Evie Clair met Christina and Ali when they were all asked to perform at a concert in Evie’s dad’s hometown of Blackfoot, ID shortly after he passed away. Nearly the whole town filled the high school auditorium to hear these beautiful girls share their experiences and their hearts through music singing “Jealous of the Angels” together after all of them had experienced such tragic losses in their families.
Christina and Ali were top ten finalists on Season 5 of America’s Got Talent, with memorable acts like Jackie Evancho and Prince Poppycock while Evie Clair was a top ten finalist on season 12 with her friend Darci Lynne Farmer and the iconic Puddles Pity Party.
Evie, Christina and Ali became instant friends and have stayed close over the years. The message of this collaboration was the result of not only the loneliness they have shared as performances have taken them away from friends and family for years but also the loneliness we may have all experienced together during the isolation and missed opportunities due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Christina and Ali both suffer from cystic fibrosis so they have been even more isolated during their lives with limited life expectancies and having already suffered the loss of a sibling to the same disease.
These friends are excited to announce an upcoming stage performance. You can catch them LIVE and all together at Ammon Days on August 7,2021 in Ammon, Idaho.
Download and stream this new cover of Justin Bieber’s Lonely here:
Recently discovered video footage shows that Evie Clair was trained in Italian opera. Even at 10 years old, she had no problem keeping up on this difficult duet with soaring agility and beauty. Before Evie Clair took the stage on America’s Got Talent in 2017, her classically-trained mom was the music teacher at her elementary school. They sing together live for the school talent show an operatic duet called Sull’aria from Motzart’s The Marriage of Figaro.
“Sull’aria…che soave zeffiretto” (lit. “On the breeze…What a gentle little Zephyr) is a duettino, or a short duet, from act 3 of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s opera The Marriage of Figaro, K. 492, to a libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte.
In the film The Shawshank Redemption, prisoner Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) defies Warden Sam Norton (Bob Gunton) by playing the duettino over the prison’s loudspeakers. Ellis Boyd “Red” Redding (Morgan Freeman) remarks in his voice-over narration: “I have no idea to this day what those two Italian ladies were singing about. […] I’d like to think they were singing about something so beautiful it can’t be expressed in words, and it makes your heart ache because of it.” The song’s appearance in the Shawshank Redemption soundtrack earned it a nomination as one of 400 songs in consideration for American Film Institute’s list of 100 top movie songs.
Benson and Evie were acquainted as guest soloists for Rob Gardner’s Cinematic Pop. They have since been friends and collaborated on a few impromtu covers. “Talking” is their first joint effort at writing music together and they loved the result. They brought in a dream team including Rob Gardner, Stephen Moyer, Stephen Davis, Lisette Perez and more to produce both an incredible track and music video for Valentine’s Day 2021.
Lyrics
I ain’t never been the best at talking
Noticed you in that dress when you walked in
Wish I’d approached you and said girl you look good
But I ain’t never been the best at talking
What’s your name, what’s your sign?
Tell me all the little things that run across your mind
Is it me, is it us, could it be?
The moment that your eyes met mine and I couldn’t breathe
I ain’t never been the best at talking
You’ve always been the best at talking
You say it all with your eyes when I walk in
I say way too much but never what I truly mean
I tend to fantasize but never in my wildest dreams
Would I have thought that I’d be here with you
Two years after the scene
I ain’t never been the best at talking
What’s your name, what’s your sign?
Tell me all the little things that ran across your mind
Was it me, was it us, could it be?
The moment that your eyes met mine and I couldn’t breathe
I ain’t never been the best at talking
Take my name, take your time
Hold me all the little ways I love once in a while
You and me, you and I, could it be?
