Q&A: 13th LAW showcases a moody confessional of an unrequited love in his new music video “Dollar”
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY LILAH PHILLIPS ☆
EACH CHAPTER OF OUR LIVES REPRESENTS THE START OF SOMETHING — whether that be the start of something positive or a crisis that will challenge us into a newer, stronger being. 13th LAW’s Crisis Core was just the start of a masterpiece that is continuously in the making. Re-emerging with his most recent EP Crisis County Blues, Evan Lawrence picks up from where he left off. Crisis Core chronicles his quarter-life crisis journey and speaks on topics such as growth, financial disparities, and fighting for your place in the world despite all odds. As we step into the next chapter of 13th Law’s journey, Crisis County Blues takes us on a journey through the self into someone else back into the self. A journey of love and trust and honesty of the pain in the decisions we choose to either face things head on or run away.
After releasing his leading single “Graveshift” Lawrence followed up with a music video for his track “Dollar.” With Grant Olans as the director, the music video was shot with analog film in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. With the help of a rooftop and the beauty of sunsets, “Dollar” is “a moody confessional vibe of an unrequited love - or better yet, a love that is being questioned upon the discovery of a plethora of new information…” Lawrence says.
After his release show back in August at The Sultan Room, Lawrence has been busy with back-to-back performances as well as completing a three week-long residency in New Hampshire at Avaloch farm music institute for One Beats Annual music residency. 13th Law’s journey is one you should stick around to see as he evolves and continues to share his remarkable art with the world.
Read more about the making of Crisis County Blues and the upcoming goals 13th LAW has for 2025.
LUNA: Evan! It's nice to have you back! How have things been since we last chatted?
13TH LAW: Lilahhhhh It’s been a while on paper I guess hasn't it? Hehe. Things have been good and bad, life is doing its thing. I returned from a three week-long residency in October that happened a few weeks after the release show. It was a beautiful, beautiful experience. In this uncertainty this planet hauls in our faces every other day, I am doing pretty well though, all things considered! Grateful for the family and friends that I still find myself rocking with.Thank you for having me back!
LUNA: Crisis County Blues is AWESOME, your leading singles “Graveshift” and “Talk My Shit” have been on repeat for me, can you break down the creative process behind the tracks?
13TH LAW: THANK YOU SO MUCH! For vibing with it! I lowkey have been doing myself quite a disservice by not constantly promoting it. That all ends soon! This EP though, is rather special to me, for this time it was made with a dear friend! My white best friend (as I call him): Scott White aka Scotty White! We’ve been working together since 2015 on a plethora of projects, most notably our old band, Jelani Sei. We toured and recorded and played A LOT of music together. We made these songs together in a kind of producer X songwriter way all in one week in early February of this year! This project is definitely West Coast-blooded I’d say for sure (laughs). Shout out, Kendrick!!
Speaking specifically of “Graveshift” and “Talk My Shit” though, those two songs were a part of the songs we made in the week. While technically, “Graveshift” was made sometime in 2023, we finished it in this week's span, filling out the verses and full production of it. “Talk My Shit” though was completely nonexistent before we met up in February. The only two songs that existed before the meeting were “Graveshift” and “DUI,” which we made in NYC and Connecticut respectively. For "Talk My Shit,” I'd say we were focused on trying to make a happier sort of sound, to kind of keep us from getting drenched with the record rainfall that week in Los Angeles provided to us.
LUNA: Your track ”Dollar” was turned into a music video, can you break down the creative process behind the song and the music video?
13TH LAW: Yeah! So basically, The EP came out and this guy, Grant Olans hit me up offering to do a music video to work on his portfolio, and due to my finances not being in the best place for all the VFX I might imagine for different song’s videos: like “Secrets” or “Save The World” (those are going to be epic, omg just wait on it I promise) we decided to go for a simpler approach with the permanency of analog film. We met up in Williamsburg and went straight to the roof to shoot the video, waiting for different kinds of sunsets to help us. The result is a moody confessional vibe of an unrequited love - or better yet, a love that is being questioned upon the discovery of a plethora of new information. I’d say like, an Usher or Neyo type song? But Crooning Indie dude-type vibe! Hehe.
