Stephan isn’t all in favour of becoming into the mould—he’s right here to interrupt it. With a dedication to inventive individuality and an outright rejection of trade developments, the self-proclaimed “King of Fantasy” brings a fearless perspective to music. From his early experiences as a performer to shaping a sound that refuses to be boxed right into a single style, he discusses the influences that gas his creativity, the trade’s pitfalls, and the unwavering philosophy that guides his profession. On this interview, Stephan opens up in regards to the challenges he’s confronted, the teachings discovered from working with trade veterans, and his imaginative and prescient for the longer term—each within the studio and on stage. Should you’re searching for an artist with conviction and a refusal to play by the principles, you’ll wish to hear what he has to say.
Stephan, welcome to A&R Manufacturing unit! It’s a pleasure to attach with you and meet the artist behind your upcoming releases, which carry a fearless sense of individuality and a refusal to evolve to expectations. Going again to the beginning, you began acting at 11 and writing music by 13. How did these early experiences form your method to songwriting and efficiency at this time?
Hi there Amelia, thanks in your heat welcoming!!!. Initially, performing on the age of 11 was nerve-racking and an incredible expertise. I had the most effective efficiency on the present. From that day, I knew I wished to do one thing musically like performing, finally dancing & Music manufacturing. I began writing my songs from 13 & the primary track I wrote known as Incomplete, which is on my upcoming debut Album Hazard!! Throughout my early musical journey, I did have some skilled route, however not as a lot as I wished.
Lengthy story brief, greater than half the time, particularly as a Particular wants particular person, I used to be making an attempt to find who I’m, who I wish to be & the place am I going? Consequentially, I made a decision to simply be myself, discover those who gained’t attempt to affect me away from my identification/model & stand out as a lot as I can, as most individuals should comply with others as a result of they’re conditioned to take action. I’m normally seen because the odd one out, I find it irresistible!! Some folks assume I’m bizarre & unusual, which is ok as a result of it exhibits that I’m not like them & I’m going by my instincts.
You describe your self as “The Visionist” and “King of Fantasy.” What do these titles imply to you, and the way do they manifest in your music?
For me, these slogans usually are not solely part of my model as this additional enhances & conveys my non-sheep mentality in the direction of folks. There are folks on the market proper now who’ve heard my music & they at all times say it’s “completely different”. Each time I hear that, I do know I’m heading in the right direction as a result of that’s what I need!! I’m not silly to make generic music as a result of to me, it exhibits little to no creativity & it’s overly secure. This is without doubt one of the the explanation why I despise Main file labels as they demand their artists to comply with developments that the Label themselves sometimes creates.
Main labels love to make use of advertising & promotional methods to inform folks what to love & not introduce music to the plenty and see whether or not clients/shoppers prefer it for themselves. This helps me develop & become the artist that I wish to be!!
Your music rejects societal pressures and encourages self-investment. Was there a specific second or realisation in your life that solidified this ethos?
Nice query, Amelia!! By being alive lengthy sufficient & realizing there’s an excessive amount of negativity on this world. This but once more solidifies my non-sheep mentality as a result of there’s an excessive amount of conditioning from the powers that be. Therefore, I strongly advise folks to self-invest in themselves to develop & develop. When folks do that, they are going to notice a number of predicaments are by design. How are we as folks presupposed to make this world a greater place when too many individuals are following lies & rubbish? I don’t wish to sound too political; I’m not an ideal Human being as everybody makes errors. Nevertheless, I’ve been placing my actions the place my Mouth is particularly, in my music.
You’ve labored with trade veterans like Nick Michaels and Phil Curran. What’s probably the most beneficial lesson you’ve taken from these collaborations?
Working with Nick & Phil has taught me a number of issues & it additionally retains me humble. As a result of there are expertise I both lack or want enhancing on, truthfully, everybody has or no less than ought to have a crew behind them. Nobody really makes it by themselves, even nice artists like Prince, MJ, George Michael & Freddie Mercury, and many others. It’s additionally essential to have a crew that resonates with oneself as this will additional improve a harmonical skilled relationship, surroundings & higher music.
I bear in mind after I first labored with Nick & Phil, the Manufacturing proprietor Nick gave me about 2 hours without cost to indicate me what they may do to my observe: It’s all inside time (travelling by the celebs) (which can be on my debut Album Hazard). What I’m about to disclose could be very private, so right here goes. I had tears in my eyes that I shortly wiped in order that they wouldn’t see how overwhelmed I used to be. It was really superb & I knew from that second this is able to work out.
With influences starting from Prince and Stevie Surprise to Billie Eilish, how do you merge basic inspiration with a contemporary sound whereas conserving your music distinct?
I’m glad you’ve requested this query as a result of for me, the most effective artists & music for probably the most half, got here from across the 60s to the 80s. To not put an excessive amount of emphasis on my age, these eras have been earlier than my time & even I realise the greatness of these eras & how a lot inspiration that has continued to encourage artists like myself to this very day. These nice artists took probabilities to precise themselves & glided by intuition, which is strictly what I do. I don’t care if I’ll by no means be on their degree; I’ll be ecstatic if I used to be 25% of their degree. Because of this, as a result of I’m completely different to what’s presently being produced & launched. This helps me hold my music & my model extra distinct.