Every moment that your eyes meet mine feels like the first scene
But I ain’t never been the best at talking
Talking
Music/Lyrics by – Benson Price Jones, Evie Clair, Kirra Abplanalp
Music Arrangement – Rob Gardner & Benson Price Jones
Vocals – Benson Price Jones & Evie Clair
Lead Guitar – Dean Nelson
Audio Editing/Mastering – Stephen Moyer
Music Video
Produced by – Stephen P. Davis
Co-Directed by – Lisette Perez & Stephen P. Davis
Cinematography – Lisette Perez
Production Designer – Ryan Harney
Assistant Director – Cheyanne Glazier
Set Builder – Sven Holt
UPM/Safety Officer – Chloe Evans
1st AC – Alexis Lopez
2nd AC – Alexander Payan
Camera PA – Reagan Panipinto
Gaffer – Chloe Caufield
Key Grip – Tommy Pascale
Grip – Mathew Molyneux
Editing/Color – Lisette Perez
Visual Effects – Cheyanne Glazier
DIT – Tommy Pascale
Production Assistant – Dabney Jackson
Special Thanks to our Arizona businesses: Perkinson Properties, Serenity Gardens Scottsdale, Dana Gibbons Photography, Vault Mastering, Amazing Lash Studio Gilbert & A Dressy Occasion
Wanting to prepare for the events that Evie’s family had been invited to, they researched Hong Kong, learning that their relationship with China was complex. It began with the Opium Wars between Great Britain and China in the late 1800’s when China was forced to give Hong Kong to Great Britain on a land deal with a 99-year lease. In 1997 that lease ended and Great Britain returned Hong Kong to China as a Special Administrative Region where China allowed Hong Kong to continue to govern itself. While mainland China is a communist country, controlled by a single party, Hong Kong still maintains limited democracy. Politics between Hong Kong and Mainland China have been rocky. In 2014 Hong Kong had massive protests and demonstrations against proposed election reforms that mainland China wanted to impose on how Hong Kong elects their Chief Executive. In 2019 Hong Kongers protested a bill that would have allowed mainland authorities to target critics, journalists and anyone else in Hong Kong for removal to mainland China. Hong Kong is not allowed to maintain its own military or international relations being ultimately at the will of Mainland China through The office of the Commissioner of Foreign Affairs. Even with difficult diplomatic relations, economic advantages keep the two together.
On January 18th, 2021 Evie Clair’s manager received a seemingly normal online booking request for two days of charity events in Hong Kong celebrating the launching of a new community center. Evie has performed for dozens of charity events since America’s Got Talent but was excited to travel to China for the first time. Her manager responded with the requested quote of $5,000 for the appearance but didn’t expect the response from China offering $10,000 plus first class air fare for the whole family of six and lodging at the Ritz Carlton in Hong Kong. They included extras in the contract such as a $5,000 wardrobe allowance with 50% paid up front. The contract stated that if the event was cancelled due to Covid-19 or any other reason, she would be able to keep the deposit.
The circumstances of Evie’s life captured many hearts all over the world and caused her to be deeply involved in charity work. She has often been treated graciously like this by both charity and non-charity organizations for the past several years, but this was abnormal in that the organization’s legal committee chairman asked Evie to present a donation to the charity at the event. He said the CEO wanted to personally give her the money to donate back with a giant check from her at the day-two event. This increased the amount of the deposit they would send by $50,000 which Evie would return as a tax-exempt donation.
This was a red flag, but the organization sent legal documents with their tax-exempt status and ensured there wouldn’t be any tax issues. They researched the company and couldn’t find a social media presence but they said that’s why they needed Evie to help them establish one with her social status. The website at https://lifelinehk.org said they had been established at 10 Tim Mei Avenue Admiralty in Hong Kong since 2015 with accomplishments helping children escape poverty, hunger and abuse, partnering with government and community organizations. Everything seemed in order so the contract was signed and returned.
Tuesday January 26, 2021 – Evie’s mom woke up with concern about the organization and decided to do some research. She wanted to find out who created the website. No information existed but she found out that it had been created only 4 days before the booking request for Evie was made. She then had the thought to call her religious leader, Bishop Elwood, who is also a CPA. She sent him the Chinese tax documentation they provided.
