes this song special is that the judges rated it with the highest score on the Originality criteria. Here are the judges’ comments on this song:
“Inventive melodic ideas, rhythms and defining harmonies. In a similar vein of your other themes, the rhythmic techniques distinguish your style. All in all, this compelling arrangement comes across stunningly. Yet again - C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S - We wish you the best of luck and success in your musical pursuits. I hope we’ll hear more from you in the years ahead!”
https://www.greatamericansong.com/honorary.php
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JOHN EVERGON – SEEDS OF CHANGE: MEET YOUR NEW PROGRESSIVE GUITAR HERO
You may think that’s a surprising name for an instrumental album with no lyrics, yet, the guitar progressions don’t leave much room for vocals. Seeds of Change will leave some of the most highly self-acclaimed of guitarists with plenty of fingerpicking envy.
John Evergon’s ability to create sound a rich, warm melody which is constantly evolving is practically unparalleled – especially amongst those so fresh from inception.
Capturing the potent amount of emotion which is orchestrated by an acoustic guitar is almost impossible. Although, it’s fairly telling that my chest feels infinitely heavier after listening to the explorative track.
Review by Amelia Vandergast / A&R Factory, Manchester, UK