From simple beats to complex melodies, Evamena is always progressing and perfecting her music. She spends her time creating songs that are made for everyone but ultimately for her.

Senior Evamena Ekelemu started making music when she was 10 years old. She started by finding beats online, and by 13, she had already produced her first piece of music. Ekelemu continues to increase her knowledge of music and produce even more.

Her music is a combination of rap and singing that Youth Coordinator at Brookline Interactive Group, Wes Kaplan, describes as special in a unique way.

“Evamena is multi-talented. She can rap, and she can sing. She writes her own lyrics. She makes her own beats. I think she’s got a super unique and creative style,” Kaplan said.

Ekelemu met Kaplan through an advanced music theory course at the Brookline Teen Center. Ever since then she became a regular at the studio. Ekelemu said she produced about 40 songs so far, with 10 currently out now. She is focused on producing music and hopes to continue to do so. In terms of future plans, Ekelemu said she is unsure about the path she wants to follow.

“My ultimate goal, since I was in seventh grade, is to win a Grammy, but that’s like any musician,” Ekelemu said. “My current goal is just having a steady outflow of music, staying on schedule and making sure I put out music as much as I can.”

Senior Isis Contreras said Ekelumu has what it takes to be a great producer. While working with Ekelemu on a song called ‘Plastics’ and having known her since middle school, Contreras has been able to witness Ekelemu’s passion and drive.

“I think she could be a really good producer. She has the talent, she has the stamina and she has everything to be a really good producer, ” Contreras said.

Contreras and Kaplan both said that Ekelumu has progressed significantly in the time they have known her. Kaplan said that her songs have become more lyrical and complex over time.

“I feel like her music has gotten a lot more personal, and her voice has really developed. It also seems like her production is getting a lot more sophisticated, ” Kaplan said.

Ekelemu takes career inspiration from R&B singer, Frank Ocean, especially in his ability to combat the social pressures of being a musician.

“[Frank Ocean] inspired me because I am a shy person most of the time, and he’s not super out there. He’s not doing interviews all the time so I thought, ‘Oh if I would ever be like a musician, I think I would want to be like that,’” ​​Ekelemu said.

Ekelemu said she isn’t sure how much of her own feelings are in her music.

“I just write what I feel. I feel like I write it in a way that only makes sense to me so other people hearing it wouldn’t really understand completely,” Ekelemu said. “Also in terms of the production, I don’t know if that’s me expressing myself, but sometimes after I listen back I think ‘there was some expression there,” Ekelumu said.