He called back with the news that Lifeline Hong Kong Foundation didn’t exist but that the documentation had been manipulated from another organization in Hong Kong. He recommended that she take the cashier’s check to the bank and explain the situation, but that we definitely should not send them back the $50,000 donation. He said that the check was probably fake and that the bank may not realize it right away. This would give the organizers time to collect returned donation funds from us, leaving us responsible for the fake check and the lost funds.
Evie Clair LLC received the $61,000 cashiers check from Lifeline Hong Kong Foundation that day. It came from TFC National Bank in Sioux Falls, SD and was sent overnight Fed Ex from Lana at Goldfinch Technology – 622 W 168th St FL New York, NY 10032 with the phone number 201-719-4807 and “The Empire Group” written in the memo on the check. All these discrepancies confirmed suspicion that the check was fraudulent but they had already signed a contract to return donation funds upon receipt of the check.
Upon arrival at the bank, they suggested she call the bank that issued the check to verify it. After a long hold in the lobby of her bank, TFC Bank said they had no validation process and that depositing the check was the only way to find out if it was real. The funds were immediately available in Evie’s business account with no hold or issue.
Ivan Chow, the organization’s legal committee chair, emailed several times over the next two days with wire instructions for returning the donation portion of the deposit. When told by Evie’s manager that the funds were still being verified, he became urgent saying the funds were going to help Covid-19 victims in Hong Kong and couldn’t wait. Evie’s manager held off paying or touching the funds, with near certainty that they weren’t real. She called the bank several times to explain the situation but they said everything looked fine and to call back to file a claim if the check became invalidated. Three days later the bank discovered the fraudulent cashier’s check and the $61,000 was gone with no notice from the bank but a $12 returned item fee.
She called the bank to file a fraud claim and they said there was nothing to be done. She then filed a report with the Federal Trade Commission with a response saying “Thank you for helping to fight fraud in your community…The FTC does not resolve individual reports, but your report will be entered in the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel database and will be available to … law enforcement across the country.”
With the new knowledge that not much is done to investigate fraud by the government and that banks don’t seem to care that someone is creating counterfeit checks in their name or that a loophole exists in the system giving criminals 3 days of available, imaginary funds, Evie’s family is so thankful for the help they had from above to see these persons and the problems they wanted to cause her family. The family was disappointed to learn they wouldn’t be going to China after after all. The kids had Hong Kong Disneyland on their radar. They haven’t heard anything else from “Mr. Ivan Chow” or “Lifeline Hong Kong Foundation,” but hopefully releasing this post will help their friends and others in the entertainment industry who may be targeted with this type of fraud in the future.
An amazing group called Kids Kicking Cancer brought together two friends and competitors from America’s Got Talent season 12 for a stunning interview with Rabbi G. He invited Angelica and Evie to the Hero’s Circle for their examples of strength and light through difficult times. They then sing an epic duet of The Prayer made famous by both Celine Dion & Andrea Bocelli AND Josh Groban and Charlotte Church. This inspiring song was written by David Foster and Carole Bayer Sager. Many thanks to Charity Bids for arranging this incredible collaboration.
I pray you’ll be our eyes
And watch us where we go
And help us to be wise
In times when we don’t know
Let this be our prayer
As we go our way
Lead us to a place
Guide us with your Grace
To a place where we’ll be safe
La luce che to dai (I pray we’ll find your light)
Nel cuore restero (And hold it in our hearts)
A ricordarchi che (When stars go out each night)
L’eterna stella sei
Nella mia preghiera (Let this be our prayer)
Quanta fede c’e (When shadows fill our day)
Lead us to a place
Guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we’ll be safe.
