Evan Dibbs Bares His Soul on Heady New Single “Fills”

Ohio-born, Jersey-raised and now Brooklyn-based artist Evan Dibbs is a multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter whose talents span a wide range of musical styles and disciplines. As a gifted songwriter, his’ sound is an adventurous yet old-souled blend, marked by a folk-tinged sense of observation and expansive sonic explorations.

At the heart of his work lies a deep fluency in stringed instruments, where he’s developed a distinct voice both in traditional and forward-thinking contexts. Over the years, he’s earned a reputation as a versatile presence in the New York and New Jersey music scenes, excelling as a session player, producer and film composer. Reflecting on his early years, Dibbs notes, “I became a real DIY fiend, and I toured the country in bands, playing basements, shitholes, backyards, joints, caves, bars (often sneakily as I was underage)…” This period of relentless touring and performing resulted in a lifelong pursuit of music, filled with joy, meaning and challenge.

Unveiling his original sonic vision on his debut album Everything the Basket Spills back in 2019, he returned in 2022 with his first EP, World Before Us. Now with his sophomore record, Breathe to Break, on the horizon, Evan offered fans the first taste of the upcoming project last month with the lead single, “With.”

Now he brings us the second track lifted from the album with his brand new single titled “Fills,” a song which sees Evan Dibbs exploring the nuanced ways in which individuals can be unhealthy and negative in their lives. Along with the rest of the material on the album, the single was produced by sought-after New Jersey producer Erik Kase Romero, who helped bring to life this delicate alternative folk outing, wrapped in a hazy atmosphere.

Brought in by the warm tones of acoustic guitar as the lo-fi taps of percussion set a laid back rhythm, Evan’s elegant vocals deliver poignant lyricism via hushed melodies. Developing with intricate instrumental textures and strings, carried by the soft rattle of drums, the track drips in a graceful ambience to craft a dreamy and heartwarming sound that showcases the charming sound of Evan Dibbs and further builds the excitement for his forthcoming full-length record.

The song’s central metaphor, drawn from Archimedes’ principle, suggests a life lived in a state of murky equilibrium. Dibbs explains, “Essentially, it’s the law that an object will float if the weight of the water it displaces is equal to the weight of the object. I started to think to myself, well, isn’t that sort of true about life in general—that we float through life in a kind of murky equilibrium with our baggage and our will to press forward.”

Commenting on the album, he shares, “This record was a process of reflecting on the things that give life its vibrance, like art, language, the natural world, and relationships. Sometimes I think we all feel the propensity to be numb (and sometimes for good reason) because either we’ve been working so damn hard, or we’re addicted to our phones, or we’ve experienced heartbreak or hardship. Life is overwhelming, and it often feels like we have to shut off in order to stay afloat. I wanted this record to jolt myself awake so that I’m actively thinking and engaging sensuously with the world around me.”

Listen to Fills below

More from Music

---

Editor Picks

---