Additionally, when folks hearken to my music, particularly my vocals, they normally point out Prince, Bee Gees, MJ & George Michael. Mentioning Billie Eilish could be very essential not solely as a result of I’ve listened to a few of her music beforehand & I do fairly like her sound. Billie can be a up to date artist & usually, when folks uncover an artist they’re all in favour of, they wish to know as a lot details about that artist, together with their inspirations, as a result of it may illustrate to the assessor whether or not the artist is value their time & funding. If the assessor likes the artist’s inspirations (& different features) like myself, the assessor will extra possible give me an opportunity as a result of we now have one thing in frequent. Sadly, a lot of the artists that I’m closely impressed by are not alive. At occasions, after I make my music, it seems like I’m paying tribute to the greats who’ve impacted me not solely musically but in addition general.
Your debut single, Say it such as you imply it, digs into the ache of unreciprocated love. How private was this observe for you, and what do you hope listeners take from it?
Sure, Say it such as you imply it’s my debut Single & my track clarifies the significance of valuing one’s time and vitality whereas delivering a message about self-worth in addition to studying to learn between the traces by not at all times anticipating or wanting somebody to be direct & trustworthy about any circumstances. About 90% of communication is nonverbal or oblique. I’m a person & males usually make the primary transfer on a possible love curiosity. I’ve wrongly chased girls prior to now; I didn’t notice they weren’t & I bought my emotions harm. I’m assured my track will resonate with lots of people. I would love my listeners to know {that a} sensible particular person learns from their errors however a smart particular person learns from the errors of others.
Style constraints clearly don’t curiosity you, together with your music spanning all the pieces from funk and comfortable rock to trance and metallic. Do you assume audiences have gotten extra open to fluid genre-crossing, or do you continue to really feel resistance?
I believe individuals are in all probability extra open to completely different genres of music. There nonetheless is/at all times shall be a bias in the direction of sure genres, which is Human nature & that’s probably not a problem. For me, I’d discover it limiting if I used to be to deal with one, two and even three genres as a result of I take a look at music like MMA. Why ought to I take advantage of a number of components after I can use as many as I need? Music is an artwork, artwork is an expression & that expression will imply various things to completely different folks. All I’ve to do is market and promote my stuff in the direction of the fitting individuals who resonate with my artwork.
Rising up with particular wants, you confronted and overcame important hurdles. Has that formed the best way you navigate the music trade, and do you’re feeling a duty to characterize these with related experiences?
Rising up with Particular wants was a particularly troublesome expertise that I nonetheless battle with to this very day. Nevertheless, I’m coping with it; I’ll have my unhealthy days & I’ll have my good days. I’ve personally learnt to embrace this as a result of it helps me general hold my sanity & nobody is ideal. I’m not a machine, I’m a Human being & nothing in life is at all times good. My Particular wants have vastly formed my outlook in life. I’ve determined to channel this vitality for probably the most half in my music, not solely to blow off steam but in addition to musically assist folks despite the fact that at occasions I battle to assist myself. Not solely is that this a message to myself, nevertheless it’s additionally a message to different folks that you simply’re not alone!! Music to me is like remedy; I actually love the euphoric feeling music provides me from Writing, Singing, Producing & Sound engineering, and many others. Music, at occasions, makes me really feel so alive. All the pieces I’ve talked about on this interview is part of my model, therefore why I NEED to manifest this.
You’ve bought your sights set on touring globally. What’s the last word imaginative and prescient in your reside exhibits, and what can audiences anticipate once they see you on stage?
I actually can’t await this to occur. Briefly, my model will bodily replicate what I’m going to do on stage. The identical approach I hearken to different artists, I watch different artists carry out & something that’s treading, I both gained’t be doing it or I’ll do my very own alteration of it. I don’t essentially must have the most effective performances. I’ll have performances that individuals shall be compelled to have interaction with. Watch this house.
Inform me somewhat bit about your cousin Deyaz (UK artist).
No drawback. I’ll shortly go over a number of issues. Deyaz is my cousin who’s within the Music trade as an Indie artist. Despite the fact that we not converse as he has stupidly lower off the overwhelming majority of his relations in his life, aside from his mom. I wish to name this, I’ve made it syndrome. It’s good for him that he has bought to the place he’s at initially, with no Music buzz; nonetheless, I’d say it’s very unhappy how he has handled this case. As a result of some folks like myself who did assist him out bought lower off. Deyaz was by no means taught to be like this; he has or bought a drink & medicine dependancy. It’s pure choice. When my title begins getting on the market extra, I’ve promised myself I’d by no means stupidly lose my identification/model. I’ve heard of this stuff taking place to different artists. Me & Deyaz have been presupposed to collaborate however that by no means materialised.
I bear in mind I took Deyaz to the Hospital when he requested me to, when he confirmed up late to my mum’s place. I believed one thing had occurred to him. I used to be considering of the worst-case state of affairs. Deyaz even bought punched by his personal brother for being “ungrateful” & all of the issues that have been finished for him. It appears extra like a persona trait. If there are any setbacks in my life, I’ll strive very exhausting to take a look at issues as optimistic to develop, develop, stay decided, take braveness & persevere. On a lighter word, I used to be lately in talks with Nines’s (UK Rapper) Music supervisor. Solely time will inform if something comes out of that.
Keep tuned for Stephan Folkes new releases on Instagram and TikTok.
Interview by Amelia Vandergast