Sognamo un mondo senza piu violenza
Un mondo di giustizia e di speranza
Ognuno dia la mano al suo vicino
Simbolo di pace e di fraternita
La forza che ci dai (We ask that life be kind)
E’il desiderio che (And watch us from above)
Ognuno trovi amore (We hope each soul will find)
Intorno e dentro a se (Another soul to love)
Let this be our prayer
Let this be our prayer
Just like every child
Just like every child
Needs to find a place,
Guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we’ll be safe
E la fede che
Hai acceso in noi
Sento che ci salvera
Evie performed this song in 2017 at age 13 for her first audition on America’s Got Talent. She got a standing ovation from all 4 judges and tears from both of her parents who were watching from back stage. She wanted to sing for her dad who was dying of cancer. He passed away before he could see her make it to the finals. He was her biggest fan and she sings again for him now at age 16 knowing he’s been watching over her for the past 3 difficult years without him. Evie struggles to perform this song because of the pain it brings back but she felt driven to sing it again now for all those who are suffering like her dad did.
Full playlist of Evie’s journey on America’s Got Talent
Evie Clair’s final summer collaboration is a new single with some of her favorite people in the world – her siblings. Evie is a little like Billie Eilish with a brilliant older brother like FINNEAS. Porter is her older brother and currently serving a church mission but was home because of the pandemic for just long enough to help write this song. Kirra is their younger sister. She appears in the video playing the trash drums and she also helped write this song. At the end of the song you can hear their mom say “Ya, good, it’s good. Wow guys.” That response was her authentic and original response when the 3 of them performed it for her for the first time at home. Since then their mom called it the “Trash Song” even though a better title might have been “I’m So Here.” Trash as a theme stuck and we created a video based on trash and the idea that they work so hard on this music while still feeling it just isn’t good enough. This song has a lyric in the bridge that says; “I’m writing and I’m bawling and these songs, they’re appalling, but I try and this trash, it’s for you; along with my heart.” These siblings truly love writing music together and love the people they write for – all of you.
Lyrics
i don’t want to open my eyes cause this nightmare just seems so nice
i know that seems sad but really compared to real life
cause you’re here
why is it so hard to express what i feel in my chest when you’re here
i sink in my thoughts and my words start to disappear
when you’re here
and i know i’m slow with my flow but the only word you leave me with is whoa
so i just have to go with the flow when the only word you leave me with is whoa
cause i’m so so so so here
i just keep chasing that line in the sky not sure why but i’m fine
i know where it ends yet again you know why i’m here
yeah i’m still here
and i know i’m slow with my flow but the only word you leave me with is whoa
so i just have to go with the flow when the only word you leave me with is whoa
cause i’m so so so so here
i’m writing and i’m bawling and these songs they’re appalling but i try and this trash is for you
along with my heart
and i know i’m slow with my flow but the only word you leave me with is whoa
cause i’m so so so so slow with my flow but the only word you leave me with is whoa
cause i’m so so so so here
i find in time it’s all lethal and deadly or everything’s fine
Evie Clair’s 3rd song in her summer of collaborations is with some fantastic kids from One Voice Children’s Choir (Grant, Lulu, Eva and Kainoa) who have a new smaller group called Kids America. This collab also included her good friend Benson Baril! These are some of the talented people behind the scenes:
Lead Producer: Big Time Nate
Songwriters: Big Time Nate, Shaun Barrowes, Evie Clair and Benson Baril
Videography: Dan LaPray
This project brings attention to the kids who are alone because of the global pandemic with the world still mostly closed. It shows that we need each other and we need to find a new sense of community that is supportive and uplifting. We need to help each other. We need to try harder to understand each other. We need to find peace. We need to find new ways to show people we love them. We need to get past our differences and help people feel hope and that life is worth living and fighting for.
Evie took on this project because she has felt that despair in the past and sees too many kids feeling it now. She has witnessed an epidemic of teens in her friend groups and community who have taken their own lives during this time of quarantine and she wants to help spread a message of hope and that we all have a purpose and a responsibility to help each other when we fall into dark places.
