Georgia-born singer/songwriter Jeven Reliford has made a name for himself on the social media service Tik Tok. But his story begins back in his childhood where he was raised in Cartersville, Georgia as the youngest of three siblings.

Initially, Jeven embraced music by singing along with his older sibling, and honed in his voice by belting out to Bruno Mars’ staple, “When I Was Your Man.” From there, he developed a wide palette, including everyone from Drake and Ashanti to Florida Georgia Line, Morgan Wallen, Chris Stapleton, and more.

During September 2019, a clip of Jeven singing Post Malone’s “Goodbyes” went viral on Tik Tok, with 3.5 million views. Instead of instantly flooding the social media platform with more content, he meticulously planned and curated his next steps. Choosing quality over quantity, Jeven showcased the breadth of his voice and, among others, covered Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon” (37.9 million views) and Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” (26.9 million views).

His ambitions exceeded social media though. “From the beginning, I didn’t want to be an influencer or just get internet famous,” he elaborates. “Singing is a place where I can go and not think about anything but the note I’m hitting. If I feel some type of way, I can turn the music on and jam out. I express a lot of emotions through my vocal cords, so I treated this very seriously.”

This approach paid off, as after only 12 videos, Jeven met veteran music executive Anthony “T.A.” Tate and signed a deal with Atlantic Records/Music the Label. Which leads us to today, where the deal with Atlantic has been announced and he released his debut single, “Butterflies,” which floats over a throwback beat and confessional chorus. “You meet a girl, and the energy shocks you right off the bat,” he goes on. “She gives you a feeling you haven’t had in a long time. It’s a classic mood to me.” 

I don’t want to sound like anybody else,” Jeven affirms. “I try to make everything my own. I switch it up and keep my content personal. I’ve been through a lot, but I’m always going to try to make people smile. I give as much as I can.”

Emboldened by towering range, unassuming charisma, and relatable spirit, Jeven brightens up pop with a contrast of sharp sensitivity and the energy of R&B. “Butterflies” is just the first of many singles to come from the Atlantic Records-signee, and in the end, Jeven might just make your day a little better. “When you hear me, I want you to get true excitement, fun, and good vibes,” he leaves off. “Maybe, it soothes you or gives you some peace.”

Listen to “Butterflies” below.