What's to do midweek before University of Illinois' biggest drinking holiday? On March 5th Cly's hosted Frattle of the Bands.  My friend Evan Smith, otherwise known as Airia, performed in front of Cly’s main bar. It was good to see that all performers had their respective houses come out hard and support their performances. WPGU and Jersey Mike's sponsored and provided free sandwiches for everyone at Cly’s. I caught up with Evan after his performance for a one-on-one interview.  

      What made you pick the name Airia?

      Honestly, when I first started getting serious about making music I would just sit in class all day and think of various names. That one just sort of came to me and I liked how it didn’t limit me to one genre. I feel like some names within the trap scene really limit you as an artist. Also, I liked how it’s a palindrome (spelled the same if you read it backwards).

      How was your playing experience at Cly’s compared to playing a set at Canopy?

      I think a couple of things are different. First off has to be the atmosphere. At Cly’s, people go there to drink and have a good time and are not only there for the music. It’s almost cooler to see people vibing to your music there, than at Canopy, because you’re not expecting it as much – granted last night's battle. But I love playing at Canopy because of the scene and how into the music everyone is. Also, the sound systems there are insane. At Cly’s, I was surprised at how quiet the music seemed, but I guess that’s just because, again, it’s a bar first, not a place for a live DJ. 

      What’s next for Airia and after graduation?

      I’ve been applying, and getting some offers, for summer internships with record labels and other music industry jobs in Los Angeles. I hope to get a job there in the fall and attend a music school out there to further pursue it as a career. But as of now, all I know is that’s where I want to be and live for a few years. It’s the best place for music, right now.          

      Do you prefer doing collaborations with the likes of Banko x Kyral?

      I’ve never really been a big collab guy (yet, at least).  Kyral x Banko (Collin and Ben) and I are really close friends and are always hanging out and working on songs. We’re definitely going to collab on tracks in the future and talk about it all the time. Music is life for the three of us and we are all very serious about pursing it as a career. Banko and I have a song that is close to being finished and might be released within a few months. 

      Evan has a lot of things going for him, right now. I wish him the best, but I feel that something is going to spark for him in the very near future. He’s got too much potential and raw talent not to succeed.