Evening Elephants’ Wholeheartedly, Terribly Sweet: A Postmodern Pop Journey Through Love and Its Aftermath

An intimate dive into Evening Elephants’ vibrant debut album that blends love, loss, and postmodern pop in a uniquely heartfelt way.

Finding Solace and Sound in the Heart of Los Angeles

Ever find a hidden spot in a bustling city where time just seems to soften? For Sam Boggs, frontman of Evening Elephants, that sanctuary is tucked away in the peaceful lowlands of Griffith Park, Los Angeles. It’s his personal oasis—both a breath of nature reminiscent of the North Carolina woods where he grew up and a lively place buzzing with locals practicing yoga or Taekwondo. Here, amid the gentle hum of the city, Boggs crafts the ethereal soundscapes that define Evening Elephants.

“I’ve written songs here,” Boggs reflects, perched on a shaded park bench, the late afternoon sun dappling through the leaves. “I’ve watched my friends get engaged here. I’ve had three birthday parties here. If I want to get out of the house and feel like I’m in nature because I’m stuck in the middle of Hollywood, I just drive up the street.”

Singer Sam Boggs of Evening Elephants enjoys the calm of Griffith Park, where he finds inspiration and solace.

Griffith Park isn’t just a backdrop; it’s woven into the emotional fabric of Boggs’ music. Though he tends to avoid the tourist-filled areas, he fondly remembers a poignant moment in 2018 when he attended a tribute concert for the late rapper Mac Miller at the Greek Theatre. Without a ticket, he joined the tradition of “tree people,” gathering on the hillside behind the venue, wine in hand, tears streaming as he paid homage to an artist who deeply touched him.

From Lost Youth to L.A. Dreams: The Making of an Artist

Moving to Los Angeles eleven years ago, at just 19, Boggs was searching for a fresh start after the loss of his father. The chaos of the city promised new experiences, but it was lonely at first. Acting and modeling didn’t quite fit, and it wasn’t until he began exploring music that he found his footing.

At home, his musical influences were eclectic: Michael Bublé crooning in the background, Queen spinning on vinyl, and later, the raw energy of rap icons like Chief Keef, Gucci Mane, and Drake. This rich tapestry of sound would morph into the hybrid style Boggs champions today: a blend of postmodern pop with hip-hop’s vocal rhythms.

“I just knew I needed a new experience,” Boggs says. “The city’s chaos felt right, even though it was lonely at first.”

Crafting ‘Wholeheartedly, Terribly Sweet’: Love in All Its Complexity

With the July 31 release of Wholeheartedly, Terribly Sweet, Evening Elephants made a giant leap from intimate backyard shows to commanding festival stages, including a mesmerizing set at Lollapalooza on July 30.

The album kicks off with “A Digital Touch,” a deep, funky track that buzzes with tension and vulnerability. Boggs’s voice cuts through with a raw rant:

“Hair’s like Medusa, eyes like stone / Cowboy bebop, space telephone / Face of an alien, brain like Akira.”

This track embodies the album’s recurring theme: the push and pull of romance, the cycle of building something beautiful only to watch it unravel. “If it’s too good, something wrong has to happen,” Boggs admits, “whether it’s me or the person I’m in the relationship with.”

This emotional tension threads through the entire record, balancing fiery, destructive songs with gentler reflections. Take “Like You Want It,” which moves at a softer, more wistful pace. Here, Boggs’s voice glides between mellow raps and tender crooning, capturing the early, awkward stages of affection.

“It’s very honeymoon-y—like, you want me and I want you, but we don’t want to admit it to each other,” he says with a grin.

A candid shot depicting Evening Elephants' intimate energy and Sam Boggs' engaging performance style.

The Origins of Evening Elephants: Anime, Friendship, and Studio Magic

The band’s name has a playful, nostalgic origin rooted in Boggs’s childhood obsession with the anime “Naruto.” There’s a dramatic fight scene featuring a powerful move called the Evening Elephant, and when the moment came up while rewatching the series, Boggs texted his bandmates: “Evening Elephants?”

The response? Instant approval.

“That show meant so much to me growing up,” Boggs shares, revealing a tattoo on his neck of Sasuke Uchiha’s unblinking eye from the same anime.

Musically, the project started simply. Boggs met drummer and producer Brandon “B” Leslie through mutual friends in Echo Park and Silver Lake. Their creative jams were humble: just a keyboard, speakers, mic, and laptop. Leslie would build beats and samples, and Boggs would freestyle, bouncing around the room with infectious enthusiasm.

“He created magic out of nothing,” Boggs says of Leslie’s production skills.

Their early single, “Snow on the Bluff,” captures this spontaneous energy. Recorded during an accidental session in a New Jersey studio, the track blends hip-hop rhythms with falsetto crooning over smooth keyboards and a sharp beat. It became a pivotal moment that propelled Evening Elephants forward.

A Record That’s “Wholeheartedly, Terribly Sweet”

The album’s title comes from an offhand comment Boggs overheard: a friend yelling at her boyfriend, “Sometimes you’re just wholeheartedly, terribly sweet!” The phrase stuck, perfectly encapsulating the album’s heartfelt themes.

The band’s honest, emotive style shines through in their debut’s evocative cover and sound.

Boggs describes the record as a collection of stories about love, loss, and self-discovery. Early on, without the outlet of music, he turned to drinking and drugs to cope—experiences that seep into the album’s lyrics, wrapped in humor but deeply real.

“It’s an ode to the city and the time when I wasn’t able to express myself,” Boggs explains. “But I’m pulling from other people’s experiences too.”

Touring Life and Onstage Evolution

After their Lollapalooza debut, Evening Elephants are hitting the road with a U.S. tour starting in Phoenix on September 9. The live setup has changed a bit: Brandon Leslie no longer performs on stage but remains integral as producer.

Boggs laughs recalling his first live performance, nervous beyond belief. Between every song, all he could say was, “Seems like you guys like that one, but we have some more.” His friends were brutally honest about his awkward interludes—but that honesty fueled his growth.

Now, Boggs thrives on connecting with the crowd, embodying the role of a playful jester, darting about the stage, cracking jokes between songs, and making the live experience something uniquely fun and intimate.

“I don’t play any instruments live. I just get to run around,” he says. “I’m trying to be comedic relief while they’re tuning guitars or switching between tracks.”

FAQ

• What inspired the name Evening Elephants?
  The name came from a nostalgic moment watching the anime “Naruto,” where a fight move called the Evening Elephant captivated Boggs and his bandmates.
• Where did Sam Boggs find inspiration for the album?
  Inspired by his life experiences and those around him, much of the album reflects love, loss, and struggles with self-expression during his early years in Los Angeles.
• How did the band start making music together?
  Boggs met producer and drummer Brandon Leslie through mutual friends, and their sessions began with simple setups—keyboard, mic, and laptop—leading to their unique sound.
• What’s unique about Evening Elephants’ live performances?
  Sam Boggs focuses on engaging the audience with playful banter and energy, acting as comedic relief while the band performs, rather than playing instruments himself on stage.
• What themes dominate the album Wholeheartedly, Terribly Sweet?
  The album explores romantic tension, the cycles of love and heartbreak, and personal struggles with self-expression, wrapped in a mix of postmodern pop and hip-hop influences.

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