Sam Evian is the alias of Sam Owens, a recording engineer and producer also known as singer/guitarist of Brooklyn indie rock group Celestial Shore. Following two albums in the early 2010s with Celestial Shore, he made his Sam Evian debut in 2016 with Premium. Suffused with '60s and '70s influences, the project's mellow indie rock demonstrated Owens' appreciation for vintage instruments and sounds. His third album, 2021's Time to Melt, took things even further, warping its funky soft rock while introducing sociopolitical themes inspired by the works of icons like John Coltrane and Marvin Gaye.