LUNA: I wanted to ask you about the EP art, it looks like it’s connected with your first EP Crisis Core. Can you go into more detail about it?
13TH LAW: It deffffff is! Both pieces were designed by Ken, who goes by Mokeni on Instagram. He’s an awesome artist that I'd suggest everyone reading go and check out! He lives in China too, so his collaboration on this project really means a lot to me. The inspiration and idea behind the art is basically that of the “Blue Demon.” Its appearance is directly inspired by Go Nagai’s Devilman, a manga/anime from the ‘70s about a tragic character who gains the powers of a demon, remains in control of it whilst in his body and must fight against fallen angels who have awoken to destroy humanity. Thematically though, this entity represents what I view as a version of my inner self that perseveres through the hardship & madness of society while allowing me to take the reins. It’s also a visual representation of the childhood trauma that grows up with you, sits on your soul as depression or whatever else it may manifest as, and basically is what one’s ego and true self reside in like being coated in a demon sort of armor like Attack on Titan or Neon Genesis Evangelion. So basically the demon inside of me that isn’t evil per se, but an artifact of my wounded past being used as a vehicle for transformation, retribution and self love. Eventually, my full normal self will be on the cover once this series of projects ends, representing the completion of the process of certain levels of healing.
LUNA: Were there any musical or life influences that inspired you during the making of this EP?
13TH LAW: Definitely! Well in tandem with the record breaking storms that broke Los Angeles’s Dry spell in February when we recorded this EP, my love life was pretty silently tumultuous at the time. I was dealing with a partner and I’s separation where I realized what I could've done better, where I went wrong, how we both did things that weren’t best for the unit of love we had in our relationship. I was heartbroken in Los Angeles with my best friend while trying to make fun rock music. And the rain did not make it better! In fact, I like to joke that I brought the rain with me because literally the entire time I was there it rained so profusely. It's really interesting seeing how Californians deal with strong surges of water while on the road.
LUNA: Back on August 24, I saw you perform at The Sultan Room along with Marcela Avelina and Claire Jones. You all did so great, What is your favorite part about performing?
13TH LAW: Thank you so much for being there that day! I had such a good time. Marcela is a dear dear friend from the end of high school into college and afterwards as well, so it felt great to rock out with her and Claire. My favorite part about performing though…I’d really just say it’s the letting it out feeling. Surprisingly I don’t solo that much on my instrument even though I'm working on implementing it a bit more. My main concern is always making sure the audience is having fun with me, together. I want my shows to feel like a comfortable sort of escape from reality that is still very much rooted in reality. I love making people laugh from the stage and I mostly just love moshing with people to my songs lmao. I'm a simple guy. Matter of fact. I'm just a chill guy! (laughs) *cringes*
LUNA: Any plans coming up in the new year?
13TH LAW: This next year I'm going to be planning a couple of tours for 13th Law, as I'm really excited to play this music more along the coast and deeper into the country. But mostly I'm recording an album’s worth of songs, and collaborating with other artists who I love. The main goal is expansion, I'd say. In a plethora of fields!
LUNA: Question for fun, what's been on your current music rotation?
13TH LAW: Hmmm… lemme see… to be honest I'm trying to find more music to listen to because I feel like I haven’t really listened to as much as I wanted to in the past like… seven years. Right now, I’m returning to the music I loved as a teen which includes: early Toro Y Moi, Phantogram, Twin Shadow, St Vincent, Switchfoot and a whole slew of others. Newer music I’d definitely say I’ve been checking out Charli XCX and Doechii. They’re both so so SO good! Also Vayda is pretty lit. I always have a really fun time listening to her with my friends. Troye Sivan has also been on every Youtube Party playlist I've been to with my art school friends. I'm trying to stay “current.” (laughs).
