We’re looking forward to introducing you to Evan Luna. Check out our conversation below.
Evan, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What is a normal day like for you right now?
Right now, a normal day for me is all about reconnecting and looking forward. After spending the past year in Spain earning my master’s degree at Berklee College of Music, I’m settling back into the Austin music scene and finding new ways to be part of this community. Most mornings are reserved for myself, whether it’s listening to music, working out, or cooking. In the afternoons, I’m teaching with RMT Music, working with young musicians who remind me why I started in the first place. Lately, a lot of my focus has also been on sharing my debut single, Descarga Valenciana, which feels like the beginning of a new chapter of creation. Every day is a mix of teaching, creating, and rediscovering home.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Evan Luna, and I’m a Mexican-American drummer and composer from Lubbock, Texas. I earned my undergraduate degree in Jazz Studies from Texas State University and recently completed my master’s degree at Berklee College of Music in Valencia, Spain. During my time there, I recorded my upcoming album, which I’m excited to be developing and preparing to share with the world.
I specialize in Latin percussion, but one of the things people often say about me is that I can adapt to just about any style. That versatility is something I value deeply. It allows me to move between tradition and genre while bringing a unique perspective to every project I’m part of. For me, music has always been about connection, and my journey reflects the constant push to explore new sounds while staying true to my roots.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was a quiet, curious kid who just loved connection and had a huge imagination. My mom says I wanted to be a ‘priest on drums,’ which makes sense now. I was always drawn to the spiritual side of music and life while wanting to take care of the people around me. My grandma remembers me as calm and observant, the kind of kid who didn’t need to be the loudest in the room, just someone who listened, learned, and created in my own way.
Looking back, I can see how those qualities shaped the musician I’ve become. That same curiosity and sense of purpose are what drive me today. Whether I’m behind the drums or writing new music, I see the music I make as something that connects people, something almost sacred. In a lot of ways, I’m still that same kid, just expressing it now through sound.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
That’s a great question, but I think it starts with asking, what is pain for a musician? For me, it’s not always heartbreak or loss, but the quiet kind. The self-doubt, the uncertainty, the constant questioning of whether what I’m doing really matters. There’s a certain kind of ache that comes from feeling deeply called to make music in a world that doesn’t always understand or value it in the same way you do.
Even now, I still wrestle with calling myself an artist. I’ve always felt comfortable saying I’m a musician, someone who plays, practices, and performs, but “artist” feels heavier, like it comes with an expectation I’m still trying to live up to. That’s where the pain comes in for me: the imposter syndrome, the wondering if I’m doing enough or if I’ve earned that title.
Over time, I’ve learned that the doubt and the drive come from the same place. The sensitivity that makes you question yourself is also what gives the music its honesty. I stopped trying to hide that uncertainty and started using it instead, letting it live in the rhythm, the dynamics, and the space between sounds.
That’s where the power is. The pain never completely goes away, but it becomes part of the process, part of the story, and part of the sound. Maybe that’s what being an artist really is: learning to make peace with the doubt and turning it into something that connects people.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
A belief I’m committed to, no matter how long it takes, is the importance of reconnecting with the roots of why we do what we do. For me, that means understanding where the music I love truly comes from.
I grew up in a mostly white city, and for a long time, I didn’t feel proud of being Mexican. It wasn’t until college that I started to embrace that part of myself and fall in love with Latin music, especially salsa. That curiosity led me to study the music’s roots — from batá drumming and Santería traditions to other Afro-Cuban styles that shaped what I play today.
During my time at Berklee Valencia, I studied with Cuban percussionist Yoel Páez, who introduced me to traditional batá patterns and their spiritual significance. Those lessons had a huge impact on me and found their way into my upcoming album, where I blend those rhythmic foundations with my own experiences and influences.
That path eventually brought me to explore Afro-Mexican traditions like son jarocho and the broader connections between identity and ancestry. My goal isn’t just to perform these styles, but to understand them, respect them, and share them in a way that honors the cultures they come from. That’s a lifelong commitment for me — staying curious, staying connected, and using music to bridge where I come from with where I’m going.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. When have you had to bet the company?
I had to bet the company when I decided to leave everything behind to pursue my master’s degree in Spain. I built a solid music career over four years in central Texas, performing, teaching, and growing as a musician. Walking away from that stability to start over in another country was a huge risk, but I knew I needed to take it.
It turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. My time in Spain taught me so much about my identity and the kind of music I want to create. It reminded me why I do what I do and gave me the confidence I needed to come back home and push my career even further.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://evanluna.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.evan.luna_/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-luna-a1a880383/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/evan.luna.125
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc2fOogoq0rq4b6dd2ccy4A
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/evanpluna1107
- Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2unW1L1JYQJGvflsAzBHAL?si=_tpotEZ1TiGPBPoa4Fsc8g
Image Credits
Berklee Valencia
Max Efremoff
Alex Ortiz
