Roar (musician)

Solo musical project by Owen Evans

Roar

Origin| Phoenix, Arizona
Genres|

* Indie pop

Years active| 2010–present
Labels| Really Records (former)
Members| Owen Richard Evans[1]

Roar (stylized as ROAR) is an American solo musical project of Arizona-based musician Owen Richard Evans. He started the project in 2010 by releasing the extended play I Can't Handle Change. Evans has since released two more extended plays and four studio albums under the moniker.

## History

[edit]

Evans was previously a member of the band Asleep in the Sea alongside Tom Filardo and Eli Kuner. The band debuted in 2004 and opened for The Spinto Band in 2005, but disbanded three years later in 2007.[2][3] Evans returned to the music scene in 2010, creating Roar and releasing the project's debut extended play, I Can't Handle Change.[2] The EP was a response to Asleep in the Sea's disbandment.[4] Roar's second extended play, Daytrotter Session, was released on February 26, 2011.[5]

Roar's third extended play, I'm Not Here to Make Friends, was released on February 28, 2012, and was the project's only release under Really Records.[6][4]

Roar's debut studio album, Impossible Animals, was released independently on March 27, 2016.[7] During 2016, Evans joined band Andrew Jackson Jihad, which later rebranded to AJJ, as their drummer.[8] Roar's second studio album, Pathétique Aesthétique, was released on July 5, 2018.[9]

In 2019 and 2024, the titular song from I Can't Handle Change gained popularity on the internet, especially media-sharing app TikTok.[10] On March 30, 2021, Roar's third studio album, Diamond Destroyer of Death, was released.[11] Evans left AJJ during 2021.

In 2023, "Christmas Kids," a song from I Can't Handle Change, went viral on TikTok.[12] The song's popularity led it to chart on the Irish Singles Chart and UK Singles Chart at 45 and 58, respectively; the entries marked Roar's first appearance on any international music charts. The song describes the abusive relationship between Phil Spector and his wife Ronnie.[13][14][15]

## Discography

[edit]

### Studio albums

[edit]

Title  | Album details

|

Impossible Animals |

* Released: March 27, 2016[7]
* Label: Self-released
* Format: LP, digital download, streaming

Pathétique Aesthétique |

* Released: July 5, 2018[9]
* Label: Self-released
* Format: LP, digital download, streaming

Diamond Destroyer of Death |

* Released: March 30, 2021[11]
* Label: Self-released
* Format: LP, digital download, streaming

Knives For Aries |

* Released: May 2, 2024[16]
* Label: Felt Forest Records
* Format: LP, digital download, streaming

### Compilation albums

[edit]

Title  | Album details

|

Demos and Voice Memos |

* Released: January 12, 2019[17]
* Label: Self-released
* Format: Digital download, streaming

### Live albums

[edit]

Title  | Album details

|

Live in the Secret Garden |

* Released: May 8, 2018[18]
* Label: Self-released
* Format: Digital download, streaming

### Extended plays

[edit]

Title  | EP details

|

I Can't Handle Change |

* Released: March 14, 2010[19]
* Label: Self-released
* Format: Digital download, streaming

Daytrotter Session |

* Released: February 26, 2011[5]
* Label: Self-released
* Format: Digital download, streaming

I'm Not Here to Make Friends |

* Released: February 28, 2012[6]
* Label: Really[4]
* Format: Digital download, streaming

Recorded at a Record Store 2
(with Andrew Jackson Jihad) |

* Released: April 15, 2015[20]
* Label: SideOne Dummy
* Format: Digital download, streaming

### Charted songs

[edit]

Title  | Year  | Peak chart positions  | Certifications | Album

|
|
|
|

IRE
[13] | UK
[14]
"Christmas Kids"  | 2023  | 45  | 58  |

* RIAA: Gold[21]

| I Can't Handle Change

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "AFRAID". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
2. ^ a b "ROAR: Owen Evans' Project". Medium. 18 November 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
3. ^ "Roar Interview". Born Loser. November 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
4. ^ a b c "Roar". Really Records. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
5. ^ a b "ROAR - Daytrotter Session - Feb 26, 2011". Paste Magazine. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
6. ^ a b "I'm Not Here to Make Friends - EP by Roar on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
7. ^ a b "Impossible Animals by Roar on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
8. ^ "AJJ hometown, lineup, biography". Last.fm. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
9. ^ a b "Pathétique Aesthétique by Roar on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
10. ^ "A Look Back On Roar's "I Can't Handle Change"". KCPR. 31 January 2020. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
11. ^ a b "Diamond Destroyer of Death by Roar on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
12. ^ "Roartheband - Christmas Kids". TikTok. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
13. ^ a b "Discography Roar". irishcharts.com. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
14. ^ a b "ROAR | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
15. ^ "The dark truth behind Roar's TikTok hit 'Christmas Kids'". faroutmagazine.co.uk. 2023-07-09. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
16. ^ Knives For Aries by Roar on Apple Music, 2024-05-02, retrieved 2024-05-02
17. ^ "Demos And Voice Memos (2002-2018) | ROAR". Bandcamp. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
18. ^ "Live In The Secret Garden | ROAR". Bandcamp. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
19. ^ "I Can't Handle Change - EP by Roar on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
20. ^ "Andrew Jackson Jihad / Roar - Recorded At A Record Store 2 | Releases". Discogs. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
21. ^ "American certifications – Roar". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 13, 2024.