This is Evie’s second time performing for the Limelight Gala. Her first time was in Philadelphia just after America’s Got Talent. This year because of COVID, the event was done virtually. Evie’s performance starts about and hour and 8 minutes into the program.
HEADstrong’s virtual event is hosted by Fox29’s Good Day Philadelphia co-anchor Thomas Drayton celebrated the 25-year career of Jacqui Melott, a devoted frontline oncology nurse at the Abramson Cancer Center of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. The event also honored the courageous Delaney Unger, a 14-year old whose dancing career was halted when she was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma and her triumphant return to fulfilling her dream of dancing much in part to receiving rotationplasty surgery. HEADstrong also recognized the relentless efforts of the Radcliffe family of West Chester, PA, who have embarked on an incredible journey in partnership with the HEADstrong Foundation, through the creation of the Charlotte Grace Fund, to help local families overcome by pediatric cancers in loving memory of their daughter, who bravely battled Medulloblastoma, a malignant form of brain cancer.
Through the virtual event, viewers will have the ability to interact and contribute to the HEADstrong Foundation. Proceeds will underwrite a full year of lodging and comfort at Nick’s House, a guest residence that welcomes families to the City of Brotherly Love during the most critical, vulnerable and desperate time of their lives as they pursue lifesaving treatment only available in Philadelphia. In addition to the online program, the event featured an unbelievable silent auction featuring packages, memorabilia, experiences, luxury items.
The COVID-19 pandemic has only added a layer of complexity for those navigating a pre-existing cancer fight and delays in treatment have posed several challenges for those requiring necessary and time sensitive treatments. The economic impact has been equally devastating and the need for funding is at an all-time high.
The HEADstrong Foundation exists to improve lives affected by cancer. The organization was founded by Nicholas “HEAD’ Colleluori, a beloved student-athlete from the Philadelphia suburbs, who was terminally diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and created the organization from his hospital bed to serve as the resource that he wished existed for his own family during their greatest time of need. Colleluori was a D1 athlete at the time of his diagnosis whose battle was chronicled by ESPN, who used his platform to put forth tangible solutions to the everyday challenges of families living the reality of cancer.
No Wasted Days – original single with a calm and reflective mood remembering her father and reminding us to make the most of each day. In the video, you’ll see a few scenes with a beautiful lady at the piano and Evie and her brother and sisters all around. You then get a peek of Evie’s late father through the dancing children. This was a video from a visit with good friends, The Warrens. Julia Warren wrote the music and lyrics for No Wasted Days with Evie in mind to record it. On Evie’s parents’ 20th anniversary it was the night of the quarter-finals for America’s Got Talent. Evie’s dad was in the hospital in Arizona and Evie and her mom were in California. Evie’s dad called Julia’s husband, Chris Warren, to bring Evie’s mom an anniversary gift since they lived in California. It was the last gift she would get from her sweet husband in this life. Evie and her mom made it home before he passed away but by that time he was already unresponsive. The Warrens have supported and loved Evie and her family through good times and heartbreaking times. Evie loved recording this song from Julia’s heart and hopes you will let it fill you with love and gratitude for the good people in your lives.
NoWastedDays
Throwing rocks in the ocean
Stepping on foam
It’s getting cold now
Almost time to go home
The sun’s dipping lower
In the violet sky
Your head on my shoulder
Now baby, don’t cry
‘Cause I will walk by your side for as long as you’ll let me
Just swear when it’s all said and done
That you won’t forget me
No wasted days
Waves drifting away
Tides up and down
Winds blowing ’round
No wasted days
There are so many ways
We lose them, it’s true,
Like sand slipping through
No day is wasted
When I’m with you
Some salty expression
Slips right off the tongue
You know what they say now
Youth is wasted on the young
With each day that passes
We’re a little bit changed
Some will grow up and some will grow old
Now isn’t that strange
And I will walk by your side for as long as you’ll let me